This summer I am working at Preston Taylor Ministries, PTM, with the Summer SaLT program—servant and leadership training. Summer SaLT consists of a group of fifteen rising fifth and sixth graders who come to PTM Tuesday thru Friday. Luckily, I am not alone in the program. I am joined by volunteers Joy and Jessie. Jessie, a college student, wants to become an inner-city teacher.
Last week was very action packed. As
part of the program, we take field trips on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
On Tuesday, the group piled into three cars and drove an hour to a
small, family owned dairy farm. Both the kids and I enjoyed petting
goats—both adult and baby—playing with the huge Pyrenees dogs
charged with protecting the animals from coyotes, and watching pigs
run around in the mud. Thursday, we traveled to Cumberland Park next
to LP Field to play in the fountains. Once again, I enjoyed the
playing in the fountains as much as the kids. I even saw Lauren,
another Turner Fellow, with a group of fifty-six from Fannie Battle.
Friday, five kids and I went to Jessie’s house to cook banana bread
and go swimming. Jessie's house was those five kids' favorite day of
the week. Two of them enjoyed playing with Jessie’s dogs and went
so far as to feed one of the dogs a sock.
My first full week at PTM was one to
remember, and eye-opening to say the least. I was nervous on Tuesday
because I was the new one in the group after missing the first week
of the program due to a church mission trip to Honduras. I have
already formed strong relationships with the kids and look forward to
sharing more experiences with them. This week we are going hiking
in Edwin Warner Park and visiting the law offices of Waller Lansden
followed by a trip to the Bicentennial fountains.
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