Favorite Things

 So I've been in Joplin for over 2 weeks now so I am slowly learning what there is to do, where the cool spots are, all that stuff. I have also just started a little list of my favorite moments that have been happening. I did this while I was in Orvieto and it really helped me appreciate each day and the little joys. Okay so here we go, starting with favorite spots so far.
1. Wild Cate Glades: This place is a big nature preserve that has a small river running through it. I love going here because it reminds me of home, of camp and of Gordon all at once. Maybe it's because where we live in Joplin is pretty bare of woods to play in, but Wild Cat has all that and more. It has little streams to walk in, beautiful trees and trails, and wild flowers all over the place. This place is going to be very dear to me I can already tell.
2. Sonic: I don't think this is on the list on purpose, we just happen to go here a lot because their slushies are the bomb dot com.
3. Art Feeds HQ: This seems pretty obvious but the work space that I get to be in all week is nothing like anywhere I have been before (granted I haven't been many places, but I watch the office and have seen what some offices are like). First of all it's beautiful. There are so many beautiful things and people in this space. They are professionals at what they do, but also at loving and spreading joy with those around them.
4. Recycling Yard: Joplin does not do their own recycling so you have to drive your items to a center and recycle them there. I know it seems weird that i like it, bit bottle and glass jars and things of the sort are some of my favorite things and you can just go and take some if you want to! There were such big beautiful ones, but alas, I have not room to take them back to Jersey with me.
5. JACC: This is the Joplin Area Coffee Company. A few days ago we

were sent there at the end of a scavenger hunt/errand run and I loved it so much. It's just a little shop but their drinks were so good and the view from their shop reminded me so much of Beverly, MA. I even saw a guy ride past on his skateboard with his kid which is a direct reference to my philosophy prof. Dr. Glenney (for all you Gordonites reading this you get it)

Okay so some of my favorite moments
1. Laughing: This seems to be all the time, but I love how close I already feel to the other interns and that we are getting each other's style of humor and can really crack each other up.
2. Phone calls with friends and family: I know that seems silly, but I have had some really great conversations with my friends from home and miss them but love sharing what life is like out here
3. Exploring: Because we (Angela, Chelsea and I) are only here for Art Feeds, we are learning what else to do with our life and spare time and those times have been so fun. We accidentally drove into Kansas last week exploring the roads and farms along the way. We found really beautiful buildings and properties. We also drove into Oklahoma last night! Granted it was dark and the first 15 minutes is nothing but highway, but once we got into a town we saw places that we would go to when it was open.
4. Working events!: I have helped little inventors come up with a new helpful invention, taught a color theory lesson in order to mix the best colors to make a new paint, watched little hands work slowly to paint as best as they could, saw huge smiles appear on faces when we told them we would paint with squirt guns, listened to amazing storytellers at a fundraiser, made pipe cleaner animal ears for hours, watched 3 kids under the age of 6 calmly use water colors, and so much more. I am absolutely loving my job and loving the kids and people we get to interact with.

So what is Art Feeds?

      So quite honestly, I learn new things about ArtFeeds every day that I am here, but a lot of my important questions and initial thoughts were answered and corrected on our first day. In this post, I am hopefully going to be able to answer a lot of questions about what ArtFeeds does and who they are and just give some insight as to who these wonderful people are that I'm working with!

Art Feeds is a non-profit organization that has reached 20,000 kids, 15 schools and 32 children's organizations since 2009 with their programs.

Extended Mission: Art Feeds believes all children are artists. We exist to feed creative development and facilitate emotional expression in children through art and community. To do this, we provide free theraputic art and creative education programs within schools and children's organizations by mobilizing teams of community member to bring all forms of art into classrooms. 

Vision: An inspired future fed by creative and expressive children who are powerful beyond measure. 

Values: We are learners- We strive to live by the lessons our students teach us: To Love Naively. Give Generously. Be Foolishly Compassionate.

We are FOR THE KIDS! Because we dream of an inspired future, we put the key players at the forefrom. Every decision we make and the details of our jobs are for the kids.

HQ are currently in Joplin, MO but chapters are forming and exist in other parts of the country.

 This is some of the main info about Art Feeds! There are a ton more topics I could cover, but I will start with this much. Today was day 2 in the office and had an amazing time! The lovely ladies we work with even make running errands fun. So excited to start to share some of the awesome things I get to experience with Art Feeds! If you have any questions please ask! I will be expanding on what I have shared soon, but please ask me any questions or visit  artfeeds.org.

The Start

Well, I made it! 26 hours on a Greyhound bus, 1 movie, 4 episodes of the office and not enough sleep = a trip for the books. It worked out really well though. I met up with another intern, Angela, in Harrisburg and we made the treck together. After many "I can't believe they chose us! and we are going!!" moments,  many small talk topics later, and much laughter at the different situations our trip put us in, we made it to Joplin. I found that like the word "Orvieto", I only had once kind of context for it. It was just a word in my head. Yes it was associated with specific things, but I had nothing material to connect it to. So seeing the word Joplin all over the town as we pulled in I believe made it a bit more real. The wonderful Jo picked us up from the bus stop. She called us champions and rock stars a few times which made me truly proud of the trip I had just endured. We showered, went food shopping, and couldn't get horizontal fast enough. Chelsea, the other out of town intern came the next morning and we have already had a blast all together. That afternoon we met up with the rest of the interns at the HQ and had our first get together/info orientation (complete with doughnuts and doughnut balloons because it was the national holiday for them of course). This organization is everything that I would ever want to be a part of. I will post more about the details and history behind the organization tomorrow. On Saturday we had a great brunch with the staff and interns at Brooke's house which is only a few blocks away! I made bagels and there were casseroles, cinnamon rolls, home made tart and delicious fruit. We spend the morning laughing, eating and getting to know each other. Afterwards Ashley, another intern, took us thrift shopping! Such a therapeutic afternoon. New friends and old clothes, that's what's up. I felt so content and gracious for that afternoon. And finally today we went to church in town, did zumba in the living room, went to the movies and had icecream to make us feel better (very sad and touching movie making Sonic a must have). This weekend feels like it has been a week long already, but we are all excited for tomorrow and the continuation of our training and the start of our adventures here with ArtFeeds! That is all for now folks, but pretty sure I think I'm gonna like it here. I want to share all the amazing things God has already done while I have been here, and I will share them tomorrow I promise. Here is our address if any of you would like to send anything!
302 S. Highland Ave. Joplin, MO 64801
Peace and Love Always