The search for a better future

Saturday, November 30th

Blog entry by: Jerrell Oates (McCrorey YMCA, Youth Services Coordinator)

As a wonderful journey in Senegal is winding down, I find myself having flash backs of my 1^st time on the plane, imagining what it would be like in Africa; and as I reflect in these  last moments with my teammates and new family of Senegal one thing is evident, my vision was real!  Senegal was a place of love, free spirited people, and a search for better opportunities.

The search for a better future is very evident in the city of Dakar.  The efforts being made to educate themselves and to provide and take care of their family is also at an all-time high, which made me very proud to be apart of the Senegalese culture.  Knowing that getting a good education is important for these families, and considering education as a top priority meant the world to me.  I had a student at a YMCA say to me with a strong accent “why don’t you know any other languages?”  I then said to her “in my country, it is required for us to learn Spanish in school, but any other foreign language is optional to learn.”  I then proceeded to tell her that I was very proud of her and that I would do better with brushing up on my French.  After speaking with this student, I started to think.  I thought about the communities and families of these students, and wondered how they are able to fund and provide for there families.

Having an occupation, trade, or skill is very important to have in Senegal.  In my opinion Compromising and Negotiating is the ultimate skill to possess.  There are a variety of skills and occupations that you see on regular bases that use these tactics. Just to name a few, you see hundreds of fruit markets. These fruit markets contain the greenest watermelon, with a fleshy red interior. (If you didn’t know, the Watermelon is thought to have originated in southern Africa, where it is found growing in the wild). 

Another occupation that is very popular in Senegal is Taxi Driving.  Majority of the cars that you see on the road in Dakar are Taxi’s.  You occasionally spot vehicles with the same purpose, such as buses, and vans.  I must say ….the vans are the most intriguing to me.  The back door of the van is always open, even when moving, and there is always a ladder attached to the back of each van which a person is usually riding on searching for customers.  There are even times when the worker on the ladder gets off to see if anyone needs assistance in the streets when the van proceeds to take off without him, leaving him with the only option to run and catch up with the van and hop on… dangerous right? Well I must say that they make it look easy. 

The most popular occupation in Senegal is the Markets.  The concept of a market is any structure that allows buyers and sellers to exchange any type of goods, services or information.  Market participants consist of all the buyers and sellers of a good, who influence its price.  The influence of a price, trade or good would be considered as compromising or negotiating.  If you are thinking about shopping in Senegal, Compromising and Negotiating is a good set of skills that you might want to obtain.  Being a tourist from another country and experiencing the market for the first time can be very overwhelming, and for me it was just that. 

Understanding the currency was also a difficult situation, and to be completely honest, I still don’t completely understand,  but thank God for Jack, Max, and Poppa Joe, our three main Tour Guide’s/Trip Leaders who helped us negotiate prices and get good deals.  The owners of the shop would lure you in by saying “hello my brother or hello my sister, wont you come take a look in my shop, you don’t have to buy just look”.  There communication and customer service skills are amazing.  Although there prices seem high and we eventually negotiate a lower price, you gain a greater understanding for the culture and a greater respect for the people.  I had to step back and process my emotions on how everything operates because everything was happening so fast, but one thing I took from this whole experience is that everything I bought was worth it.  I realized that compromising and negotiating is just apart of their everyday life.  They build everything from scratch, the creativity is like no other, the labor is unbearable, working non stop in 90 degree weather with a limited supply off tools and materials, and they all do it with the same goal in mind…. Support their families to ensure a better future for them.  

As I stated to my team members a number of times we were blessed with the opportunity to be able to represent the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, we are blessed to be able to live out the YMCA Mission, which is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirits, mind and body for all.  We are forever grateful for the experience Dakar provided us.

God I am thankful for every opportunity that you allow me to be a blessing to someone else, please continue to keep your loving arms around all of your people and continue to humble our spirits so that we do not take life for granted.  Help us to take this experience from Senegal, Dakar and apply it into our communities, to spread the word and make sure that we are doing our part to make this world a better place.  In Jesus name I pray amen.

 

Created by: Jerrell “Aggie” Moussa Oates.

 

Enjoying the ocean on the final day

Listening is essential to learning

Friday November 29th

Blog entry by: Kathryn Brody (Harris Y Leaders Club, Sophomore at South Meck HS)

From the time we are little we start to learn basic communication skills, such as how to talk, read and write. We quickly realize that these skills will help us get what we want, when we want it. But when and how do we start to listen? No one really teaches us how or shows us, it is just something that is programmed in us, an instinct. 

