This week JCBodyshop was shut down due to Fall Break. I really missed the kids a lot. Each day I get to go hang out with them it brings joy to me heart. On Monday I did meet up with a few of the kids and we played in the game room for a little while. It was nice to be able to hang out with them outside of JCBodyshop and continue to establish trusting relationships with them.
I am excited that Bodyshop will be open this week. I am looking forward to seeing everybody tomorrow and asking how their breaks were. Although I had extra time last week it seemed that I was missing some of the most fun parts of my week. Both of my practicums were shut down last week which made it nice for catching up on homework but I would much rather be ministering to kids and youth than doing homework.
In relation to my spiritual life, I have been completely blessed this week with seeing God's hand at work. I have been praying that God would open the door that needed to be open and close those that needed to be closed. God once again provided another job opportunity, one of which seems to fit my passions and goals very much. Praise be to God because he really does hear and listen to our prayers. We just have to be patient. Now we will see how he continues to orchestrate the rest. Well that is about all for now! Hope you all have a great day/evening!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Week 4
This is for the week of October 14-20. This week I am only going to be making it to the Monday ASP. I have a ride leaving for Fall Break before ASP on Thursday. I spoke with Brittan and he said it was fine if I wasn't going to be there on Thursday. Today, however, was a great day during ASP. I have, in a sense, become the game cordinator for the ASP. Each day during the first part of ASP I get a chance to hang out with the kids in the gym and play games with them. I enjoy this a lot because their true personalities show up while we are just having fun. Yes, sometimes the games get a little heated but I have found that throughout the last few weeks there have been great improvements in the attitudes of the kids as they play games. We had our first actual competetion between the three teams today. Our team, the Fearless Force 5, has maintained our lead on the board which I am very proud of. The team is working together pretty well.
Today I had a little bit of a problem with some kids. It wasn't during the ASP but after it as it was time to go home. There was a lack of communication between everyone and it left me in a bad position. After Brittan went to take some of the kids home, Abby and I were left at the Bodyshop to wait on parents and send the rest of the kids home. We had a couple of boys that hung around for a while after. They were all supposed to go to one of the boys' house. It ended up being a little problem because they said their parents were coming to get them. They hung around and then Abby called Brittan and he ended up coming back because I guess he told them they needed to leave earlier. I guess they almost always walk. I felt as if I was left out of the whole picture. If we all would have communicated better the boys would have been gone before because I would have made them start walking. It all just made me feel like I didn't do my job well enough. Communication is a key to all ministries!
Today I had a little bit of a problem with some kids. It wasn't during the ASP but after it as it was time to go home. There was a lack of communication between everyone and it left me in a bad position. After Brittan went to take some of the kids home, Abby and I were left at the Bodyshop to wait on parents and send the rest of the kids home. We had a couple of boys that hung around for a while after. They were all supposed to go to one of the boys' house. It ended up being a little problem because they said their parents were coming to get them. They hung around and then Abby called Brittan and he ended up coming back because I guess he told them they needed to leave earlier. I guess they almost always walk. I felt as if I was left out of the whole picture. If we all would have communicated better the boys would have been gone before because I would have made them start walking. It all just made me feel like I didn't do my job well enough. Communication is a key to all ministries!
Week 3
This is for the week of October 7-13. At the ASP at JCBodyshop we are starting some new programs to engage the kids more. We developed a team based system where we have split the group into three groups. Each day the kids get the opportunity to compete as a team against the other teams. I can see this being a good thing for the program as it is bringing together kids that normally would not work as a team. I am the coach for the team with mainly 5th graders. The kids had to come up with a team name and chat for when they play their games as well as a flag design. I am excited to see how this is going to work out.
I am learning a lot about working with youth through my practicum experience. My experience before this has mainly been with students that are in high school so middle school age is a new thing for me. I have realized that these kids will really try to test you and see if you are going to be consistent. For many of the kids that we are ministering to, consistancy does not seem to be there in their home lives. I have seen throughout this experience of working at the ASP that there are a few things I might do differently in order to establish more consistancy for these kids. Brittan is doing a great job but as we all need improvement there are some things that could maybe be altered.
As far as my spiritually life, God is really working on me right now. I am in a time of confusion and indecision. As I look forward to the future and what comes after I graduate in December I am just waiting for God to show me where it is that I am supposed to go. I pray that God would reveal his plans to me soon if it be his will or that he would help me to be patient and to trust that He has it all in His hands.
I am learning a lot about working with youth through my practicum experience. My experience before this has mainly been with students that are in high school so middle school age is a new thing for me. I have realized that these kids will really try to test you and see if you are going to be consistent. For many of the kids that we are ministering to, consistancy does not seem to be there in their home lives. I have seen throughout this experience of working at the ASP that there are a few things I might do differently in order to establish more consistancy for these kids. Brittan is doing a great job but as we all need improvement there are some things that could maybe be altered.
As far as my spiritually life, God is really working on me right now. I am in a time of confusion and indecision. As I look forward to the future and what comes after I graduate in December I am just waiting for God to show me where it is that I am supposed to go. I pray that God would reveal his plans to me soon if it be his will or that he would help me to be patient and to trust that He has it all in His hands.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Week 2
This last week I once again had a chance to be apart of the ASP at JCBodyshop. I work from 3:30 - 6:30 every Monday and Thursday afternoon. It is the highlight of my day to be able to hang out with middle schoolers on these days. I mainly help out with homework, crowd control, snack distribution, and just getting to know the kids and building into their lives.
We are restructuring the way ASP is run and so with these new changes comes a little bit of acting out. We had a little rougher week with the kids this week. There were a few minor problems we had to address with some kids making fun of others and just disrespecting authority. I think it was handled pretty well. The kids were talked to and we didn't have anymore problems with it. Also last week we had a girl that we think broke her finger. She doesn't like the splint so she takes it off at random times.
This week was a challenging week for me spiritually. I had a lot to get done and it seemed like regardless of the amount of time I spent on homework there was a never ending amount to come after it. However, God is good and he has allowed me to get a lot done and still have some time to spend with Him and to rest. I really think I could use a good rest to get me prepared to do the best ministry that I can.
We are restructuring the way ASP is run and so with these new changes comes a little bit of acting out. We had a little rougher week with the kids this week. There were a few minor problems we had to address with some kids making fun of others and just disrespecting authority. I think it was handled pretty well. The kids were talked to and we didn't have anymore problems with it. Also last week we had a girl that we think broke her finger. She doesn't like the splint so she takes it off at random times.
This week was a challenging week for me spiritually. I had a lot to get done and it seemed like regardless of the amount of time I spent on homework there was a never ending amount to come after it. However, God is good and he has allowed me to get a lot done and still have some time to spend with Him and to rest. I really think I could use a good rest to get me prepared to do the best ministry that I can.
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