Jessica Barnes
About Mission Year
Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…
Jessica Barnes's Blog
Fast Times at Carver High / Oct 23, 08:35 AM
Theme Music: Hanson’s MMMBop (much to the dismay of my roommates :))
Current Praise: Being background check approved & cleared to be in the high school!
After waiting a few weeks for paperwork to be processed, we were finally cleared to start volunteering at Carver High School. I was excited to get into an English classroom and meet the 11th and 12th graders I’ll be working with. The night before, I thought back to my own junior and senior years and remembered how happy I was to fill out college applications, write admissions essays, and get ready for college. I remembered all the fun times hanging out with friends, going on trips, and staying after school to study for our Academic Decathlon competitions. I remembered how much I loved learning and socializing. Basically, I remembered all of the good and chose to forget about all of the bad. Becky and I had our first day at Carver yesterday and the minute we walked into the office, there was a huge reminder of the bad. It was time for the bane of the existance of high school students everywhere: standardized testing.
The teacher I’ll be helping out had students testing in her room all day so I followed the guidance counselor around instead. We went to an 8th grade classroom and had the students take a skills and interests inventory. By not actually calling this a test, I think the counselors were attempting to avoid the complaints of students (due to the complete agony that all tests deserve). That plan failed. Some of the kids refused to take the test altogether, others answered a few questions then put their heads down. After a few grumbles, a couple of curses, and a lot of questions about how important the test really was and whether it really was mandatory, most of the students reluctantly got out their number 2 pencils and took the test. After helping one student with a few of the questions in the English section, the guidance counselor told me that many of the students are several grades behind and have elementary level reading skills. They were frustrated, that was easy to see.
After the testing period, I went back to the guidance office and spent the rest of my day helping with paperwork, talking to the counselors, and meeting students that came into the office. It was hard to see some of them on the verge of just giving up on school all together. There were students at the age where they should be thinking about graduation but they were struggling to get through the 9th grade. Some were living on their own or just getting back with their families from Hurricane Katrina. Others were more concerned about taking care of children than taking care of homework. I met a girl at the end of the day who had just gotten back to school after having her second baby. She wants to graduate and become a nurse, but more importantly, she wants to be able to take care of her kids. Carver High School is a long way from North Clarion.
I wish there was a way to reach out to every single one of the students to encourage them and let them know that they’re completely capable of making the effort and doing everything they want to do. Tomorrow I’m meeting with the guidance counselor again to talk about starting a program for some of the girls about having respect for themselves and each other. I’m excited to meet with the girls, learn about what they’re struggling with, and help them become role models rather than statistics.
Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity. -1Timothy 4:12
Expectations / Oct 1, 03:26 PM
I can’t even count how many times at Mission Year orientation we heard the phrase “don’t have expectations.” During devotionals one morning, we wrote down all of our expectations for the year on index cards, then tore them up and threw them on the ground. Speakers, Mission Year alumni, and city directors told us that we might not end up at the service sites we thought we would, we might not have the perfect community living situations, we might disagree with our roommates, and the neighborhood might not look the way we had imagined. They also told us that by eliminating all of these expectations we had created, we would be able to make room for God to carry out his plans for us. We’ve been reminded over and over that this year isn’t about any of us, it’s about God and we’re just a part of his plan for our communities.
Since getting to New Orleans a few weeks ago (finally, after so much confusion and change of plans) nearly all of my expectations have been destroyed (in the best way possible!) I was expecting a community full of people and organizations rebuilding the city. Instead, we found houses still destroyed from Hurricane Katrina three years ago, most without hope of being rebuilt. I was expecting people in the area to be as passionate about social justice as I am. Instead, we found that most of the organizations dedicated to serving the community are closed down and boarded up. I was frustrated at first and disappointed by the lack of…everything in the neighborhood. Then we started walking through the community and really looking for neighbors and activity. We might have to search for relationships to build and areas to serve, but I feel like in the end, it’ll definitely be well worth the effort.
All of that is to say, we’re finally here! We’re moved in and becoming a part of the neighborhood and it feels so great to have a place to call home for the year. We’ve gone to events at our church and spent some time with neighborhood kids in the park. Now we’re getting ready to start at service sites and really get involved in the community. I’m so excited to share the experience with all of you!
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
-Proverbs 16:9
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