Monday, July 24 -- Update and Check In Report -- Chair -- Pr. Patti, and Deacon Intern D'Etta
435 hours completed, highlights include:
Synod Assembly participation and workshop presentations, meeting people
Affirm participation and Small Group leadership, Workshop Presenter, building relationships, meeting people
Koinonia Justice Academy -- Pisgah Child Development Center
Yoga with Lexington UMC VBS, Camp T.A.L.K., AfterSchool Zone
Pisgah Chair, Pool, Drumming; Platt Springs UMC Mat Yoga
Seminary Chair Yoga
Yoga Therapy -- Training and Practicum
Lilly Grant Foundation Application with Virginia and Rocky Mountain Synods
Rest as Resistance by Tricia Hershey -- https://a.co/d/9p0UAaf
Growth: confidence, developing authority and identity, processing death of close friend, exploration of shadow self with spiritual director, investigating Enneagram #7 with Enneagram Coach and ELCA Deaconess Community Candidate Mentor, less is more, navigation of technology (Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Premeire Elements), logstics: Airbnbs/travel
Looking ahead:
July - November -- meeting with internship committee as possible
July 30-August 4 -- Lutheridge, NC -- help with devotions and work with units
August 11-13 -- East Coast Yoga Therapy,-- Unit C Ayurveda* Part 1 Training (ZOOM) *Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga for health and nutrition
August 14-18 -- Diakonia Of The Americas and Caribbean, Minneapolis
August 18-20 -- ELCA Deaconess Community Assembly, Minneapolis -- assist with worship, candidate reception
August 21 -- Lutheran Theological Fall Term begins -- (1) Introduction to Theology and (2) Lutheranism in North America
August 25- 27 -- East Coast Yoga Therapy -- Unit D Ayurveda Part 2 Training (ZOOM)
September 14-17 -- East Coast Yoga Therapy -- Module 13 Digestive System Training, Clemmons, NC
September 24-29 -- Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta
September 29-October 1 -- SES Confirmation, Lutheranch, GA
October 5-8 -- ELCA Deaconess Community Fall Formation, Omaha
October 9-15 -- SES Fall Convocation
October 16-18 -- NC Fall Convocation
October 30-31 -- LTSS Internship Retreat, Catholic Conference Center, Hickory, NC
November 9-12 -- East Coast Yoga Therapy -- Module 14 General Health, Greensboro, NC'
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Feedback for Pastor Justin for Check In Evaluation:
Pastor Eller, I pray you are doing well this evening. D'Etta has been a wonderful Yoga Instructor these past few weeks that I've been with our small exercise group. She makes yoga interesting and fun with all the various stretches using our chairs. I feel a positive change in my well-being. During our meditation time, she shares stories that help take my mind off the "hustle and bustle" of life and focuses it back on God. Our small group is enjoying our time together in yoga, and I can sense that D'Etta enjoys what she's doing for God's Kingdom.
Blessings,
Danielle DuBose
Good Morning,
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to share with you about D’Etta Broam and how wonderful she has been with our kids at Camp T.A.L.K. We serve individuals with Autism during the summer. We work on a variety of social skills as well as Self Advocacy. D’Etta came 2 different times during our camp and led our Campers & staff in yoga that included lessons in anger management, breathing / calming skills, and self esteem. She managed to incorporate literacy as well as the Fruits of the Spirit. We just love her energy and enthusiasm! We love her love for our kids. 😊 I appreciate that she wanted to know the skills that we were working on & jumped right in.
For one activity in particular, she had students sort scenarios into two groups: things that are in your circle of control and those that are not. They actually placed cards either inside a hula hoop or outside of it. She followed up by guiding them in practicing appropriate responses. We just love D’Etta and find her to be a wonderful asset for our program.
If you would ever like to speak with me, feel free to call. My number is: 803 466-7387.
Karissa Cockrell
Director & Founder,
Camp T.A.L.K.
Pastor Justin:
D’Etta asked me to share a couple of sentences with you about my yoga experience with her. Please be forewarned that I cannot communicate anything in just a couple of sentences.
