And... had some very strange conversations. One of the girls informed us that she was an otter (personality type) and was answered with, "I'm a mole!"
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Thursday - Week Two
Three awesome girls (we need some males!) joined me this morning to drop off bag fulls of food at the food bank, looked up some old articles about a human trafficking case here in town, looked at a report from Spokane, made a call about the human trafficking fundraiser, researched more about wells, schemed about ways to raise money for a well, and attempted to put spray sunscreen on one of the girls.
And... had some very strange conversations. One of the girls informed us that she was an otter (personality type) and was answered with, "I'm a mole!"
And... had some very strange conversations. One of the girls informed us that she was an otter (personality type) and was answered with, "I'm a mole!"
Wednesday - Week Two
This morning, we met in the prayer room at church (new record, there were FIVE of us!) and hung out for several hours. We dug cardboard out of recycling dumpsters, made signs for a human trafficking fundraiser that is being planned for next weekend, flipped through Fair Trade catalogs, talked about different companies that have recorded human rights abuses, researched statistics, researched wells and fundraising sites, watched a short documentary called "At the End of Slavery," and made collages using quotes from the movie.
One of the girls brought in a stack of magazines to use and came up with this piece, which I think is pretty awesome. (Can you tell that she's an artistic type?)
One other collage left unfinished, and one of the girls decided that her time was better spent doing more clean water research. Which, I can empathize with!
My own attempts at collaging turned out a little less stellar, but it's the thought that counts, right? :)
One of the girls brought in a stack of magazines to use and came up with this piece, which I think is pretty awesome. (Can you tell that she's an artistic type?)
One other collage left unfinished, and one of the girls decided that her time was better spent doing more clean water research. Which, I can empathize with!
My own attempts at collaging turned out a little less stellar, but it's the thought that counts, right? :)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Anti-Human Trafficking Meeting
*As an interruption to your regularly scheduled programming: *
Last night was our third official anti-trafficking coalition meeting.
I love that this is happening here (the anti-trafficking meetings, not the trafficking!), and I love that I get to be here to be part of it. If I had remembered about the meeting prior to say the time that I needed to leave for said meeting, it would have been awesome to get some of the Focus Month girls there and involved.
We'll blame my day long brain fart on the meteor that came too close to the planet...
Regardless, the meeting was a good thing and a chance to build connections with another church in town that has been involved with IJM (International Justice Mission). As soon as I get my notes sorted out, I'll update you on the coming events that we talked about.
IJM has a smart phone app, as does Call+Response. Both of them are more than worth checking out. Personally, I love the "Make Some Noise" function of the Call+Response app, that collects relevant news stories and then lets you share them directly on facebook or twitter. Yep. There was my plug for the day. Both apps are free! Get them.
If you're interested in joining us for our next meeting (in August) or want updates on coming events, email me.
Last night was our third official anti-trafficking coalition meeting.
I love that this is happening here (the anti-trafficking meetings, not the trafficking!), and I love that I get to be here to be part of it. If I had remembered about the meeting prior to say the time that I needed to leave for said meeting, it would have been awesome to get some of the Focus Month girls there and involved.
We'll blame my day long brain fart on the meteor that came too close to the planet...
Regardless, the meeting was a good thing and a chance to build connections with another church in town that has been involved with IJM (International Justice Mission). As soon as I get my notes sorted out, I'll update you on the coming events that we talked about.
IJM has a smart phone app, as does Call+Response. Both of them are more than worth checking out. Personally, I love the "Make Some Noise" function of the Call+Response app, that collects relevant news stories and then lets you share them directly on facebook or twitter. Yep. There was my plug for the day. Both apps are free! Get them.
If you're interested in joining us for our next meeting (in August) or want updates on coming events, email me.
Monday
Monday morning, I was joined by two senior girls to start of our SECOND week of Focus Month-ing. These girls are amazing, and have jumped through all sorts of hoops to get here around other events. If you see them, let them know that I think they're pretty stinking cool.
We met at the park for some Jesus time, came back to hang out and talk for a while, called the food bank, then took off to Winc* to pick up the things we had been told they needed (canned baby food, soup, and pork 'n beans).
Luckily, we found a very patient checkout lady!
Not so luckily, we discovered what the man on the phone had not told us. The food bank closes completely after 11:30am. Meaning...there was no one there to take said food. So, it is all traveling around in the back seat of my dad's car. :)
Myself and one of the girls headed to the library after that, to do some research and brainstorming. Or, attempted to do so.
