Diana, my supervisor, is wonderful. Apart from working her darndest to help victims, she's always allowed my to ask whatever questions I have without feeling silly. To top it off, she helped me settle into my apartment. She found a friend of her's that was willing to let me borrow a bed for a year. My alternative was an air mattress. Needless to say, the real bed was much appreciated. In addition to the bed, she had an extra microwave that I am able to use for the year. Being able to borrow these more expensive household items meant I could buy other things that might have had to be put on the back burner for a while. Case and point: a vacuum cleaner. Not absolutely necessary, but it sure is nice to have a clean floor. Especially in the aftermath of a crafting spree.
Diana also introduced me to many people around town and the courthouse. Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming. What I find hilarious is that everyone I meet here, without fail, gives me a bless-your-little-heart face when they hear I'm from Florida.
The local paper in Deer Lodge has been really good about covering a lot of the activities and information from the Victim Assistance office. Since I've been here, they wrote an article about the fact that there was a new VISTA, and on about the volunteer interest meeting we had. Their support is definitely a great way for us to encourage community awareness and involvement. One of my responsibilities is to write a column every month. Here's my first one!
If you're reading this Melissa, recognize that picture? : ) I still owe you for being fabulous.
It's a very rewarding job but very challenging at the same time. People come in and out of Diana's office all day long. She told me that last year alone she had 94 new clients. That 94 more people who have somehow been abused, mistreated, or misused, usually by someone that "loves" them. I went to a conference hosted by the Montana Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence this past week. Organizations from all over the state who work with victims were in attendance. I guess I never realized just how much it happens. I knew that people were hurt by others but knowing a state with less than a million people has such a demand for these services seems a bit overwhelming. From what I understand, domestic violence is often worse in rural settings, but obviously can and does happen to people from all over with varied backgrounds and ethnicities. I intend to add a tab to the top of this blog to add resources on the subject as I come across them.
This is why I am here. Not because I know anything about domestic violence, or violence of any kind for that matter. But because I know blessings. I want to help to be a blessing to someone who might just need a smile. Who needs to know someone cares about them and is working to make their life better. One of my jobs is to try to enlist volunteers from the community to help with community awareness projects. That has been an uphill climb so far and I still have a long way to go but I think I understand it better now at least. Before, I thought community awareness was about opening eyes the the fact that others are hurting. Now I see that it's also about letting those who are hurting know that they are not alone, and someone just might be able to help them. I would ask each of you who read this to say a little prayer when you think about it for those who are suffering, for those who are trapped, and for those who fear they will be found after they leave. I know I can't fix the world, especially not in a year. But I've seen prayer and hard work accomplish an awful lot.
Through it all one thing is certain to me, God does not forsake His children.
