This one is less reflectiony so hopefully more upbeat. :)
Dear Loved Ones, March/April 2009
Tax season is over and I am getting back into the old swing of things. Though the stress of taxes is over I am a little sad. I knew for sure what my purpose was during these past couple of months. Now during the week I will go back to working with the children in the afternoon but the day time is wide open to random stuff. It is work that needs to be done but there is something to be said about routine. :) I am adjusting back to my old bus schedule. I have forgotten which exact bus to take to get to work on time. So far this week I am batting 0/3. I either arrive thirty minutes early or 20 minutes late. :)
I have started co-teaching an adult computer class with the CBF intern (mentioned him last letter). It is very rewarding. On the first day of class many of our students did not know what a mouse was or how to use it. Lessons were quickly simplified to teach about the two clickers on the mouse, how to minimize/maximize windows, and what a shortcut was. Adults are so much more enjoyable to teach. They are coming to us wanting to learn. They also don’t squirm around in their seat, say I don’t know how while pouting, and try to throw themselves around on the ground like the children I teach here do.
My work on Sunday mornings is going well. Many of the regulars know my name (refer to an old reflection where I was being called “Miss Texas” and other names). They love to talk to me about their weeks or their life stories. Some even write my work email to tell me about their day. Many of our Sunday Morning clients have lots of time on their hands during the day. :) They go to the library in downtown to use the computers which passes the time.
I went snorkeling last weekend for the first time here in Florida. Next weekend I have a Mid Year Retreat and I get to go again. My sunburned back from last weekend should be healed enough before this weekend. I am a little tanner I think since I moved here. :) Again, I ask that you pray for the people of Overtown. Last Saturday a gang shooting happened less than a block away from my work at the corner I have mentioned before. There is no need to worry for me because I am not involved in any gangs myself. I also no longer walk the children home. That is the male intern’s job now. :)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Long time no write
Tax appointment cancelled, had a minute between things. No air conditioning at TML right now. Really Really Really hot. It is 75 outside but it is cooler out there than inside. No air movement. Just stuffy office.
Last two months reflections below.
Dear Loved Ones, January/February 2009
I have finally reached the lull in Tax Season. We had a mad rush in the beginning of everybody who wanted their money yesterday and now I am waiting for all the people who then realize that April 15 is sooner than they think. Touching Miami with Love has done 176 tax returns as of right now (3/2 at 12:30 my lunch break). That means that I have personally done over half of that and quality reviewed another good portion of the rest.
I have talked a lot about taking classes in the last letters but not explained how or why we do the taxes. The Prosperity Campaign provides a variety of help from affordable cell phones to prescription assistance to foreclosure to immigration services just to name a few. J TML has a contract through Human Services Coalition who has a grant through PC to do 200 tax returns. So we will definitely make our numbers which makes my bosses really happy.
Although some days have been super stressful (crazy clients and IRS secret shopping), so far this part of the year has also been my favorite. There have been some people that I have wanted to scream at of course but overall everybody is nice. Everybody has a story to tell you while you do their taxes. I feel like I know very intimate details to peoples lives here in the community. People tell you stories of children dying, their health problems, losing a job after 28 years with Macy’s, adoptions of Deaf foster children,
There have been some bumps. One woman was angry with me that she was only receiving $300 for EIC with two kids on her return. She did not understand that the government doesn’t give you thousands of dollars EIC if you only made $900. She started screaming at me that she should get $6,000 like her neighbors. I should preface this with the fact that she was also claiming to pay all bills (including $420 rent a month) when she only made $900 for the entire year. So I pretty sure she was lying to me anyways and I can refuse service at any point. I have been thinking a lot about government policies. There are many people that try to cheat the system so I see why the government tries to cover all the bases it can (why the retired lady can’t qualify). One person admitted to me about how they know people who tell their children to act a certain way in school so that the child will be labeled disabled to receive SSI benefits. Also, on a side note, I am tired of explaining Obama’s $700 billion dollar plan is not giving them direct money like Bush’s stimulus payment to people over and over and over in the year 2009. For an all black (yes black because this includes the Haitian and Jamaican population here) community who was so excited to have Obama elected they can get pissed that they aren’t getting another ESP. I am sorry I am generalizing now. Just most people get angry not all.
