The students in my classes were:
1st class: Lydia, Abby, Cameron, Kylene
2nd class: Israel, Denise, Vivianne, Janet, Christa, Ashley, Elizabeth, Ixtaly, Yesenia
3rd class: Aleyda, Kira, Celina, Avae, Mariam, Vanessa, Lydia, Delilah, Estrella, Nadia, Natalie
1st class: Lydia, Abby, Cameron, Kylene
2nd class: Israel, Denise, Vivianne, Janet, Christa, Ashley, Elizabeth, Ixtaly, Yesenia
3rd class: Aleyda, Kira, Celina, Avae, Mariam, Vanessa, Lydia, Delilah, Estrella, Nadia, Natalie
Teaching at Westside Ministries in Turlock, CA
Westside ministries is the most amazing ministry I have ever heard about (and now had a chance to witness firsthand) in the United States. These kids do everything from learn how to take care of animals, which they sell for profit (through a 4H program), to raising their own vegetables to present at the fair or serve up in their kitchen which provides two free meals a day to the community, and then there's sports and dance and all sorts of activities to help these children have the tools to help themselves. They often come from homes where the parents are drug addicts, in gangs, etc. Not all. Almost all aspects of the programing is free to kids who live in this low-income area regardless of background or income.
The students in the dance program are all required to take ballet (which I think is a great idea for all aerialists by the way!!!). Ballet moves are taught with scripture verses and choreography is put together for the purpose and intention of glorifying God. Many of the older teens work as assistants, helping to teach the younger kids how to dance with technique, but most of all, with heart.
This ministry just recently started incorporating fabric into their dancing. I was there to help lay the foundations and give them building blocks from which to build on throughout the year. For many students, this was there first time on fabric ever and they all did great! Some were very nervous about height or going upside-down. It was wonderful to witness them conquering their fears throughout the week. For some, aerial dance gave them a lift of the heart, an encouragement to help them step up out of circumstances at home.
The situation at home for some of these students made me cry. Not all come from hard backgrounds, but many do. The area this ministry is in was so scary to be in. I felt the Lord keeping me safe, but hearing gun shots at night and squealing tires right there after outside of your window was enough to make me glad that the Lord is not calling me to full time at that ministry! And I am motivated to pray for those He has called.
Those that he has called to work on staff at this ministry are incredible. The director of the program (who you can meet via the youtube video below) is awesome. She does not take a salary from working at this ministry. She is supported by her husband. Her standards for her staff are high. All staff are required to live in the neighborhood of the ministry, encouraged to help lift up the neighborhood by being a rooted part of it. (I was amazed by that fact alone!) One of the staff members, Jessica, looks so young that half of the week I thought she was one of the students! Turns out, she is married, has two children and is older than I am! When I asked her what her secret to looking so young is, she replied, "serving the Lord." What a beautiful answer.
It was humbling to be in such a small part of such a huge movement that God is doing in Turlock, CA.
Here's a video talking about the ministry:
The students in the dance program are all required to take ballet (which I think is a great idea for all aerialists by the way!!!). Ballet moves are taught with scripture verses and choreography is put together for the purpose and intention of glorifying God. Many of the older teens work as assistants, helping to teach the younger kids how to dance with technique, but most of all, with heart.
This ministry just recently started incorporating fabric into their dancing. I was there to help lay the foundations and give them building blocks from which to build on throughout the year. For many students, this was there first time on fabric ever and they all did great! Some were very nervous about height or going upside-down. It was wonderful to witness them conquering their fears throughout the week. For some, aerial dance gave them a lift of the heart, an encouragement to help them step up out of circumstances at home.
The situation at home for some of these students made me cry. Not all come from hard backgrounds, but many do. The area this ministry is in was so scary to be in. I felt the Lord keeping me safe, but hearing gun shots at night and squealing tires right there after outside of your window was enough to make me glad that the Lord is not calling me to full time at that ministry! And I am motivated to pray for those He has called.
Those that he has called to work on staff at this ministry are incredible. The director of the program (who you can meet via the youtube video below) is awesome. She does not take a salary from working at this ministry. She is supported by her husband. Her standards for her staff are high. All staff are required to live in the neighborhood of the ministry, encouraged to help lift up the neighborhood by being a rooted part of it. (I was amazed by that fact alone!) One of the staff members, Jessica, looks so young that half of the week I thought she was one of the students! Turns out, she is married, has two children and is older than I am! When I asked her what her secret to looking so young is, she replied, "serving the Lord." What a beautiful answer.
It was humbling to be in such a small part of such a huge movement that God is doing in Turlock, CA.
Here's a video talking about the ministry: