Mission Accomplished.

I have always wanted to go on a mission trip.  A chance to go to another country and work with people who could really use some help.  It’s a bucket list item that’s been waiting for a check mark.

This year the opportunity presented itself.  An organization in which I am a member called The Links, Incorporated, offered a global mission trip to Montego, Bay Jamaica to work with children and their parents.

Here’s some background on our organization.  The Links, Incorporated is a community service organization and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer organizations consisting of over 15 thousand women of color with 285 chapters in the United States and the Bahamas.  I am a member of the Little Rock Chapter where we do a large amount of community service work right here in Little Rock — reaching many children and families in need.  The Jamaica trip was part of a global mission and offered to Links members from all over the country who were interested in going.  About 200 of us made the trip.

We were assigned to work at three different schools.  I was placed at Mount Zion Primary School consisting on kindergarten through fifth grade students.  Of the three, it was located in the most impoverished community.  As I reflect on the work we did, there were many accomplishments.  We provided each student at all three schools Kindle Fire Readers already loaded with apps.  Our primary goal was to provide them with a source for STEM education – science, technology, engineering and math.  We had a workshops teaching the students and their teachers how to utilize them.

I was amazed to see that students didn’t have proper fitting shoes and most of them looked very old.  Before our mission was completed, every student was fitted for and given a brand new pair of shoes to take home.  We also had about 9 dentists who attended  who were members of our organization.  Their job was to provide dental screenings for each student.  In addition, the children were give tooth paste, brushes and floss and taught how to properly brush if they didn’t already know.

We created a market place of donated items where parents could find free things for themselves and their families.  And while there was never a days work that wasn’t meaningful to me — I was especially touched when I was given the opportunity to read the book “Chrysanthemum” to the Jamaican children.  The book focuses on anti-bullying.  Apparently bullying among students is a problem there just like it is here in the States.  Each student had a copy of book in front of them and read along with me.  Some of them ready aloud.  Afterwards, the students were given a piece of paper with a heart on it that read “before you speak be kind and smart. It’s hard to fix a wrinkled heart.”

Perhaps that says it all.  Across the miles, children’s hearts touched in a positive way because of simple acts of kindness from the hearts of grown ups.

Bucket list item – check.  Mission work – check.  Another mission trip in the future? – check mark coming.

My Woods…

Keep your left arm straight.  Bend your knees more. Swing with your shoulders, not your arms.  Shift your weight. Keep your head down. Follow through.

These are just a few of the suggestions I’ve heard in the last year.  If you spend any time on the golf course you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I remember when I first came to Arkansas nearly 14 years ago, I was asked to participate in a charity golf tournament with some co-workers at Fox16.  They thought it would be a good way to create camaraderie.  Turns out I was an embarrassment to my teammates.  They asked me if I had clubs and I said yes – but they didn’t know until I showed up that day that my clubs were so old that my woods were actually made out of  wood.  Apparently they stop making those a long time ago.  I remember one golfer from another team told me I was playing with collector’s pieces and suggested I keep them because they might be worth something one day. He tried not to laugh but couldn’t help himself.  In fact, we all got a good laugh.  My multi-colored golf bag was hilarious.  I only had this stuff because they were hand-me-downs from someone who got them from someone else.   My golf game that day was agonizingly painful because truth is I didn’t know how to play.   Several times I just wanted to grab my funny looking golf bag and antique clubs and walk off the course and pretend I was never there.

Last spring I had a change of heart.  I took another stab at it with another set of hand-me-down clubs.  This time, unbeknownst  to me the golf clubs were designed for men.  Stiff flex – one of the hardest clubs to hit with as far as I’m concerned.  But every blue moon I’d get a good hit so I kept trying.  Then,  at the end of last year I was in a golf store and discovered they made clubs specifically designed for women. Up until that point I didn’t even know they existed.

Can you say “game-changer?”

