Where I'm At...

This post is so you can know how to be praying for me about my next five months here in Charleston and if you want to join in prayer or support for the next year you will know how you can. (yes, it's extremely humbling and even embarrassing to ask for help as a 30 year old for your basic needs to be met).

The next five months of preparation here in Charleston look like this:

• Work every day from 9-5 pm
• I start my part time job today at Verde to help pay for my tuition that is $6,950.00 and due January 1.
• Moving with my roommates into their new two bedroom apartment in Sept. where I will be sleeping on couch/extra space so I can save money on rent. Please pray for my heart on this one... I really hate feeling like a project and am just struggling over all with it.
• Try to squeeze in any self practice or dance I can for jazz, tap, ballet but most classes are while I am working my new part time job so I will be attempting to do this on my own. Please pray for discipline and to practice things exactly as I learned them in NYC so I don't develop bad habits on my own.
• Attempt to lose some weight. I really went through some serious depression and some hard things in life from 2013 until now and I am an emotional eater so I gained 50 pounds. I really would like to get it off before going so I can be strong and be my best for this incredible year.
• I will be performing with Art Forms and Theatre Concepts in the role as Kimber in the play "Stick Fly" for the MOJA festival in Sept/Oct at Dock Street Theatre. This play is pretty intense and addresses some heavy stuff. This is my last hurrah in the Charleston Theatre community and my first straight play here. I'm excited for an opportunity to be stretched and grow in this way and to apply things I learned in NYC. Praying this play opens up dialogue about racism, classism, etc. and fosters healthy communication on the issues that leads to love and change.
• Selling any and everything I don't NEED/USE to make extra money. So if there is something of mine you love, let me know... I may be selling it to help with this journey. :)
• Transparency here: Battling depression. I have had such a hard time since being back from NYC. Going from walking around and moving all day for transportation then dancing several hours out of the day and pursing your dream to sitting behind a computer all day...just SITTING and typing... I am struggling! Please be praying for me to get over that and then be motivated to get to work physically when I'm done so I can maintain my skills I learned there.
• Raising money for my tuition and basic needs for a whole year. Below is a breakdown of what I am working to figure out:
• $6,950 for tuition for a year of studying at Sight & Sound and performing in their ensemble for the shows Jonah & The Miracle of Christmas
• Monthly living expenses for 12 months which I think I can get by with $700-750 a month to cover my car/food/health insurance. I am planning on eating PBJ, Rice/Beans, anything I can live on very cheaply and am praying for a host family type situation so I won't have to pay rent for housing. If that doesn't pan out it will go up with rent added.
• Laptop and Printer for school work (or someone who can fix one that was given to me but had previously crashed. As of now I can only play DVDs on it.)
• Praying for a host family that will let me live with them for a year (or an arrangement between multiple families that will piece together to make up the year of housing)
• Praying for deep friendships there and an incredible learning experience where I honor Christ and grow immensely in him and in my craft! I am the oldest of the classmates so of course I fear being lonely/alone.
• My time at sight and sound will include classes all day such as discipleship, stage combat, ballet, stage makeup, music theory, voice lessons, equestrian (b/c they use real horses in the shows), speech classes, acting, etc. Then at night we will be performing in all of the shows for the whole season. It is a very intense schedule and they highly recommend no working while you are there so you can rest on the very sparce time off we do get. I would be open to doing a flexible type job where I can pick up work or do it during my lunch if anyone knows of a remote/online type flexible opportunity or anything like that to help cover expenses.
• As of yet... I'm not sure if I will set up a go-fund me. I did that for NYC and I honestly just feel horrible doing it again. Many people have asked...so there's that. Just pray for wisdom on what to do about that how to proceed if I fall short of finances after 5 months of my new part time job, selling stuff and saving on rent. If you feel lead to give otherwise just shoot me a message and we can chat/pray about it. Thanks!