I thought I'd sneak back into posting on here since it's been a while. My new job took over a lot and my youth work fills up the rest of my time so these last few months have been hectic but filled with stories good and bad, resulting in me breaking down...
With special events being held, new challenges given and an exciting year of planning ahead it's been so packed i forgot to notice just how much i was starting to lose touch. I went from loafing around in hotels to working 12 hour days, not including youth work or technical demands. Not even to mention the finality of my parents splitting after nearly 30 years to separate addresses, asking for my attention at each of their new homes. My sister in her final stages of pregnancy. Myself moving out. Friends struggling with change. Youth having troubles. Family moving to far away lands and the imminent anniversary of events that shook my world and even my faith. The list goes on...
Then I found myself working near enough every evening on new things, my house isn't even unpacked. With my key to the church the emphasis grew to become proactive and start finding the change that i can make. But to no avail.
A bad youth night sent me spiralling, battling with God and questioning everything i have done. To the bottle I went. Nights spent on a couch trying to forget anything and everything.
Only now do I know that I hit the wall. A thick wall. I even thought I'd made it through but somehow I think i merely made it to the air gap. The same distance lies ahead and I find myself, as ever, still stuck. The pressure doesn't lessen but only increases as time ticks away and I struggle to regain my footing as the list of things to do is forever growing.
I must apologise, I've used this post purely as an outlet to my worries. But I aim to post of my successes these last few months and hopefully the impending events might act as my saving grace. For now I merely pray at the feet of my God. I have a mountain of worries, but God isn't afraid of mountains!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Fill-In games: Port Starboard
One for the younger ones! But one of my favourites.
No equipment needed!
A very popular game for 5-10 year olds to run around like crazy!
The leader shouts Port or Starboard and the kids run left or right, simple as
Then add extras like...
This is an OUT game so the last to do the call is out and sits out of the way.
It's a great game and I hope you enjoy it!
No equipment needed!
A very popular game for 5-10 year olds to run around like crazy!
The leader shouts Port or Starboard and the kids run left or right, simple as
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| 2010spearnoaatas.blogspot.com |
Then add extras like...
- CAPTAINS COMING - Kids salute "aye, aye captain!"
- STERN / BOW - Run forward or back
- SUBMARINE - On their back, one leg in the air like a periscope (lol)
- CLIMB THE RIGGING - pretend to be climbing
- MAN OVERBOARD - Swim
- MAN THE LIFEBOATS - row your boat
- SHARKS! - they run around screaming
- SCRUB THE DECKS - kneel down, pretending to clean the floor
This is an OUT game so the last to do the call is out and sits out of the way.
It's a great game and I hope you enjoy it!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Stepping up in Youth work to take a step back
Now I've become a more permanent placement in our city the idea of me becoming the captain of the Boys' Brigade company is being brought up more and more. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a rapid change in the way I might work with the young people!
Currently a lieutenant, I am placed in charge of planning and running activities, especially games. Which is testing but so worthwhile and somewhat fun in truth.
However by stepping into a captains role, in fact leads you to taking a step back in running programs. You are then responsible for the entire night in a more supervisory role. Expected to talk to parents where possible, to help with other issues the family might have.
On the Youth side the role is more in being a respected and trustful role model as I see it. From speaking to other captains this often involves, depending on your style, attempting to chat with each of the young people throughout the night, inspections and devotions. In fact one officer said he hasn't come close to running an activity for months!
I must admit that I generally attempt to do so anyway in terms of speaking to as many of them as possible when I am not running the activity. It is something that I have enjoyed throughout my time with companies. By getting to know the members personally a link grows and issues are far easier to deal with, although more issues often arise.
However as I'm in my early 20's and certainly childless myself, respect from parents is hard to come by unless they've seen me actually running activities which is rare. Where a parent has little control has perplexed me at points I must admit. Parents often appear to miss the part where I have 15 members in my charge and can deal with most situations when they only have the 2 and are still, in some cases doing it wrong! Yet another stumbling block to be passed on my way.