Listening is essential to learning. It is how you share and gather information from others. Not only is listening absorbing information but also analyzing and finding deeper meaning to what is actually being said. Very often listening is confused with hearing, which would bring me to assume that the deaf are unable to listen. This week I was able to see first-handed that is not the case at the school of the deaf in the Petri YMCA. Even though the participants are limited on physically hearing the words that are being spoken they are able to deprive meaning from motions, which is in their own way listening.

On this trip I have done a lot of listening. There are so many stories to be heard and so many points of views being shared and it really gets you to think about things in ways you would not have before. As the saying goes, “we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak,” and that expression has never rang truer than this week. We have all, as a group, done our best to absorb every detail from our meetings with the Senegalese YMCAs so that we are able to understand them and better share their stories later.

In all, this trip has gone by very quick! I cannot believe we are on the last couple days and this has been an amazing experience. We have made great relationships with our hosts and we could not have done so without the power of listening.

-Kathryn Brody

Could you survive without your local YMCA?

Thanksgiving Day, November 28th

Blog entry by: Megan Bushey (Harris Y Camp Counselor/Youth&Government, Senior at Charlotte Catholic HS)

Could you survive without your local YMCA? Would you just find another ' swim and gym'? Maybe if you lived in the U.S., but for the people in the village of Roff it's the YMCA that makes receiving aid possible.

The drive from Dakar was a long, and rather bumpy one. Earlier in the week our group had visited a slum in there and found a different type of poverty level that we had never experienced before. It still didn't prepare us for what we found in Roff. No electricity, no fresh or running water, and just the shade of the baobab trees to keep them and their reed huts cool. Agriculture is the main source of survival out here so when we visited the men were away tending the fields and livestock. Most of the women and children that greeted us did not have clean clothes or shoes.

Yet, with so much to want for they greeted us with a kind of hospitality that would put any southerner to shame. There wasn't a frown to be found for miles, and their smiles only grew wider when we revealed the gifts we had brought with us. Rice, soap, candy, water, clean shirts, and anti-malaria bed nets were the causes of their gratitude and joy. They even started singing about it.

It is villages and people like this that should inspire the YMCA to continue building healthy mind, body, and spirit for all. This is why we are not just 'swim and gyms', or childcare. We are educators, missionaries, and mentors. If you work the YMCA and care nothing for the welfare of your community then you are in the wrong occupation.

This week has opened me up to a whole other side of the YMCA that I never knew existed. The level of care and concern that the YMCAs of Senegal show for their communities is unparalleled, and they are able to do so much with so little. I hope that upon my return to the states that I can share my experience in such a way that we would be able to give more to these African YMCAs. 

Can I save the whole world? Absolutely not.  But I can share my experiences with my YMCA and inspire my community to help. Luckily in the United States our YMCAs receive enough funding so that they don't have to turn away new people, but the Senegal YMCAs do. Maybe our global service learning team will be the ones to change that. Besides, it only takes the moment of one pebble to change the course of an entire stream.

- Megan Bushey

Harris YMCA teen

The Door of No Return

Wednesday November 27
Blog entry by: Austin Neiheiser (Lake Norman YMCA, Sports Coordinator)

When we think of history we typically think of September 11, Independence Day, or even one of the World Wars. One might not associate Senegal with too much history but do not be mistaken! Today we had the pleasure to visit Goree Island and I found more than planned. It is in fact very rich in history and culture.

Austin, Jerrell & Deion with their new Senegalese friends at Goree Island.

Goree Island started off as a slave trade island that the Portuguese would use in order to keep slaves. They had a process and plan for every person brought to the island. The first step was to weigh each individual that came in. If they were a certain weight (about 130 lbs) they were sent into the next section to be sorted into rooms. If they did not meet that requirement, they were immediately sent into a room where they would be force fed until they were fattened up enough to make weight. They had rooms for infants, virgin women, all other women, and men. They also had what was the size of a cabinet under two stairways that was intended for people who misbehaved or violent. The last and worst room was intended for slaves that were so violent they were sent there to die. The reason they let them die off was in order to make an example out of them. At the back of the complex there is the door the slaves would exit to get on the boats called ‘The Door of No Return.’ This is because once they go through that door, they would never return! They said about 20 million slaves have made it to the island at one point but only 12 million would have lived through it.

Team at Goree island - viewing the rooms that held slaves before entering the Door of No Return.

 The culture on the island is just as interesting and eye opening! There are actually a few hundred people who live on the island to this day. It is a lower income area but they have no problem making do with that they have. It is a lot of selling of goods to tourist and people who visit the island and working in the shops.

Overall it was yet another fantastic and eye-opening day that I will never forget. The kinds of people and things you see are unforgettable and allows me to look at life in a whole new way. The history was very interesting and I loved learning and seeing how the island operates. I pray to be back sometime again!

