Jan. 26, 2014 - Sunday
This entry will be short because I actually ended up missing the time of worship and Christine's talk. Had the opportunity to talk with a Calgary staff person - Eric Riddick and it was a good conversation. We started with reminiscing about living in a southern state, progressed into discussing Young Life and it's tendency to draw in mostly white people, theories on how to reach different cultures and how to earn the right within those cultures, to how hard it is when God asks you to reach people that you either don't have a heart for, or are afraid of the challenges they will bring.
Personally, I have always had a heart for the rough-around-the-edges kids. But those are also the ones that are the toughest to share your life with - it requires more time, more patience, more compassion, and a lot more dependence on God. Funny enough, when we moved to Slave Lake, AB, I had my heart set on starting Young Life with senior highs. I felt that junior high age was too close to little kids and I have never had much patience for little kids. But as usual - when I surrendered 'my goals' to God, He turned my heart around to be open to starting with junior high kids. And it was an incredibly unexpected surprise just how easy it was to fall in love with this age group of teens. They have so much energy, they pull me out of my comfort zone and into new experiences in a really cool way, they allow me to be a big kid around them, yet be an older sister type figure when they are hurting or need encouragement. They alternate between highs and lows on an every day basis - they feel things so strongly - sometimes it's a roller-coaster ride - ha - but worth it. Sometimes I feel like an old fart around them but other times I'm one of them and it's an immensely rewarding feeling when they let down their guards and show you that you're important to them, that you're actually making a difference in their lives. I feel so blessed to get to spend time with both the SL junior and senior high teens - and I know God still has much in store for this town through Young Life!
But I digress, ha. Although I missed the last talk of the retreat, we still met as a small group to answer questions. So here they are (with group answers included):
1) What are the lies that you hear?
-not pretty enough
-if you live in SL, you need to drive a big truck
-not talented
-not cut out to be a YL leader
-body image struggles
-that if you mess up, God won't take you back
2) What is the Scripture that helps to counter that?
-if you mess up, God won't take you back: Psalm 37:23-24: The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Though he fall, he won't be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the one who holds his hand.
-not good enough - Eccl. 9:10: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
-body image: Prov. 31:25: Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the days to come.
3) What can you take away from this retreat and how can you hold each other accountable?
-encouragement
-refreshment in the Spirit
-assurance that we are a good leader team
We didn't spend too much time on the last question but what we chose to do instead was, I believe, more valuable. I asked the team to take the time and share things that they'd seen in the other leaders, ways to affirm them, things that were appreciated about them. I shared that along with scripture revealing truths about us - it also helps to share things that we see to encourage each other. From what I remember these are some of the things that were shared.
Gloria:
-gentle spirit
-kind
-encouraging
-strong - willing to stay on with YL even though at times didn't feel sure of herself
-brave - tries things at RRC and in club out of comfort zone
Matt:
-loyal
-heart for God
-dependable
-great at engaging with YL kids
-gets out of comfort zone
Jake:
-really good at relating to kids, introducing himself, and connecting
-hard worker - gives his all
-kind natured
-smart
-willing to get out of his comfort zone and do talk
Jazzy:
-funny
-able to go with the flow; spontaneous
-powerful prayer - speaks with authority
-crazy fun side
-talented
Beth:
-strong
-committed - keeps going
-works hard
-passionate
-humble and love for God
Mal:
-talented - guitar/singing
-down-to-earth
-accepting
-really good at leading in YL
-love for God
Becky:
-gentle-natured
-kind
-fun bubbly side
-smile
-strong
-like an egg, and the egg has cracked (Gloria referring to our fun dance party, ha)
Brooke: (came along to check out the retreat)
-honest - says things like they are
-open with who she is
-kind
-willing to be fun and ridiculous
-strong
Katharina:
-kind
-committed - sticks to what she commits to
-incredibly talented: guitar/singing
-loyal to her friends
We spent our last couple hours, even staying behind an hour after everyone else had left to finish sharing with each other. It was an incredible time of being open with each other and I felt, as we parted ways, that it had been a really great weekend. At some point during the weekend, God had taken away my feeling of illness and I had been able to really relax and soak it all up. I felt as I left that I was equipped and thankful for the great big gift that God had given us through this retreat.