First, I killed the battery of my dad's car by leaving the key in the ignition and the battery running - without realizing that I had done so! - and then, while looking for the jumper cables that were not there... I locked said key into the trunck. Yep. Skills.
In the end, she gave me a ride to the library, and we brainstormed until our brains were numb and empty. (And, then my mom and sister came to jump the car. Thanks, guys!)
Not a half bad day!
We met at the park for some Jesus time, came back to hang out and talk for a while, called the food bank, then took off to Winc* to pick up the things we had been told they needed (canned baby food, soup, and pork 'n beans).
Luckily, we found a very patient checkout lady!
Not so luckily, we discovered what the man on the phone had not told us. The food bank closes completely after 11:30am. Meaning...there was no one there to take said food. So, it is all traveling around in the back seat of my dad's car. :)
Myself and one of the girls headed to the library after that, to do some research and brainstorming. Or, attempted to do so.
First, I killed the battery of my dad's car by leaving the key in the ignition and the battery running - without realizing that I had done so! - and then, while looking for the jumper cables that were not there... I locked said key into the trunck. Yep. Skills.
In the end, she gave me a ride to the library, and we brainstormed until our brains were numb and empty. (And, then my mom and sister came to jump the car. Thanks, guys!)
Not a half bad day!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sharks and Minnows
Either the kids are settling into the new summer routine for Sunday school, or I simply no longer have the younger kids to compare them to, so they seem quieter. They've been awesome though, and done an amazing job of respecting and listening to the guest teachers. (And, the guest teachers have done an awesome job of going with the flow and not looking shocked and appalled at the things that occasionally come out of the kids mouths.)
The mere fact that we are able to have a ratio of fifty kids to three leaders and still rotate them around to the different stations without loosing anyone ought to be impressive!
They're not fans of it - I've lost track of the number of kids who have told me that they like "normal" Sunday school better - but they're good sports, even when we make them play giant games of sharks and minnows.
I just wish that church wasn't something that they had to be "good sports" about. This ought to be their community and their family...
(Shark and minnows was our "go-to" game when these kids were in kindergarten Sunday school and all of the high school shepherds basically co-taught the entire room, so, they've played a LOT of hours of sharks and minnows in this field... when we weren't doing things like tying the entire room into a spiderweb of red yarn for the story of Rahab or sneaking through the hallways as "secret agents" to practice our memory verses.
And, yes. They still remember all of that. I've asked. :D)
The mere fact that we are able to have a ratio of fifty kids to three leaders and still rotate them around to the different stations without loosing anyone ought to be impressive!
They're not fans of it - I've lost track of the number of kids who have told me that they like "normal" Sunday school better - but they're good sports, even when we make them play giant games of sharks and minnows.
I just wish that church wasn't something that they had to be "good sports" about. This ought to be their community and their family...
(Shark and minnows was our "go-to" game when these kids were in kindergarten Sunday school and all of the high school shepherds basically co-taught the entire room, so, they've played a LOT of hours of sharks and minnows in this field... when we weren't doing things like tying the entire room into a spiderweb of red yarn for the story of Rahab or sneaking through the hallways as "secret agents" to practice our memory verses.
And, yes. They still remember all of that. I've asked. :D)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
The Saturday Event
This morning, eight high schoolers , two college students, and myself (plus two families and a random set of kids, who all stopped and joined in on the spur of the moment) spread out over a section of pavement near the dock at H*ward Am*n and drew 4,931 stick figures with sidewalk chalk.
Our youngest participant was right about four years old... and more interested in the fact that people were drawing with chalk in the park than what we were actually doing. :)
Giving out the story cards was a little more difficult than we thought it would be. (I promise that the postcard will not bite you!) People all over the park were talking about it, though, and explaining to each other that the drawings were there because, "4,931 people die from AIDS every day." Goal: completed.
It was very cool to see something that the Focus Month kids had come up with being played out in real life and actually getting people's attention. One of the girls even went home and contacted a local news station. Turns out, they are showing pictures during the evening news tonight.
Not too shabby for a first event! Good job girls!!
(And, many thanks to everyone who helped out this morning!)
Our youngest participant was right about four years old... and more interested in the fact that people were drawing with chalk in the park than what we were actually doing. :)
Giving out the story cards was a little more difficult than we thought it would be. (I promise that the postcard will not bite you!) People all over the park were talking about it, though, and explaining to each other that the drawings were there because, "4,931 people die from AIDS every day." Goal: completed.