I first came to know D’Etta last fall when she was looking to start a yoga class on the LTSS campus. Since my responsibilities here include our online newsletter, she asked for my help in assessing interest and then promoting classes.
At the time I had been dealing with a painful foot issue and using a knee scooter for mobility. All I knew about yoga was one class I attended a number of years ago. I knew my current physical condition would not allow my body to get involved in that type of movement. As I saw D’Etta on campus one afternoon, I blurted out a thought that had just come in my head, “Is there any way I could participate in yoga?” And that’s how we began meeting together in an individualized seated class.
Fast forward some months and finally a medical intervention helped my foot greatly. While I no longer need the knee scooter, I am still limited in how far I can walk or put weight on my left foot at one time. As D’Etta and I went into yoga for the summer, we remain seated, though from time to time she inserts a standing position, which I can now tolerate.
So, what I have gained from yoga? Do you have all day? No, only kidding. The first thing D’Etta’s efforts did for me was to instill confidence at a time when I had been dealing and pain and limitations for so long. What a blessing to feel a little more normal because I could do yoga.
I appreciate how D’Etta infuses her classes with the Lord, whether in word or song, or reading a piece written by another Christian. That class I attended years ago? I left with a strange feeling after the instructor talked about her altar at home with various statutes and gods on it. I can never get enough of Christ, so she has been a wonderful supplement to the other ways I fill my life with him.
Through our weekly sessions, I am gradually opening myself up more to relaxation. With some things in life, I am a slow learner, and relaxation is definitely one of them. I remember when we first started and deep breathing felt like a simple, yet impossible task. “I can’t slow down and breathe,” I thought. Over time I have stopped fighting myself and actually embrace the breathing and stretching. One of my goals now is to make yoga a regular part of my routine outside of our class. While I want to, and know how helpful it will be, I still get stuck by the voice inside of me that says I don’t have time for yoga when there are so many other things that need doing.
While I certainly could write more, I’ll end with the way that some of our sessions wind down. I love D’Etta’s guided meditations. Those and the lavender-scented washcloths she always has at the ready transport me to an incredible, peaceful place.
Diane J. Epperly
Administrative Assistant – Lenoir-Rhyne University Columbia Campus
& Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Greetings Pastor Eller.
I just wanted to tell you that D'Etta is my yoga instructor at Pisgah Lutheran. She brings out the best in everyone with her kindness and generosity. Her yoga is for mind, body and soul. She makes us laugh and gives us reminders that help us be the best we can be.
Sandy
I would like to say that D’Etta teaching chair yoga at Pisgah church has meant so much to me physically and mentally in a Christian way. She always brings scripture into her training process. Very unique. Never been in a yoga class like D’Etta before. Never boring. Each week has a different Christian theme.
Johnnie
Hi, Justin!
I meant to email you earlier today! My apologies! Full day at Justice Academy!
D’Etta, as always, is doing an amazing job! She was created to work with our scholars! Her many talents shine in this asset-based community development setting!
She presents the topic of wellness in such a holistic way and through so many wonderfully creative teaching tools! This week our theme involved teaching self-care and spiritual practices. In her yoga lesson, for example, she brought in skeletal bone models, brain and other organ models to help the children truly understand how decisions affect physical health and overall wellness.
Her yoga practice is so interactive and holds the kids’ attention! Her personality always helps, too! She makes yoga relevant and understandable to our children. The way in which she integrates scripture use in her practice is powerful! It brings God’s Word to life! There could be no better way to promote wellness than to teach God’s words of life in a way that is able to be understood and applied in life.
Kelly Strum
D'Etta,
When we got back to St. Luke church in Cordova, TN, I gave a short temple talk about our wonderful Synod Assembly, just before worship began. As a teaser, I told everyone to check our weekly message to the congregation on Thursdays that when I went into the classroom for the first seminar I attended, the first thing to follow me in was a chicken! The congregation would have to check out our weekly message to find out what happened, that morning.
I'm sending you what I wrote for that message. I really enjoyed your seminar and I have taught so many folks your Box Breathing technique.
Thank you SO much for your wisdom, your humor, and your wild friendship! This chicken-lover sends you hugs and, hopefully, a laugh or two. Sue Malone