This entry will be short because I actually ended up missing the time of worship and Christine's talk. Had the opportunity to talk with a Calgary staff person - Eric Riddick and it was a good conversation. We started with reminiscing about living in a southern state, progressed into discussing Young Life and it's tendency to draw in mostly white people, theories on how to reach different cultures and how to earn the right within those cultures, to how hard it is when God asks you to reach people that you either don't have a heart for, or are afraid of the challenges they will bring.
Personally, I have always had a heart for the rough-around-the-edges kids. But those are also the ones that are the toughest to share your life with - it requires more time, more patience, more compassion, and a lot more dependence on God. Funny enough, when we moved to Slave Lake, AB, I had my heart set on starting Young Life with senior highs. I felt that junior high age was too close to little kids and I have never had much patience for little kids. But as usual - when I surrendered 'my goals' to God, He turned my heart around to be open to starting with junior high kids. And it was an incredibly unexpected surprise just how easy it was to fall in love with this age group of teens. They have so much energy, they pull me out of my comfort zone and into new experiences in a really cool way, they allow me to be a big kid around them, yet be an older sister type figure when they are hurting or need encouragement. They alternate between highs and lows on an every day basis - they feel things so strongly - sometimes it's a roller-coaster ride - ha - but worth it. Sometimes I feel like an old fart around them but other times I'm one of them and it's an immensely rewarding feeling when they let down their guards and show you that you're important to them, that you're actually making a difference in their lives. I feel so blessed to get to spend time with both the SL junior and senior high teens - and I know God still has much in store for this town through Young Life!
But I digress, ha. Although I missed the last talk of the retreat, we still met as a small group to answer questions. So here they are (with group answers included):
1) What are the lies that you hear?
-not pretty enough
-if you live in SL, you need to drive a big truck
-not talented
-not cut out to be a YL leader
-body image struggles
-that if you mess up, God won't take you back
2) What is the Scripture that helps to counter that?
-if you mess up, God won't take you back: Psalm 37:23-24: The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Though he fall, he won't be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the one who holds his hand.
-not good enough - Eccl. 9:10: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
-body image: Prov. 31:25: Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the days to come.
3) What can you take away from this retreat and how can you hold each other accountable?
-encouragement
-refreshment in the Spirit
-assurance that we are a good leader team
We didn't spend too much time on the last question but what we chose to do instead was, I believe, more valuable. I asked the team to take the time and share things that they'd seen in the other leaders, ways to affirm them, things that were appreciated about them. I shared that along with scripture revealing truths about us - it also helps to share things that we see to encourage each other. From what I remember these are some of the things that were shared.
Gloria:
-gentle spirit
-kind
-encouraging
-strong - willing to stay on with YL even though at times didn't feel sure of herself
-brave - tries things at RRC and in club out of comfort zone
Matt:
-loyal
-heart for God
-dependable
-great at engaging with YL kids
-gets out of comfort zone
Jake:
-really good at relating to kids, introducing himself, and connecting
-hard worker - gives his all
-kind natured
-smart
-willing to get out of his comfort zone and do talk
Jazzy:
-funny
-able to go with the flow; spontaneous
-powerful prayer - speaks with authority
-crazy fun side
-talented
Beth:
-strong
-committed - keeps going
-works hard
-passionate
-humble and love for God
Mal:
-talented - guitar/singing
-down-to-earth
-accepting
-really good at leading in YL
-love for God
Becky:
-gentle-natured
-kind
-fun bubbly side
-smile
-strong
-like an egg, and the egg has cracked (Gloria referring to our fun dance party, ha)
Brooke: (came along to check out the retreat)
-honest - says things like they are
-open with who she is
-kind
-willing to be fun and ridiculous
-strong
Katharina:
-kind
-committed - sticks to what she commits to
-incredibly talented: guitar/singing
-loyal to her friends
We spent our last couple hours, even staying behind an hour after everyone else had left to finish sharing with each other. It was an incredible time of being open with each other and I felt, as we parted ways, that it had been a really great weekend. At some point during the weekend, God had taken away my feeling of illness and I had been able to really relax and soak it all up. I felt as I left that I was equipped and thankful for the great big gift that God had given us through this retreat.
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