Learning from Markeria

What better way to show the heart of the Nehemiah Center than through the children of the Nehemiah Kids Club? The Kids Club is truly the center of life at the Nehemiah Center, so we hope you learn and get inspired from our kids and their stories—and maybe you’ll become part of our heart too!

The first kid I interviewed from the Kids Club was Markeria. For those of you who don’t know, Markeria is a firecracker. I remember helping her at the annual Christmas party, and there was a lot of excitement to say the least! She’s strong-willed and passionate, and I jumped at the chance to learn what she thinks about life and the NC’s part in it.

                Markeria goes to Highland Gardens Elementary and she loves math and reading. In fact, she wants to be a kindergarten teacher when she grows up. I talked to Markeria about school, and it became very clear to me early on that discipline is crucial to her. She told me about her teachers, their rules, their discipline methods, and her class’s behavior, showing me through her stories that she likes structured, calm environments (as we all do!) and that she wants to build that environment for kids when she grows up. Unfortunately, Markeria doesn’t get that type of environment very often—that’s where the Nehemiah Center comes in.

                Markeria loves to go to the Nehemiah Center after school. As she would say, “It’s family.” Markeria is active at the NC; this past year, she won the Nehemiah Girls’ Program and is a Miss Nehemiah alumna. If you don’t know what that entails, you can check out a previous blog post about the program, but one of the biggest parts of the competition is scripture. Markeria had to memorize and recite countless verses, but her favorite verse is Proverbs 15:1, which says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” That verse is a testament to Markeria’s desire for structure and nurturing environments, and the Nehemiah Center certainly fulfills that need.

                The day I visited the Nehemiah Center to interview kids, Markeria and some other kids missed out on a treat because they didn’t have perfect behavior records for that month. While some kids were discouraged by this, none of them threw tantrums or tried to whine their way into the treat. Why? The answer is simple: kids didn’t pitch fits because the Nehemiah Kids Club is run based on consequences. Rhonda Thompson and her workers disciple their kids based on fairness and firm resolve, calmly and gently responding instead of flippantly reacting with harshness. It’s amazing. It’s a fantastic example to Markeria and myself of what a healthy environment of learning should be, and I PRAY you will experience it for yourself! The Kids Club will continue every weekday this summer, so we hope you’ll stop by and see the enormous impact of the Nehemiah Center!

Master's Garden Workday!

This past Saturday, Chisholm was full of excitement! I drove out for the Master’s Garden project work day and was AMAZED by the activity there. I have been to the Nehemiah Center lots of times, but never had I seen so many people with such a drive to work. Cars filled up the NC parking lot and then some, and then cars lined the street for a good 100 feet in each direction! Members of the Chisholm community, First Baptist Church of Montgomery, and the Montgomery Junior League all pitched in, and you aren’t going to believe the work performed!

            As you might know, the Nehemiah Center has been planning this Master’s Garden for a while. I’ve been keeping you up-to-date on the plans, the events, and the plants going into the garden, but even I was surprised by the magnitude of God’s work! I had imagined the Master’s Garden as a small plot in someone’s backyard; instead, I walked into a two-acre field of tilled soil ripe for planting. Part of the garden was allotted to community plants like blueberries and corn that will be worked to feed people who need them. Another part of the garden holds upwards of twenty individual plots for Chisholm families; by 10:00 AM, they had all been claimed. It was so awesome to see the promises that the Garden held for those parents and kids. The parents were happy because of what that garden meant, and the kids were happy just to be with all their friends on the project work day!

            This brings us to another facet of the Project Work Day: the kids’ activities. The workers did a great job of getting kids involved in the work at hand! Around thirty kids from the community, the Nehemiah Kids Club, and the Junior League participated on Saturday. They were great sports, helping plant seeds, pick up fallen leaves for compost, and make toad houses out of clay pots. They also had a dance party, hung out with the Nehemiah Center’s resident rooster, and ate hotdogs grilled out by a few men on the job.