Charlotte's Global Service Learning Team visiting Goree Island November 27th, 2013.

Merci!

Coach Austin

'My eyes have opened to see more of the world'

Tuesday November 26
Blog entry by: Deion Granger (Y Achievers Program, West Charlotte HS)

The YMCA Global Service Learning program is relevant to not only the YMCAs in America but it also holds an important porpose in the 100+ YMCAs located all throughout the world. The purpose of the global service learning program is to send young Y members to other countries to learn about the culture and learn about any problems that the countries are currently facing and to learn about their success to bring back knowledge to the united states to implement the knowledge learned to improve our communities and schools. 

Team hearing from National General Secretary Jean Bassene about the Senegal Y priorities and the Charlotte partnership.

This is the basic definition of the trip in which I believed, in until arriving in Senegal, but now just after two days my whole outlook on life changed I became more outspoken and have greatly improved on getting my feelings across even with a huge language barrier gap. My eyes have opened to see more of the world and able to understand the significance of events happening in other countries. To simply put what the first two days of this trip has showed me is that not only is everyone is a family in the YMCAs in America but we are all family in all of the YMCAs in the world -this is what global service learning is; a connection with all family around the world.

Conversation with Nico Gourdet (Y USA) talking about USA role in a global world.

-Deion Granger

West Charlottte HS Senior, Y Achievers Program

Knowledge is power

Monday, November 25th
Blog entry by: Raven Sutton (Morrison YMCA, Leaders Club, Junior at Ardrey Kell HS)

A lot of people underestimate the reading they do everyday and take it for granted. Those people also probably don't realize that somewhere- possibly very close to them -others are struggling to survive because they don't have this simple ability. As some dread going to school others realize that literacy is the key to success and making it out of poverty. 

Team learning about the importance of adult literacy

Luckily, my mother recognized the need for me to do well in school and always said "Knowledge is power" and this experience is making me see that she could not have been more correct. If someone is illiterate they can't read job ads, fill out job applications, or expand their minds with new information and that confines them to the same cycle of poverty.

Being able to read means always being able to communicate which will provide important connections to engage in the world. Here in the Senegal YMCAs the people thirst for knowledge. They are excited and grateful to go to school and be able to soak up all the information possible to make a way for themselves. 

Even in a place where a lot of families know at least 3 languages there are some who are illiterate in their own languages and don't know French or English so they don't get access to opportunity or other necessities like health care. "Illiteracy anywhere leads to poverty everywhere." -M. DeVaul. 

-Raven Sutton aka Rama (my Senegalese name)

Day 1: "We are One family, One YMCA"

Sunday November 24th

Blog entry by: Michael DeVaul (Sr. VP Organizational Advancement)

Lynn, Kathryn & Raven getting to know the local kids during today's city tour.

The team had a great first day.  We had a chance to tour the City of Dakar and see a few key monuments and historical places.  The team especially enjoyed walking into one of the neighborhoods and having a chance to interact with families. 


The team stopped for a visit in one of Dakar's local neighborhoods.

In the evening, we were officially welcomed by Joseph Coley and the Parcelles (teen/young adult) branch. In the words of Joseph "We are one family, One YMCA and we are blessed to share this partnership/collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte.

The team was grateful to have a welcome party hosted in its honor, where 100- 120 teens and young adults shared dance and singing from the Y Arts program. Every team member, jumped right in with no hesitation and fully embraced the dancing and singing extravaganza.

You could see each team member's personality coming to life. As you might remember, two years ago upon our visit, this was a dream of the Senegal YMCA to develop this program. Our challenge grant that we donated funds for in 2012 helped to purchase instruments and get this program started.

Y Arts Program focusing on young adults and their talent for singing/music at the Parcelles Y branch.

Our theme for the day was "what are we grateful for and what inspiration did we get from our arrival, first day". Lots to journal about last night!

- Michael DeVaul (trip leader)

YMCA of Greater Charlotte

VP Organizational Advancement

Officially arrived in Dakar

The team arriving to the Villa Rosa hotel in Dakar, Senegal. The week is about to get underway!

First in Flight!

The team all boarded and departing from Charlotte Douglas to Washington DC Dulles - everyone all smiles! For Deion Granger and Jerrell Oates (pictured seated together first row) this is their very FIRST flight experience. They look excited! And behind them Austin looks like he has on his napping goggles?
The flight to DC will be a warm up for the longer flight across the big pond to land in Dakar- the capital of the country of Senegal. Happy flying everyone!

2013 Global Service Learning Trip to West Africa

Today the YMCA of Greater Charlotte delegation is headed to Dakar, Senegal in West Africa where the group will visit and volunteer with the Senegal YMCA. Team members began their Global Service Learning experience this fall volunteering locally with the Y Readers program and have also committed to fundraising goals to suppor the project.