But in general, I shall be shadowing the captain when possible and the training comes soon. Whether I'm ready or even in such a position to take over is the real question.
Currently a lieutenant, I am placed in charge of planning and running activities, especially games. Which is testing but so worthwhile and somewhat fun in truth.
However by stepping into a captains role, in fact leads you to taking a step back in running programs. You are then responsible for the entire night in a more supervisory role. Expected to talk to parents where possible, to help with other issues the family might have.
On the Youth side the role is more in being a respected and trustful role model as I see it. From speaking to other captains this often involves, depending on your style, attempting to chat with each of the young people throughout the night, inspections and devotions. In fact one officer said he hasn't come close to running an activity for months!
I must admit that I generally attempt to do so anyway in terms of speaking to as many of them as possible when I am not running the activity. It is something that I have enjoyed throughout my time with companies. By getting to know the members personally a link grows and issues are far easier to deal with, although more issues often arise.
However as I'm in my early 20's and certainly childless myself, respect from parents is hard to come by unless they've seen me actually running activities which is rare. Where a parent has little control has perplexed me at points I must admit. Parents often appear to miss the part where I have 15 members in my charge and can deal with most situations when they only have the 2 and are still, in some cases doing it wrong! Yet another stumbling block to be passed on my way.
But in general, I shall be shadowing the captain when possible and the training comes soon. Whether I'm ready or even in such a position to take over is the real question.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Fill-in games - Mushroom
This game has come to be known as mushroom, don't ask me why but it is.
Yet another circle game that's got the extra benefit of helping you and the Youth learn each others names. Which is always useful!
Equipment
Nothing but the players! Oh and a bit of space helps.
Rules
How to play
This game is really useful for remembering names, so for new youth groups or camps but also works well when they know the game. You can ask them to give you ideas of categories and then play with them. Therefore really good as a fill-in game!
Yet another circle game that's got the extra benefit of helping you and the Youth learn each others names. Which is always useful!
Equipment
Nothing but the players! Oh and a bit of space helps.
Rules
- The game starts with one person saying their name and someone elses name.
- The person mentioned then does the same verbally passing the game around.
- The job of the person in the middle is to catch the person before they've passed it on by tapping them!
- If they succeed then that person becomes the one in the middle and whoever got them then starts the next round.
- Try not to point or look at the person you've passed to or it'll be easier for the person in the middle!
- And so on...
How to play
- The game starts with the usual attempt at making a circle.
- Then you start in the middle to explain the rules!
- Get the game going and give them a chance to get used to the game before starting to attempt to catch someone before they pass it.
- Once they get the hang of it you can change the category. Like simpsons characters, albeit starting to get out of date already! Or animal names, or better noises. It can become rather loud so why not throw in a category of signs where no noise is made but a sign with their hands (no rude ones obviously!).
- Start again
This game is really useful for remembering names, so for new youth groups or camps but also works well when they know the game. You can ask them to give you ideas of categories and then play with them. Therefore really good as a fill-in game!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
To the future!
I have a job, not a youth work job but in mechanical engineering.
I still haven't grasped how that will change things to come but i beleive it is the plan for me right now. Some people question me in accepting such a job. I question myself more I assure you.
The good thing being that in a matter of months I will be back with friends, back in the city I have come to know, back with the same youth groups I have enjoyed and the youth I have become linked with. So I am free to begin planning the next steps in my Youth work satisfied in the knowledge that I can continue where I left off just a few weeks ago. I shall endeavour to update you further wherever possible.
Apparently my work here is not yet finished.
Till next time!
I still haven't grasped how that will change things to come but i beleive it is the plan for me right now. Some people question me in accepting such a job. I question myself more I assure you.
The good thing being that in a matter of months I will be back with friends, back in the city I have come to know, back with the same youth groups I have enjoyed and the youth I have become linked with. So I am free to begin planning the next steps in my Youth work satisfied in the knowledge that I can continue where I left off just a few weeks ago. I shall endeavour to update you further wherever possible.
Apparently my work here is not yet finished.
Till next time!
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