You might be wondering how life is outside of taxes. I got to go back to Austin for 48 hours (literally). I surprised Amanda for her wedding, attended her birthday breakfast, attended Sarah’s birthday party, attended a Battlestar Galactica dinner watching get together, and had lunch with my sister. A very busy weekend but I am glad I was able to see as many people as I could (especially others that came from out of town for the wedding as well). My second plane to come back to Miami had a “precautionary stop” in Tampa because of the fuel light. This made my trip home a little stressful since it took 11 hours from Austin to Miami (well 10 if you don’t count the hour that disappears mysteriously when you head too far East). Everything is fine. We got a new intern at TML just in time for tax season so he can take all the odd jobs that I did so I can focus solely on taxes.
Love,
Rachael Bauman
Last two months reflections below.
Dear Loved Ones, January/February 2009
I have finally reached the lull in Tax Season. We had a mad rush in the beginning of everybody who wanted their money yesterday and now I am waiting for all the people who then realize that April 15 is sooner than they think. Touching Miami with Love has done 176 tax returns as of right now (3/2 at 12:30 my lunch break). That means that I have personally done over half of that and quality reviewed another good portion of the rest.
I have talked a lot about taking classes in the last letters but not explained how or why we do the taxes. The Prosperity Campaign provides a variety of help from affordable cell phones to prescription assistance to foreclosure to immigration services just to name a few. J TML has a contract through Human Services Coalition who has a grant through PC to do 200 tax returns. So we will definitely make our numbers which makes my bosses really happy.
Although some days have been super stressful (crazy clients and IRS secret shopping), so far this part of the year has also been my favorite. There have been some people that I have wanted to scream at of course but overall everybody is nice. Everybody has a story to tell you while you do their taxes. I feel like I know very intimate details to peoples lives here in the community. People tell you stories of children dying, their health problems, losing a job after 28 years with Macy’s, adoptions of Deaf foster children,
There have been some bumps. One woman was angry with me that she was only receiving $300 for EIC with two kids on her return. She did not understand that the government doesn’t give you thousands of dollars EIC if you only made $900. She started screaming at me that she should get $6,000 like her neighbors. I should preface this with the fact that she was also claiming to pay all bills (including $420 rent a month) when she only made $900 for the entire year. So I pretty sure she was lying to me anyways and I can refuse service at any point. I have been thinking a lot about government policies. There are many people that try to cheat the system so I see why the government tries to cover all the bases it can (why the retired lady can’t qualify). One person admitted to me about how they know people who tell their children to act a certain way in school so that the child will be labeled disabled to receive SSI benefits. Also, on a side note, I am tired of explaining Obama’s $700 billion dollar plan is not giving them direct money like Bush’s stimulus payment to people over and over and over in the year 2009. For an all black (yes black because this includes the Haitian and Jamaican population here) community who was so excited to have Obama elected they can get pissed that they aren’t getting another ESP. I am sorry I am generalizing now. Just most people get angry not all.
You might be wondering how life is outside of taxes. I got to go back to Austin for 48 hours (literally). I surprised Amanda for her wedding, attended her birthday breakfast, attended Sarah’s birthday party, attended a Battlestar Galactica dinner watching get together, and had lunch with my sister. A very busy weekend but I am glad I was able to see as many people as I could (especially others that came from out of town for the wedding as well). My second plane to come back to Miami had a “precautionary stop” in Tampa because of the fuel light. This made my trip home a little stressful since it took 11 hours from Austin to Miami (well 10 if you don’t count the hour that disappears mysteriously when you head too far East). Everything is fine. We got a new intern at TML just in time for tax season so he can take all the odd jobs that I did so I can focus solely on taxes.
Love,
Rachael Bauman
Friday, January 2, 2009
Christmas fun
I had a great Christmas getting to see family and some old friends. I am back in Miami now. I went walking with a roommate this morning. You know you are out of shape when your legs get that lactic acid itchiness just from an hour of walking. Her family is doing a bet (yes involving money though miniscule amounts) about loosing weight.
Being at home was tough. It made me want to stay (or go back to Austin). I love the work I am doing here though. I think once I start back to work then I will remember that better.