Team members include:

Kathryn Brody (Harris Y Leaders Club, Sophomore at South Meck HS)

Megan Bushey (Harris Y Camp Counselor/Youth&Government, Senior at Charlotte Catholic HS)

Deion Granger (Y Achievers, Senior at West Charlotte HS)

Raven Sutton (Morrison Y Leaders Club, Junior at Ardrey Kell HS)

Austin Neiheiser (Lake Norman Y staff, Sports Coordinator)

Jerrell Oates (McCrorey Y staff, Youth Services Coordinator)

Also traveling with the team are Michael DeVaul (Senior Vice President of Organizational Advancement) and Lynn Lomax (Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer). These senior staff members will help guide the continued strategic partnership and developments alongside Senegal's General Secretary Jean Bassene.

While in Senegal, team members will volunteer in the classrooms at the Senegal YMCA primary school, which currently serves 280 children ages 3-12. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte has helped to financially support the development and expansion of this school.

It's officially departure day Charlotte Douglas International Airport!

All we need is LOVE

 

The festival is winding down and we are nearing the last moments we will have with the YMCA's from around the world. As I sit to fully reflect on the memories and experiences we have had this week, I find one word that describes them all: Love.

Recently, we visited the "Lennon Wall" near the Charles bridge and a quote was written in faded white paint that read "we accept the love we think we deserve."  However, after this experience, there is a change id like to make which is that we give the love believe others deserve. The ultimate lesson from this festival is that EVERYONE is deserving of our love.

 

We work for the YMCA because we love our communities and give our time, resources, and talent to the cause of the YMCA because we love the mission of the YMCA. This festival has shown us that while the YMCA is the largest youth organization in the world, it spans 119 countries and retains its influence because its mission teaches us to love each other.

As we near the end of our trip, we have bonded together and learned to love ourselves as well. We have learned to believe in our individual talents and not to fear our own god given potential. What an amazing organization the ymca is to provide a catalyst for youth to showcase their talents all across the world.

We are inspired to return to Charlotte to begin work on the "rest of our lives." I know, in my heart, that our work and purpose from this point forward will be to help, teach, and love others. This is what the Y-Europe festival has meant to us and we will forever be impacted by this experience.

We thank the YMCA of greater Charlotte for giving us this opportunity. Charlotte is an amazing place to live and we cannot wait to come home. Tomorrow will be our last day in Prague!

Adam Esmaeel

Harris YMCA


Check out Y USA videos to see and hear from the U.S. delegates during their experience in Prague!

Facebook Video Channel:

https://www.facebook.com/YMCA/app_190322544333196

YouTube Video Channel (recommended for smart phones and tablets):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtpLsCumzoo3e0MJvGaEoMlfAGer37oD5

We can be unstoppable

Hello!

We are fresh off a very inspiring night where the "Stop Poverty" group gave an amazing performance which pumped up almost 5,000 people in attendance. This group has been focusing on mobilizing youth from around the world to combat poverty in their communities. The performance consisted of songs performed by the group, videos of poverty statistics, and inspirational quotes and speeches. One of my favorite quotes of the night was "the world has enough to provide for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed" by Mahatma Gandhi. We began to see deep within ourselves and reevaluate how we utilize our own resources.

I'd also like to share some lyrics from the song they created:

"Nothing is impossible

We are all responsible

We can be unstoppable

Believe the unbelievable

 

Be the change you want to be

Be the change you to see

We can stop poverty!"

 

I could see our teens really get in to this performance, especially when they showed the difference young people have made in the past with regards to apartheid, slavery, and overall civil rights. In the middle of a song, I overheard Ariel turn to Jordan and say "girl...we have to make a change." I could not be happier with this experience.
 
We have spent the remainder of this day getting know more people, especially folks from the United States. Our new friends are Garrett from Kansas City, Chris from Jacksonville, Troy from Marquette, and Phillip from India. So many of our programs are shared across state, national, and global borders. It has been great to learn so much about how others innovate their programming.

Lastly, I'm happy to share that our most valuable connection has been with the group from Mexico City. They have been so welcoming, kind, and caring. Given that Charlotte has a large Hispanic population, it has been quite interesting learning about how the YMCA in Mexico caters to their population.

Only one more day left in the festival and two more days until we hop on a plane to return home. Can't wait for tonight's performances!

Adam Esmaeel

Harris YMCA Teen Director

 

Not all those who wonder are lost

Evie & Allison enjoying the local cuisine in the old city.

 

 

Hello from Prague!