It was very cool to see something that the Focus Month kids had come up with being played out in real life and actually getting people's attention. One of the girls even went home and contacted a local news station. Turns out, they are showing pictures during the evening news tonight.
Not too shabby for a first event! Good job girls!!
(And, many thanks to everyone who helped out this morning!)
Lives are on the Line
As an offshoot of the Focus Month (ie, the Focus Month kids planned and implemented the entire thing), I spent my Saturday morning/early afternoon in the park with some awesome teenagers/college students drawing 4,931 stick figures with sidewalk chalk.
They did an awesome job! We heard people all over the park talking about it and educating each other on the reason for the crazy number of drawings, and... the local news station is showing pictures tonight and doing a blurb! Yep. I'm impressed.
They did an awesome job! We heard people all over the park talking about it and educating each other on the reason for the crazy number of drawings, and... the local news station is showing pictures tonight and doing a blurb! Yep. I'm impressed.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday Doings
Two senior girls and I met up this afternoon in the park to finish our jail cells.
We took a detour through a hardware store for more spray paint (and in search of twine for tomorrow's AIDS awareness event), and came back to find our half painted boxes nicely propped in the same tree where we left them.
We also decided that none of us have nearly the finger muscles required to be graffiti artists!
Two hours later, the jails were finished, and we took a quick break to take pictures in said jail cells, before heading over to the dock to re-figure some spacing for the event tomorrow, and part ways for the day.
Have I mentioned that these girls are amazing? (As is my little sister, who has been navigating city officials for us!)
We took a detour through a hardware store for more spray paint (and in search of twine for tomorrow's AIDS awareness event), and came back to find our half painted boxes nicely propped in the same tree where we left them.
We also decided that none of us have nearly the finger muscles required to be graffiti artists!
Two hours later, the jails were finished, and we took a quick break to take pictures in said jail cells, before heading over to the dock to re-figure some spacing for the event tomorrow, and part ways for the day.
Have I mentioned that these girls are amazing? (As is my little sister, who has been navigating city officials for us!)
Thursday Adventures
Two senior girls and I met up this morning at the library to research and brainstorm some more. (Yeah... we're kind of nerds. That's why we need other people there to come balance us out!) We found several pages of information, including one idea to very much move forwards with, so, it was a good morning.
After a break for lunch and some God time to figure out where we were supposed to go next, we got to enjoy the wonderful fun of calling appliance stores looking for large boxes. (And, no, there were no audible voices from heaven telling us where to go or what to do, just a sense during our God times that we were supposed to be “here” this month, doing “this” - whatever “this” turns out to look like each day – and that God always has a plan. So, we just went for the logical next step!)
Turns out that: the door at Sears where you pick up appliance boxes is on the opposite side of the store from the actual appliance section
dishwasher boxes are very awkward to carry if you parked, say, by the appliance section rather than the pick up door
you can, in fact, fit both a dishwasher box and a teenaged girl in the back of a small car
A dad provided an oven box (which can also be added to the backseat, so long as you have a highschooler who doesn't mind being a little squished), a mom provided some spray paint, and the car, which more or less contains half of my apartment, provided knives/scissors for cutting. So, we spent the remainder of our afternoon beasting chunks out of cardboard boxes at a park near the river. And, in the end, we left with two unpainted cardboard jail cells.
That project is still in the works, but, when we get a few more things nailed down, we will let you know all about it. Or, you could come join us, and find out about it right away! *hint hint*
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Focus Month - Day Two
This afternoon, the two girls and I met at the park to plan out Saturday's event and have adventures with getting permits from the parks and rec department.
Adventures, which, amazingly, turned out to be not so adventurous after all. Turns out that permit giving folks are actually quite friendly and willing to let you draw with chalk on public bike paths. Especially when you let the innocent looking teenagers do the talking.
We did, however, tweak our plans a little bit, when we realized just how many sidewalk squares we were talking about covering!
Anyone of student age (middle school through college) is invited to join us this Saturday at 10:00am to draw 4,931 chalk figures (stick men) near the green dock in H*ward Am*n park. 4,931 is the number of people who die from AIDs each and every day.
We'll be passing out story cards and involving the community in the drawing process. It should be pretty cool.