Being at home was tough. It made me want to stay (or go back to Austin). I love the work I am doing here though. I think once I start back to work then I will remember that better.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Basic Certified
YAY! I have completed my Basic Volunteer Certification with the IRS. I just have Intermediate certification to go. I am half way through the practice exam for it. I should get it completed soon.
I am getting excited for coming home for Christmas. I was trying to get a card out to people but our house card fell through. We took a whole bunch of pictures.
Jeffrey will be here in a couple of hours. :)
I am getting excited for coming home for Christmas. I was trying to get a card out to people but our house card fell through. We took a whole bunch of pictures.
Jeffrey will be here in a couple of hours. :)
Friday, December 12, 2008
More Taxes, Shopping, and Lines
This week I began my second string of tax classes. At the end of this one I will be certified to be a Volunteer Income Tax Agent (VITA). One more one-day training on the 22nd then I should be ready. In theory anyways. :)
Sadly, the play has been canceled. I memorized 26 pages for naught but it is okay. One of the parts was cast and recast. It was just cursed or something. People kept dropping out of that part.
The Christmas Store opened today. It is where people in Overtown can come buy toys for 20% the store cost. So they can pay $10 and get presents that would have cost them $50 at the store. It empowers people in the community to buy presents for their own children. We just make it more affordable and claim no credit. All profits go to buying toys for the next year (or current year if other donations from two local churches and a few others aren't enough). Anyways, I have been doing a lot of stuff to get it ready.
Last Sunday I got to see the renovations that are going on for the Downtown Mission that I do Sunday mornings. The church is moving their homeless ministry to another building. There will not be as much room and so people are going to have to wait outside in line. However, the new people running the church also don't want them doing that where their members will be able to see them in the parking lot. I am not quite sure how all of that is going to work out.
I got a package from UPC this week. It was so wonderful to receive that love. I showed all my roommates. Whether they really wanted to see them or not. :)
I received a letter today from the Bone Marrow people. I was not a match (it was only a 1 in 12 chance). Please pray for the little boy in the hopes that someone else was a match.
Sadly, the play has been canceled. I memorized 26 pages for naught but it is okay. One of the parts was cast and recast. It was just cursed or something. People kept dropping out of that part.
The Christmas Store opened today. It is where people in Overtown can come buy toys for 20% the store cost. So they can pay $10 and get presents that would have cost them $50 at the store. It empowers people in the community to buy presents for their own children. We just make it more affordable and claim no credit. All profits go to buying toys for the next year (or current year if other donations from two local churches and a few others aren't enough). Anyways, I have been doing a lot of stuff to get it ready.
Last Sunday I got to see the renovations that are going on for the Downtown Mission that I do Sunday mornings. The church is moving their homeless ministry to another building. There will not be as much room and so people are going to have to wait outside in line. However, the new people running the church also don't want them doing that where their members will be able to see them in the parking lot. I am not quite sure how all of that is going to work out.
I got a package from UPC this week. It was so wonderful to receive that love. I showed all my roommates. Whether they really wanted to see them or not. :)
I received a letter today from the Bone Marrow people. I was not a match (it was only a 1 in 12 chance). Please pray for the little boy in the hopes that someone else was a match.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Cars and Angels
So here is the story of a car. It was a was a Lexus SUV. Now it was a very very nice car. Through its travels it found a home in front of some short term missionaries. They hoped/joked that it was a gift from God because their one community car is dying. God just wanted them to work to find the keys. God only provides so much, the rest you have to do for yourself.
Now this car was a Miami car through and through because it had a toll pass for the local toll roads. Sadly, some unthoughtful person had left Take Out in the back seat. The Lexus became lonely. Nobody ever came to drive it anymore. The interns could not find the keys to make it happy.
Three weeks pass...
A timid intern named Rachael calls the cops. The dispatcher checks the license plate number and tells her it is stolen. Then she gets a lecture for waiting three weeks before calling. Hey, the pretty Lexus was on public property and all the neighbors only speak Spanish (it parked itself in Little Havana). So the Lexus was taken away by the policewoman never to be seen again. And there was no reward money. :(
I am an Angel in the Christmas play. We hadn't rehearsed for over a week. I forgot most of my lines. That is it. Oh yeah they are doing this 24 hour prayer thing at the Lighthouse. I signed up for a couple of hours. Pray that I am able to pray that long. :)
Good luck on finals to everyone and eat a Chicago style hot dog for me!