 

Today was "city day" for our team, which we spent most of at the Prague Castle. The Basilica of St. George was breathtaking! One of the most amazing aspects was the gothic architecture, which highlighted important events in Christian history. With several renderings of Jesus on the cross and a 300 year-old painting of Palm Sunday, the cathedral truly renewed our faith in god and each other.

 Our teens, Beau, Ariel, and Jordan, made us so proud as they soaked up all the information that was given. It's so inspiring to me, as an adult, to see our teens absorb the lessons that another culture has to offer. I could see them start to remove their own personal cultural biases and begin to look at the world through renewed appreciation for different cultures and lifestyles.

 Our companion Allison, who works at Community Development, has taken us all under her wing and led our group through the often confusing streets of Prague. What's truly amazing about Allison is her patience for our complaints and her perseverance to help us find the most inspiring sites around Prague. We would all be truly lost without her!

 Lastly, a festival highlight id like to highlight is the YMCA RGE, which is a global advocacy team that highlights environmental activism and global climate issues. They also work closely with the United Nations in empowering youth to improve the environment in their community.  This group has spent the day petitioning to get recycling services added to the festival site. Their website  is www.action.ymca.int/RGE.

 

We are enjoying our time here and can't wait to put together our presentation to highlight all the YMCA services around the world!

-Adam Esmaeel

We Are the Future

Uh-Hoy! (Hello in Czech)

 It's the second full day for our team and it has been quite a day! It has been record temperatures here and we have been doing our best to stay cool and drink lots of water! The first performance of the festival was an amazing show which highlighted the impact on the YMCA's global movement.

 The message of the night was leading through compassion, empathy, and faith. Our leadership, as young people, is being guided toward inspiring ourselves and others to be "change agents" for positive change. I heard one of our teens, Jordan, say an inspiring quite last night when she said "the burden of the future is on us because we are the future...we have to be driven to inspire ourselves and others." I was amazed at how eloquent she was after only the first day!

Today's workshops were "Find your spark" and "Leading tween programs," both of which were geared around intentional goal setting, understanding our community's needs, and learning from other ymca's around the world. Our new friends today were Shaun from New Zealand, Tom from England, Roope from Finland, and Alicia from Australia.

 Lastly, we are so very inspired to learn more about Norway's "Stop Poverty Now" program, aimed at teens being engaged in eradicating poverty in their communities. More info to come about this soon! Thank you all so much for affording us this amazing opportunity!

 -Adam Esmaeel

Harris YMCA Teen Director

"Y People" from all around the world

Hello Guys!!

 I'm writing to you from a small coffee shop in the heart of "old town" in Prague. It's been 24 hours since we've landed and there have been so many experiences. What's truly amazing is how you can tell the difference between a "Y Person" and everyone else. "Y-People" from all around the world are quick to say hello, offer their help and services, and give you whatever you need without even asking. I thought this was only in the United States, but it's clear this is the "Y Way" all over the world.

So far, we have made many friends like Patricia from Mexico, Bombozo from South Africa, Samuel from the YMCA world alliance, and Prince from San Francisco. In our hostel alone, we have folks from Malaysia, Africa, and all across the United States.

My goal is to send an email everyday to keep you all informed and to show you what your amazing and influential support has provided for our group traveling to Prague. The festival was cancelled last night because of rain and is starting today at 5pm. My workshops will be "Active Leadership" and the "Pacific Institute - Developing and teaching effective thinking skills." Our workshops are separated into categories: Healthy Living, Global Studies, and Faith.

 Ariel, Beau, Allison, Evie, and Jordan are also taking different classes in hope that we will each bring a different experience to share. I can't wait to tell you all about the start of the festival and thank you for supporting us on this wonderful experience!

 -Adam Esmaeel

Harris YMCA Teen Director

Destination Prague!

After months of anticipation awaiting today's August 4th date the team from Charlotte is ready to board the plane for their adventure across the pond!

2013 YMCA Europe Festival

The 2013 Europe Festival is a week-long international youth event. It is the largest international YMCA youth gathering - uniting 10,000 young people from around the world. Based on the theme LOVE2LIVE, participants will explore the power and potential of youth to make a positive social impact both locally and globally.

The event will be held in Prague, Czech Republic August 4-10, 2013. YMCA Europe Festival is a unique opportunity for young people to build leadership skills and cultural competencies while strengthening their commitment to the global Y Movement.

To support development of our future global leaders the YMCA of Greater Charlotte is sending a delegation of six team members (Y teens and Y staff ages 13-30) to participate in the 2013 Youth Festival. The team has particpated in fundraising and service-learning before the festival. They will also commit to presentations about their experience upon returning.