*Parents: this event is designed to be student led and executed. There will be other chances for you to get involved, but, for now, ask your student to take plenty of pictures, so that you can hear about it when they come home. Thanks!*
Adventures, which, amazingly, turned out to be not so adventurous after all. Turns out that permit giving folks are actually quite friendly and willing to let you draw with chalk on public bike paths. Especially when you let the innocent looking teenagers do the talking.
We did, however, tweak our plans a little bit, when we realized just how many sidewalk squares we were talking about covering!
Anyone of student age (middle school through college) is invited to join us this Saturday at 10:00am to draw 4,931 chalk figures (stick men) near the green dock in H*ward Am*n park. 4,931 is the number of people who die from AIDs each and every day.
We'll be passing out story cards and involving the community in the drawing process. It should be pretty cool.
*Parents: this event is designed to be student led and executed. There will be other chances for you to get involved, but, for now, ask your student to take plenty of pictures, so that you can hear about it when they come home. Thanks!*
My current phone background
Monday, June 20, 2011
Focus Month - Day One
And... we officially started the Focus Month today!
I had one high school senior who came with me this morning to pick out supplies for the month (markers, chalk, construction paper, glue) and hung around to brainstorm every crazy idea or half thought that we could come up with.
We ate lunch outside in the sun that is finally deciding to almost pretend that it is June and then were joined by a college freshman who jumped in to refine ideas and research questions - whoot for smart phones. They came up with a pretty awesome plan for Saturday and intend to spend tomorrow afternoon doing a little reconnaissance. :)
Anyone who would like to join us over the next month is more than welcome. Text me or fb me, and I'll let you know where we are and what we're doing.
Things will happen as we have the people-power to make them happen, so, the more people, the more we can do!
This is our brainstorm sheet from day one. If you have any ideas, I would love to add them!
I had one high school senior who came with me this morning to pick out supplies for the month (markers, chalk, construction paper, glue) and hung around to brainstorm every crazy idea or half thought that we could come up with.
We ate lunch outside in the sun that is finally deciding to almost pretend that it is June and then were joined by a college freshman who jumped in to refine ideas and research questions - whoot for smart phones. They came up with a pretty awesome plan for Saturday and intend to spend tomorrow afternoon doing a little reconnaissance. :)
Anyone who would like to join us over the next month is more than welcome. Text me or fb me, and I'll let you know where we are and what we're doing.
Things will happen as we have the people-power to make them happen, so, the more people, the more we can do!
This is our brainstorm sheet from day one. If you have any ideas, I would love to add them!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Focus month-ers! We start tomorrow morning in the Bethel prayer room (portable by the activity center) at 8:30am. Monday morning. 8:30am. Bethel prayer room. If you can't make it at 8:30, text me or Facebook me, and I will let you know where we're at and what we're doing (we might even be able to come pick you up!) Dropping in for an hour or two is more than acceptable, so feel free!
Your job for tonight is to google dignity village, the wild goose festival, creative world justice, and sacred road ministries, and then let your imagination run free with with the craziest, most wild, most "that could never work in the Tri-Cities" ways that you can think of to live out justice. If you don't have time for all of that, google one. Any one. :)
Can't wait to see what God does over the next month!
-Jessica Mac
Your job for tonight is to google dignity village, the wild goose festival, creative world justice, and sacred road ministries, and then let your imagination run free with with the craziest, most wild, most "that could never work in the Tri-Cities" ways that you can think of to live out justice. If you don't have time for all of that, google one. Any one. :)
Can't wait to see what God does over the next month!
-Jessica Mac
Focus month-ers! We start tomorrow morning in the Bethel prayer room (portable by the activity center) at 8:30am. Monday morning. 8:30am. Bethel prayer room. If you can't make it at 8:30, text me or Facebook me, and I will let you know where we're at and what we're doing (we might even be able to come pick you up!) Dropping in for an hour or two is more than acceptable, so feel free!
Your job for tonight is to google dignity village, the wild goose festival, creative world justice, and sacred road ministries, and then let your imagination run free with with the craziest, most wild, most "that could never work in the Tri-Cities" ways that you can think of to live out justice. If you don't have time for all of that, google one. Any one. :)
Can't wait to see what God does over the next month!
-Jessica Mac
Your job for tonight is to google dignity village, the wild goose festival, creative world justice, and sacred road ministries, and then let your imagination run free with with the craziest, most wild, most "that could never work in the Tri-Cities" ways that you can think of to live out justice. If you don't have time for all of that, google one. