Update!

So I've been without the internet for the past two weeks, sorry for not keeping you guys up to date.

The mentorship program has really blossomed. The high school girls have been open with their lives and struggles, which I greatly appreciate. Last week our Bible study was mainly about "owning your faith." These girls know the gospel, some of them are professing Christians.. but they are yet to take the next step of having a relationship with the Lord. Since getting to know these girls, I've been invited into the culture and hardships. They have no guidance. I've grown up with such a supportive family, sometimes I can't help but wonder why God allowed me.. of all people to be so blessed.

In the past two weeks we've started the process of applying for schools, learned about healthy eating and exercise, and started talking about finances. I'm so proud of them. They know little of proper nutrition and healthy living.. but we're learning.

Without fail, they have worked out every morning and have been excited to do so :)

My parents came in last weekend to get a feel of the ministry here... and visit me of course.

I was sure to put them right to work! My mom watched one of the girl's baby, while my dad gave a crash course on finances and wise spending.

Apart of the problem in Cherokee is that the youth have no real guidance or support. They're given all this government aid through per cap checks, free health care, and free schooling.. but they aren't taught how to handle the money they receive or apply to college. In my opinion all the dysfunction here stems from a lack of a family unit. All three of the girls I mentor have either never met their father or were abandoned by both their parents.

I almost wish that I could stay here for another month.. there really is so much that they still need help with.

They could have all the comfort of the world.. graduate with a 4.5.. be fit.. go to an ivy league school.. and still live a lost life. These girls need Christ and they have Him. Their lives are a success because of that alone.

This week is focused on service! We're helping Christ Fellowship church feed four hundred people and so far it has gone really well. Today we wiped down tables, served food, and made drinks for volunteers with the life changers organization.

Please be praying for the girls, that they would hunger for God's word and seek Him.

Two Days in..

We're two days into the mentorship program. Yesterday and today has been focused on the characteristics of God and importance of purity.. The girls are listening, but I'm not sure they believe sexual immorality is that big of a deal. I spoke to Tammy (my boss) about it and she reminded me that this ministry belongs to God. Only He can change their hearts.. and that we're just two days into the program lol. so I'm going to try not to stress about it anymore. God has me here for a reason and I'm going to trust He doesn't have me here in vain.

It's been a month so far and I have one more to go!

Continue praying for these three girls.. that they would start to hunger for the word of God and see their need for Jesus.

"But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Day Off!

Today was our day off :) Which I feel I really needed. We woke up at 7 for breakfast.. to say our good-byes to the team from Peachtree City Georgia and then went back to sleep until 11:30. Our schedule this week was crazy, so Rebecca, AK, and I slept hard. So we left the campground around 12:15 and made our way to Franklin, NC.. a pretty small "local" town that was 45 minutes away. On the way there we stopped at a random field on the side of the highway and took some pictures of the mountains. Sadly half of them look stupid because we were getting harassed by a bee...
Anyways, in Franklin we had some lunch, stopped at a book store, and went to walmart. Adventurous day off huh? I nearly never get off the reservation, so the change of scenery was enough for me!

I bought a one month devotional on purity, I was thinking that the Cherokee girls and I would really benefit from it. Btw thank you guys for all the sweet comments and birthday letters. I'm so thankful for the blessing of the support from friends and family.

anndd.. at the moment I'm in the kitchen watching twilight.. of all things. As silly as the movie is, I enjoy it :P

Talkative but Unattentive

The days are running together.
What I can say about today that made it stand out was that the girls were way more open and friendly than usual. On Monday they hardly spoke or engaged in activities.. and well today everyone was involved. In the morning we started off my doing some side walk chalk, it was the 3-D kind made by Crayola. We made the solar system.. it was wayy out of order.. complete with a rocket ship, floating space man, and a flying SCAD bee.

The questions about creation and faith were answered today.. Unfortunately the girls were not as attentive as I'd hoped. The gospel has been shared in our group numerous times thus far. Many churches come to visit Cherokee for the week and present the story of salvation. These girls know the gospel, but I think they believe it's just a heroic story that doesn't apply to them yet in life. Sadly, they don't see aging or death as a reality. Maybe I'm wrong though.. just because they aren't responding to our feedback on their questions doesn't mean they aren't taking in the gospel.

Tonight was also family night. The younger children put on a show for their parents and the MS and HS. It was pretty cute :)

Tomorrow we are picking girls for the mentoring program.. One of the possible girls has a baby, so I'm unsure if she'll be able to find a sitter. I really pray that she does.
The picture I posted is what home looks like for the next month.

Emily

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13 This verse has been such a great comfort lately.