2013 Youth Festival team members: Our future Global Ambassadors!

• Jordan Williams (16, West Charlotte High School, Y Achievers, McCrorey YMCA)
• Ariel Outland (16, South Meck High School, Camp counselor/teen volunteer, Harris YMCA)
• Beau DeVaul (16, Mallard Creek High School, Leaders club/teen volunteer, University City YMCA)
• Adam Esmaeel (24, Teen Director, Harris YMCA)
• Allison Jones (22, Admin Assistant, YMCA Community Development)
• Evie Inigo (24, Lead teacher, Afterschool Inclusion Based Program, McCrorey YMCA)

And Now Back to the States

The worst part of traveling always is returning home. Not only do you have a bunch of dirty laundry to unpack, but you are constantly faced with the question, "how was your trip!?" How do you describe the relationships formed and the experiences had? How do you relay the sights, smells, and sounds of this other culture that gave you a completely new understanding? 

Last night at dinner, our whole group went around and shared with Forsan, the CEO of the JIY, the most impactful part of our trip. Now, we all had an extremely difficult time coming up with just one peice to share, but when it came down to it, our group agreed that we found inspiration and were really impacted by the unexpected experiences on this trip.

For me, coming to the Holy Land meant seeing all sorts of sights that are significant to my faith. I expected to have my mind blown by standing in the same places that Jesus and His followers stood, by swimming in the very waters that Jesus walked on, and by running my hands through the river that Jesus was baptized in. Now, don't get me wrong, that was indeed mind blowing, however,I never expected to learn so much, to have my outlook change so significantly, or to become as emotionally invested with the work of the Jerusalem International YMCA. To begin with, I had no idea of the magnitude of the political and religious tensions felt in this area and their effects on the people living there. And, as I have said before, these issues are extremely complicated and I still don't fully understand them (and probably never will.) However, after listening to the stories of all of the people (especially from Forsan, the night he took us to he olive trees in his village) I now see the great necessity for peace work, like that of the JIY. 

I take back to Charlotte with me a new knowledge, interest, and desire to help in whatever capacity I can from afar. I don't know whether I will have the opportunity to travel to this part of the world again or not, but I will carry the impact that this trip has left on me forever.

Written by Katey Calhoun 

The Final Day

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes this morning as I groggily rolled over to turn off my alarm. Ugh. Already 5am? Somehow, I convinced myself to get out of bed and I stumbled out onto the balcony. What awaited me was the most gorgeous sunrise I have ever seen, over the Sea if Galilee. The dozens of pictures I took of it will not suffice as I try to explain the beauty of this manifestation of God's love and provision for us. So I guess you could say that I thought it was definitely worth it to wake up a little early today. 

Our team met up in the office of the Peniel YMCA, bright and early, to experience fishing on the Sea of Galilee. There was a kind fisherman, who did not speak a work of English, waiting to take two of us at a time out on his boat. We would like to say that "we caught 8 fish!" But the truth is, all we did was silently sit and watch the fisherman work. 

After some sightseeing in Cana and Nazareth, we headed back to the JIY. We had some time before meeting up with Forsan and his wife, Reem, for dinner, so my dad and I ventured into the Old City one last time to find the Golden Gate, or the gate that Jesus used through on His entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The gate is not what you call a tourist attraction, considering its is closed until Jesus comes again and it is on the very far side of the city. After a pretty long trek there, we found it! The worst part was when my dad decided to use his instincts to find a "shortcut" all the way on the outside of the city walls, resulting in a LONG journey back to the hotel. 

Our dinner was a great one, filled with great time as a team and with our new friends. Our team all took turns to share one thing that has been impactful during the trip, and I had such a difficult time thinking of just one. This trip has been eyeopening. I came in thinking that the only meaningful experiences would come from seeing the Holy Sites, but I found that our time at the YMCA had such a greater effect on me than I ever expected. The people we have met and the stories that they have told us have taught me so much, and the words shared around the table from the team tonight reflected this same idea over and over.

Written by Katey Calhoun 

Meaningful experiences

This morning was our last day in Peniel and I'm sad that I won't be able to look outside the window and see the glorious Sea of Galilee. We woke up very early to go in a boat with a local fisherman and we ended up catching 8 fish! We then left to go to Cana, the place that Jesus turned water into wine. After that we left and went to Nazareth where it is said that the annunciation that Mary would give birth to Jesus happened. The structures were miraculous and the history behind all of the sights were unlike anything I've seen before. Soon after we went back to Jerusalem. 