I shopped around and now have a set of women’s clubs that I love. My woods are made out of titanium and made to fit me perfectly.   It’s been worth the time, energy and money because I love when I’m on a par-3 – swing at the ball – hit the sweet spot of the club – and watch that ball pop up in the air and land on the green.  Just thinking about it makes me happy.  The other day for the first time I discovered what they call the “golfer’s high”.  It’s the feeling you get when you swing the club effortlessly and the ball goes right where you want it.  It almost feels like you didn’t even try.  Unfortunately I don’t get that golfers high every time.  I still take lessons – I practice on my own – I sometimes get frustrated  – and go back each time hoping I’ll be better today than I was yesterday and the day before.  I wish I could find that guy who laughed at my golf clubs 14 years ago.  If only he could see me now.

Golf has become my great escape.  My go-to place.  An opportunity to clear my head, release stress and get stressed out when I’m not hitting well.  It’s a challenge – but a good challenge.  I day dream about my next time at the driving range or on the golf course.

By the way – I still have the antique woods.  After all, that guy said they might be worth something one day.  I’m waiting for that glorious payday!


“NEWS ANCHOR DONNA TERRELL IS A WOMAN ON A MISSION”

As an Emmy Award winning journalist at Fox 16 in Little Rock, news anchor Donna Terrell knows first hand that the most powerful and impactful stories are those that evoke emotion drawn from a deep, personal perspective that can put a relatable face on the subject or topic at hand.

That’s why Terrell is on a mission to use her own experience to promote cancer awareness and advocate on behalf of the health benefits of yoga for oncology patients by sharing the story of the daughter she lost to colon cancer in 2011.

“She wanted me to use her as an example,” says Terrell of her daughter Queah who was only 27 when she was diagnosed.

“She believed it was imperative to warn young people that colon cancer was not only a disease for older people,” says Terrell.  “Even during some of her sickest moments, Queah would tell people – young and old – not to be afraid to get screened.”

Inspired by her daughter’s courageous battle, Terrell – who also lost her mother to cancer – created a special event in 2014 centered on yoga and dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the disease.

“Queah began doing yoga during her illness because it made her feel better,” says Terrell.  “Yoga Warriors promotes the practice and brings awareness of early detection for colon and other cancers.”

Since its inception, Donna Terrell’s Yoga Warriors Fighting Colon Cancer has named CARTI as the event’s beneficiary with proceeds designated to provide liquid nutritional supplements for its cancer patients.

“All patients can benefit from liquid nutritional supplements, but for some it’s a life saver,” explains Terrell.  “Thankfully, Yoga Warriors has been able to make it available at no cost for those patients needing financial assistance during their cancer journey.”

Now entering its fourth year, Terrell is hoping to expand the reach of Yoga Warriors by raising enough money to fund an onsite yoga pilot program at CARTI while also continuing to provide complementary liquid nutritional supplements through the CARTI Patient Resource Center.

“Oncology research indicates that yoga can sometimes be helpful in relieving some of the stress and symptoms associated with some cancers and treatment,” says Terrell.

According to Terrell, recent reports suggest that introducing common tenets of yoga – such as meditation, relaxation and concentration – not only can improve the overall mood, health and well being of patients, but it can also help alleviate symptoms of such chronic diseases as arthritis, heart disease, lupus, diabetes.

“We’re all in this fight together,” says Terrell.  “And, in my heart, I know Queah would be thrilled that we’re making a difference.”

Donna Terrell’s Yoga Warriors Fighting Colon Cancer is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 1 at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Little Rock.  The event will begin with a presentation and raffle sales with yoga starting around 10:20 a.m.  Admission is free, and participants are asked to bring their own yoga mats.  Donations will be accepted with all proceeds to pay for CARTI patients’ and caregivers’ yoga classes, which will begin in the Fall, and for nutritional supplements for those CARTI patients in need.

Yoga Warriors is a not-for-profit organization.  For more information and to donate go to the top of this page and click on the Yoga Warriors link on the right hand side of the page.  Or go to www.yogawarriors.org


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