Today was so very tiring. I woke up at 7 and had breakfast with the volunteers.. biscuits with jelly and cheesy grits. Around 10 the girls started to arrive.. We spent the morning talking about why sexual purity matters to God. Growing up, I percieved sex as almost an evil thing because I was taught to avoid it so much. I like that the study the Georgia team prepared focuses on sex as glorious and made by God.. that is only glorious in marriage. The second half of the day was spent watching the new Alice in Wonderland and doing henna tattoos and coloring! We really had a great time just hanging out and getting to know one another. Around 4 I took on of the girls to work.. her and I had an open conversation about our struggles as Christians.. (at least I think she's a Christian.. I'll find out for sure) I enjoyed her company though.. she dresses in all black, wearing heavy makeup and baggy clothes. She seems troubled.. as are many of us.

Anyhoot! Ak (one of my roommates) and I went to go get Rebecca's birthday gift... (moccasins btw) I'm giving them to her in the morning and she's getting ready for bed, so she won't see this on here. Then Ak and I picked some flowers for her in front of the Cherokee Muesum.. which now to think of it wasn't the best idea.
I started to knit a checked blanket tonight. I hope I actually finish this one.

What to pray for? Well, for the salvation of these girls. We had them do a questionnaire tonight about their beliefs.. many of them answered that they felt the Bible wasn't trustworthy, that Jesus is not fully God, and that heaven and hell don't really exist. (We are addressing their answers tomorrow morning) Also pray for the accountability program starting on Monday.

Cherokee Girls

Well today was packed. This week we have a team from Peachtree city Georgia running a VBS/Counseling program for children ages 5-19. I'm paired with the HS girls.. which look more like they're in their 20's than mid teens. Anywho, to put it lightly, we spoke about purity. A nurse from the Georgia team explained the physical and emotional consequences of premarital sex and promiscuous behavior.. as can be imagined it made them feel a little uncomfortable. There was one pregnant girl in the group, as well as another who brought her one year old baby. Difficult to grasp there was a six-teen year old girl who also brought her baby.. she is pregnant with her second. due in October. These girls are uneducated about safe sex and STDs and many of them have intense baggage from their past "relationships." We had 17 girls which is an improvement from the 15 who came yesterday :) Along with that they were more talkative.. which is big deal. In the Cherokee culture, the youth will only communicate with you if they think you're trustworthy.

We also tye-dyed socks and finished a craft from yesterday. Throughout my time with the girls, I've been evaluating which three of them would most benefit the mentoring program that the other intern, Rebecca, and I are putting together. It will consist of three high school and middle school girls.. the program we be four weeks long. In the study we will focus on self-worth, unity, purity, as well as define God, sin, and love. Hopefully these girls won't have us do all the talking.. it's meant to be more of a discussion group.

I watched one of the teen mom's baby today.. she was beyond precious.

Emily

Prayer Requests:
-Please pray for the selecting of the members for the mentoring program.
-For the local Cherokee girls.. that they would see their need for Christ.
-For the teenage mom's in our group.. that the Lord would provide them with wisdom and perseverance.. and that they would trust God with all their concerns.

Needs: Let me know if you want to donate items and I'll give you the MTW address.
-Basic school supplies for the HS and MS girls

The Point.

So I've never had a blog.. and I really didn't intend to start one until my roommate Rebecca encouraged me to do so.
The point of this blog is to inform family and friends of whats going on during my stay in Cherokee, North Carolina. I really don't think I'll have the time to write daily.. but I'll do my best.
The internship I applied for is with Mission to the World, a Christian organization that sends volunteers of all ages to preach the name of Jesus. This is actually my third week on the reservation.. and yes, I know that I started a wee bit late on this. It has been pretty crazy around here though. (I kinda hate grammar.. so don't expect much of it)

I pretty much spent my first two weeks in Cherokee working with one week teams of volunteers from all around the country.. they have various jobs in the community, mostly construction and to run vbs programs for local kids. Thus far I have worked with..

-Kaledoscope day care-which ministers to children under the age of 6
-Snowbird senior center- cleared a walking trail with a team from Georgia (which I have to note was the hardest thing I've done here! The senior citizens wanted their trail to run through the forest.... we chopped down pretty thick pine and spruce trees.)
-BIG-Y VBS- a team from Orlando at a vbs
-Sam Otter-a few diff groups shingled a roof and added a room on the house a local Cherokee believer, named Sam Otter
-BIG Cove Day Care- played games with the kids and took them to "the Village" (a reenactment of what the lives of the Cherokee people looked like before the settlers came to America)
-Bird Town Youth Center- This place was awesome! A four year old little girl confirmed her faith in Jesus after a Bible study the day I was there. We also took the kids to the river to swim :)

And for Leisure...
-Went Swimming in the Oconaluftee River
-Painted my bathroom dancing waters blue
-Went to a couple local Cherokee art festivals
-A performance called "Unto These Hills"
-And.. saw Robin Hood

As of right now.. Today was the start of a new program called Camp Week. There was over 60 kids! I was with the HS girls team.. I'll write about it tomorrow though. I'm expected at breakfast at 7AM

Emily