Rachael
Now this car was a Miami car through and through because it had a toll pass for the local toll roads. Sadly, some unthoughtful person had left Take Out in the back seat. The Lexus became lonely. Nobody ever came to drive it anymore. The interns could not find the keys to make it happy.
Three weeks pass...
A timid intern named Rachael calls the cops. The dispatcher checks the license plate number and tells her it is stolen. Then she gets a lecture for waiting three weeks before calling. Hey, the pretty Lexus was on public property and all the neighbors only speak Spanish (it parked itself in Little Havana). So the Lexus was taken away by the policewoman never to be seen again. And there was no reward money. :(
I am an Angel in the Christmas play. We hadn't rehearsed for over a week. I forgot most of my lines. That is it. Oh yeah they are doing this 24 hour prayer thing at the Lighthouse. I signed up for a couple of hours. Pray that I am able to pray that long. :)
Good luck on finals to everyone and eat a Chicago style hot dog for me!
Rachael
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
One actually from today :)
Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I am not very good at this blog thing. I just posted last month reflection. Though there was a week where we didn't have any internet at all. I wrote a blog that week but by the end of the week it seemed out of date and never posted.
Update since then.
Tomorrow is my last tax class! Yay! Except that does mean that I have a final tomorrow. :(
I was contacted to be a possible bone marrow donor. I have a 1 in 12 chance of being a "perfect match" for a three year old with leukemia. I got the blood work portion done on Monday. Ever since then I can't stop thinking this child I never met and his family. I hope they find a match with me or someone else.
Our house Dog and Cat Sat for a week. It made me miss my cat. My mom says that Emma has been trying desperately to go outside. Can't wait to see her this Christmas.
I am in a Christmas play. Or at least I will be until the first rehearsal tomorrow when they realize I can't act. Anyways, it is a play with only four people. King, Shepard, Angel, and Bag Lady. That means I have a lot of lines. It is about nativity statues who come to life when nobody is watching. The Bag Lady comes by drunk and talks to them. She passes out and starts to freeze to death but not before you find out her story and the story of the birth. Each character has their own quirk. The King is obsessed with his present and is afraid that someone will steal it. The Shepard is verbally combative with the stuck up Angel. The Angel thinks her name is "Harold" (Hark the Harold Angel sings) and that she is the most important part of the nativity. (Nobody had better be thinking this character was made for me)
My Dad still has a job! Yay! He is now under a different branch of USA because the NASA contract was won by Lockheed Martin. So new building, new boss, new benefits (which are worse) but the same salary.
I am going to go back to watching How I Met Your Mother because I never have much time to watch TV (even when its on the internet) and I know some want me to keep up. :)
Update since then.
Tomorrow is my last tax class! Yay! Except that does mean that I have a final tomorrow. :(
I was contacted to be a possible bone marrow donor. I have a 1 in 12 chance of being a "perfect match" for a three year old with leukemia. I got the blood work portion done on Monday. Ever since then I can't stop thinking this child I never met and his family. I hope they find a match with me or someone else.
Our house Dog and Cat Sat for a week. It made me miss my cat. My mom says that Emma has been trying desperately to go outside. Can't wait to see her this Christmas.
I am in a Christmas play. Or at least I will be until the first rehearsal tomorrow when they realize I can't act. Anyways, it is a play with only four people. King, Shepard, Angel, and Bag Lady. That means I have a lot of lines. It is about nativity statues who come to life when nobody is watching. The Bag Lady comes by drunk and talks to them. She passes out and starts to freeze to death but not before you find out her story and the story of the birth. Each character has their own quirk. The King is obsessed with his present and is afraid that someone will steal it. The Shepard is verbally combative with the stuck up Angel. The Angel thinks her name is "Harold" (Hark the Harold Angel sings) and that she is the most important part of the nativity. (Nobody had better be thinking this character was made for me)
My Dad still has a job! Yay! He is now under a different branch of USA because the NASA contract was won by Lockheed Martin. So new building, new boss, new benefits (which are worse) but the same salary.
I am going to go back to watching How I Met Your Mother because I never have much time to watch TV (even when its on the internet) and I know some want me to keep up. :)
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