We had our farewell dinner with Forsan and his wife Reem. We were asked by Andy, our CEO, to share the most meaningful part of the trip around the table. Many different answers were given but they all had a universal theme and that was that everyone was shocked by the difficulties that people in this country go through. All the struggles are hard for us to comprehend because none of us have ever had to think about the things they have to think about. Needless to say, things got emotional. What an impactful few days we have had. We have met some incredibly inspiring and selfless people- who put the well being of those around them before their own. We have met so many passionate people who all want peaceful coexistence in their nation. These people are willing to go through whatever takes to make the place more peaceful. I left that dinner feeling extremely inspired and touched by the things I have learned. This is an experience I will never forget. 

Written by: Katie Taylor 

From the beginning of time

Today we went to a number of places- Capernaum the place where St. Peter lived, the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Serman on the Mount, Tabgha where Jesus fed 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. But by far the most amazing thing we saw today was when we went to the Kibbutz to look at a 2000 year old boat that was found at the bottom of the Sea of Galilee. It is said that this boat may have been used during the times of Jesus. Two brothers found the boat during a drought and many people around the country came to see the incredible boat. 

It is interresting to me that the community came together to help preserve this boat. It didn't matter at that moment in time what religion or race everyone was. Their differences were put aside during the excavation of this boat that many had been hoping to find for quite some time. 

Written by: Katie Taylor 

Universal Goals

Today was the day that I could finally visualize it. As I sat on a wall by the fence on the Mount of the Beatitudes, reading Matthew 5-7 (The Sermon on the Mount), and gazing past the edge of the church property towards the untouched mountainside, I could just see Jesus teaching His followers. I could picture Jesus speaking in the synagogue in Capernaum and I could hear Him calling out for Peter to step out of the boat as I looked out upon the Sea of Galilee. It gave me chills to know that I was in the same exact locations that Jesus was 2000 years ago.

But aside from the typical tourist activities that our morning was filled with, we, of course, spent time at the Y. The very first thing that we did today was go on a tour of the YMCA retreat center that we are staying at. Despite the many obvious differences such as language, location, community needs, and short term goals, when it comes down to it, YMCA long-term goals are the same everywhere. In Charlotte, we may work to reduce the effects of the achievement gap in schools, and here, they work towards reconciliation and peace within the religious divisions among young people, but overall, we are all just trying to make a better world for future generations around us. In NC, the staff and volunteers work together to build the playgrounds that are at the branches, and in Israel, we pitch in to pick up trash that has scattered along the coast of the Sea of Galilee, however, in the end, we are all trying our best to improve the situation of our current surroundings. It brings joy to my heart when I see the "body, mind, and spirit" motto not only proclaimed on signs, but also in the actions of all involved in the YMCA, regardless of their location on the globe.

Written by Katey Calhoun 

The view of the Sea of Galilee from the Peniel YMCA balcony

Speechless

Today was probably the most insightful day so far. We learned about the Baha'i religion and toured the Baha'i gardens, which were so meticulously and beautifully cut by the 70 plus gardeners. We had the honor of going to Forsan's house, who is our incredible host and the CEO of the JIY, in Sha'Ab, to meet his family and have fresh fruit and small snacks with them. He then took us to these 2000 year old Olive trees where he played as a child. We all knew bits and pieces of Forsan's life before today but he actually sat us down and told us everything about his life. He has such a miraculous story that none of us knew what to say afterwards. We were literally speechless. We then drove to the Peniel to stay at the YMCA here for 2 nights. It sits right on the Sea of Galilee....as iif we hadn't already experienced enough today. We had the chance to eat dinner with Eddie, the manager of the Peniel YMCA and he explained the significance of the Y in his life.

The Y has always played a huge role in my life because I literally grew up there. Back home I have come across many people who have had life changing experiences at the Y. But it is an amazing experience to come to another country to meet people who have also had life changing experiences through the Y as well. Who knew that the Y would be this impactful to people all over the world. What an amazing organization we associate ourselves with. I have never been more proud to say I am an employee, volunteer, and lover of the YMCA. 

Written by: Katie Taylor 

Kind of Hard to Describe

So here I am. The cool breeze blowing on me from the Sea of Galilee as I reflect upon another fantastic day here in The Holy Land. Its somewhat difficult to write about all that I am experiencing when I, myself, have not fully digested it all.

We began with a walk to The Church of the Holy Sepulcher to observe the service that happens there on Sunday mornings. I was pleasantly surprised when I understood about 1% of the Latin mass thanks to my Music 101 class from this past semester at Wheaton College (thanks Dr. Trotter!) I really enjoyed watching the many different people that came to the church, both visitors and locals alike, for a common reason, illustrating the similarities that humans can have, despite many differences in our lives. 

We then hit the road and went to Akko for "the best falafel sandwich in the world" (or so claimed Forsan, the CEO of the JIY and our host.) Even if we may have had initial doubts (we had eaten some dang good falafel), we definitely all agreed with him by the end of our lunch! After that, we went to the Baha'i gardens, which were not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also very educational for all of us that knew nothing about the Baha'i faith.