            To conclude, the Master’s Garden work day was a huge success. The many hands and hearts invested in it totally contributed to the project’s success, and I am so excited to continue the updates on this fantastic adventure! Hopefully, I can get the pictures to post this week; I held the rooster and it was a sight to behold!

Garden Growth

Hi readers! Earlier this year, the Nehemiah Center started a community garden. Now we are happy to tell you that our garden is growing up and out!

        This week, the chairman of the Chisholm Community Garden answered some questions that I had and you probably had too. Take a minute to read over all the new things happening in our garden and consider becoming a part of it!

1. What is your name, and what is your involvement with the Nehemiah Center?
   My name is Robin Caddell. I’m the chairman of the Chisholm Community Garden and a part of the First Baptist Church Nehemiah Project.
2. What is your goal for the garden this spring and in the future?
   Our goal is not only to promote growing and eating healthier foods, but also to create community among the Chisholm residents. The garden will become a gathering place for the community. The garden will be used as a teaching tool for the children at the Nehemiah Center, along with children from the area schools and the Girls and Boys Club.
3. Are there any upcoming events set for the garden?
   YES! There are a lot of new things coming up for the project that you can help make great!

• Greens, Beans, and Growing Things is a community event to be held on March 8^th, 2015 at the Nehemiah Center. We’ll announce the garden to the community and let the people in on some exciting plans!
• First Baptist Church will hold a Garden Tool Drive on Sunday, March 15^th, 2015. New or gently used tools are needed for the project.
• The Little League’s Day of Service, held Saturday, April 11^th, 2015, is the upcoming grand opening of the garden by Montgomery’s Junior League. League members along with their families will volunteer their time and service to the garden.

1. What specific things will be planted in the Chisholm Community Garden? Where will the products go?
   We’re growing a mostly vegetable-based garden this year. We have collards, corn, tomatoes, and other summer veggies, as well as a large crop of blueberries in a common area, and we also have plots for individuals to work themselves.
    
   As always, we hope you’ll get involved with all that the Nehemiah Center has going on! We need volunteers for the garden, so if you want to help you can call Jane Ferguson at 241-5141 or Robin Caddell at 546-7902. Thanks for reading!

Intern Interview, Part 2

          I loved picking this next Nehemiah Center worker’s brain! Some of you may know that I (the person writing the Nehemiah Center blog) am a student at LAMP High School. Rebecca Lewis, the Assistant Director at the Center, also went to LAMP, and she has a lot of the same qualities that I hold: vision, passion, and dedication to success. As you can see when you read on, Rebecca is a captivating storyteller and sister in Christ. She’s the girl you want to laugh with, share news with, have deep philosophical talks with. Rebecca is our Assistant Director, but this interview will prove to you that she is much more—she’s a present-day Nehemiah, and we thank God for her!

• What is your name?
  • Rebecca Lewis
• What is your degree, and what are you working toward?
  • I have a BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing, and I'm working toward getting a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education.
• How did you get involved with the Nehemiah Center?
  • I actually found the Nehemiah Center mostly by accident. I had just finished my second year of college where I volunteered for the Americorps program Jumpstart, working with at-risk preschoolers, and I was looking for a summer job that would be similar. It wasn't until after I'd stumbled upon First Baptist Church's numerous children's programs and been referred to the Nehemiah Center that I realized how many people I knew who were involved. Several of my high school classmates had interned there and one of my teachers happened to be Ms. Rhonda's sister. It was only supposed to be a summer job; but as they have a way of doing, the kids stole my heart. After graduating college, I wanted to take a year off before moving on to graduate school. It's been almost four years since then. I've gone from being a simple intern working with the Nehemiah Kids Club to being the assistant director. The Nehemiah Center offered me so much more than a job. 
• What is your favorite memory from your time at the Nehemiah Center?
  • This is a very difficult question! After six years with the Nehemiah Center, it's impossible to just choose one memory. I honestly find joy in every moment I spend there. Whether it's seeing how much one of our moms has grown over the years, or the way the kids constantly make me laugh, or how they embrace their peers with special needs, the people at the Nehemiah Center are what make it memorable and every moment worthwhile. 
• Is it easier to work with boys or girls?
  • Neither! There are joys and challenges in working with either gender. Girls are more verbal. You can have a lot more discussion time, whereas boys require movement in every activity. However, the challenges with girls are also sometimes harder to spot and more difficult to address. Boys are usually more upfront with their behavior. In the end, a lot depends on the individual child and on the preparation I've put into the day's activities. So long as I've done my job right and set each child up for success, any child is easy to work with!
• What verse do you lean on while working at the Nehemiah Center?
  • James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

 

Intern Interview

     This week kicks off a new series for the Nehemiah Center blog: interviews! Over the next couple of weeks, you'll see a handful of stories from people who are involved in the Nehemiah Center. We hope that this dialogue will get you thinking and praying about the Nehemiah Center and your part in it. And who knows; maybe soon YOU will be the subject of an interview! 


     This week, I conducted an interview with one of the Nehemiah Center’s best and brightest. Currently working as an intern, Amanda embodies what Nehemiah stands for—love, dedication, and passion for God’s people. I hope that by reading this Q&A, you get a little snapshot into what we do and see how YOU fit in the Nehemiah family!

• What is your name?         
  • Amanda Monell
• What is your job at the Nehemiah Center?
  • I am a Counseling intern with FBC Community Ministries. I help wherever they need me and sometimes conduct counseling sessions with some of the Nehemiah Center kids.
• Why did you decide to start working at the NC?
  • My graduate program requires a two-semester internship and a certain number of hours each week. I heard about community ministries through my boyfriend’s family, who are members at First Baptist, and interviewed with Ms. Jane. She informed me of the opportunities here, and here we are!
• What is your degree/ what degree are you working toward?
  • When I graduate this summer, I will have a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University. I currently have a B.A. in Psychology from Auburn University.
• What is your favorite part of working at the NC?
  • My favorite part is probably the diversity of experiences. There are many different opportunities at the Nehemiah Center depending on the day, the children, and the resources, so it is never boring!
• What is the hardest part of working at the NC?
  • The hardest part for me is probably working with the defiant children. It is often difficult to strike a balance between effective discipline and assurance that they are still loved and cared for. It is important for them to know that the Nehemiah Center is a safe place, but it is also necessary that they obey our rules while they are here. Additionally, trying to reverse behaviors that they have learned, or continue to observe, in other environments is tricky.
• What verses do you lean on as you work at the NC?
  • One of my favorites for life in general is Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
  • I also lean on Ephesians 3:18-19:
    "And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
    Not only are these verses a great reminder for me when I’ve had a rough day, but they are also great reminders of God’s love for these kids. Not only do we, the staff, love them, but God loves them even more than they do. I think that is encouraging for all of us!
• What is your favorite memory at the NC so far?
  • I would have to say my favorite memory would be when I returned from Christmas break. One of the kids ran up to me, hugged me, and said, “You’re back! I missed you while you were gone!” A close second would be when, after a one-on-one counseling session, one of the kids asked if he could talk with me the next day, too. Everyone loves to be loved, and knowing that they look forward to seeing you is affirming as a budding counselor as well.
• Would you rather work one-on-one or with a group of kids?
  • For now, I would have to say one-on-one, but I can see how my thoughts could change given more experience. Before my time at the Nehemiah Center, I had little to no experience working with children, so it is still a learning experience for me. As I become more effective and learn which techniques work with the kids, working with a group may not seem as intimidating.
• Which do you like better: Wonderful Wednesdays or regular days?
  • I don’t know if I could pick between the two. I suppose it depends on the week. Some Wednesdays are truly wonderful in that you see the kids’ joy as they play with each other (and the staff); but there are also really great days when we are learning something new at the Nehemiah Center and the kids really have “ah-ha” moments!