Next, we traveled to Sha'ab, to eat and spend time with Forsan's parents in his home. We then sat under an olive tree and had the opportunity to hear Forsan's story and some of his background in peacemaking. This was an incredible experience for all of us and, as my dad said, it was "not something that I could learn in any classroom." 

We finished our day in Peniel, the YMCA retreat center on the Sea of Galilee. We shared fish that had been caught in the sea and had the chance to meet Eddie, the director of the Peniel YMCA. Before going to bed, I tried to take a picture of the unbelievable view off of our balcony of the huge moon above the Sea of Galilee, but I found that I could not quite capture the moment the way that I wanted to. I guess that is a good illustration of this once in a lifetime trip. We can blog about it, take pictures, and tell stories, but each moment is so unique and impossible to recreate, adding to how special this opportunity really is.

Written by Katey Calhoun 

Unbelievable

What a day! This whole trip, I have just had to pinch myself over and over. I have to constantly remind myself that I really did put my hand in the Jordan River, the very waters in which Jesus was baptized, I actually looked at the tree that Zaccheus climbed up as he watched Jesus enter the city, and I did indeed see the mountain that Jesus fasted for 40 days on, before being tempted by the devil.
But today, as I gazed upon these amazing sights, walked around Masada, an ancient palace built by Herod and turned into a Jewish rebel camp, and floated in the Dead Sea (which, by the way, was one of THE COOLEST things that I have ever gotten to do), that I could almost begin to picture these ancient stories playing out in front of me. Maybe its the history nerd in me, but I am so fascinated by the thought that these stories that I have only read about and studied, are now all around me.
A huge piece of this absolutely incredible trip for me, however, has been the people that we have met and spent time with. Tonight at dinner, I just sat back from the conversation and the laughter and smiled as I reminded myself that I was sitting in Jericho, eating grilled meats, surrounded by the most wonderful people that I am now lucky enough to call my friends. I know that the trip is only half way finished, but I get a little upset at the thought of parting from these people and this amazing land.

Written by Katey Calhoun

The surface of the Sun

Let me start off by saying today was HOT like really hot. We woke up and started on our journey to Masada, one of Emperor Harod of Rome's palaces (originally) but was used by Jewish rebels during the invasion of Jerusalem. It was under Roman siege for 2 years. The Jewish rebels who took refuge in the palace had to make the decision to either be Roman slaves or to die. They slit the throats of their own children and wives, and then took their own lives. We were able to go around the palace, which by the way was built in 1st century BC. 

Of course it wasn't a palace anymore but there were still some original mosaics and stone work from that period. This palace was built on the edge of a mountain top overlooking the Dead Sea. It must've been a mile long because whenever we thought we had seen the whole palace it just kept going. It was almost surreal to imagine what it actually looked like at the time it was built. There were grand bath tubs, pools, and columns with (what looked like) beautiful detailing. 

These past couple of days we have seen things that I had no idea even existed. I can't help but be extremely grateful for having this opportunity to come to Israel to learn more about the cultures and history that is not my own. 

Written by: Katie Taylor 

At The Dead Sea

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte representatives learning about the  skin benefits of the Dead Sea....but really just playing in the mud. :)

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Remember those storybook Bibles that we had as kids? You know, the ones with the cute little pictures that illustrated the stories inside? Well, Somehow that is the mental image that I had as we drove into Bethlehem today. Just as you may expect, however, Bethlehem is not still this "little town." There is a huge church, the Church of the Nativity, that is there now, and hundreds of people come to visit. We were among those visitors yesterday. We had the opportunity to see exactly where Jesus was born (now with altars and paintings to honor Him) down in this grotto sort of place. 

Another big piece of what we did today was learning about the politics in this area of the world. We traveled to the Ramallah YMCA to see the the building that is under construction there, we visited the East Jerusalem YMCA, and we enjoyed a performance by a youth choir made up of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian teens. Everywhere we went we had the chance to hear the stories and experiences of all the people we met. I thought that I had a basic understanding of the political tensions felt in this area, but, much like the city of Jerusalem itself, this issue has many many layers. Every Y director, employee, and youth choir member had their own point of view to share with us. To say that the political situation is multifaceted would be a massive understatement. Just like the church in Bethlehem, and how it was much more modern and complicated than I thought it would be, there is much more to the politics in this area than any outsider could understand. Every individual has their own set of beliefs, experiences, and opinions surrounding the tensions of this area, and the best response that I can come up with is just to listen and absorb all that they have to share. So far I have learned so much from the people that I have met here, and I am very excited for how much I will continue to learn during my time here. 

Written by: Katey Calhoun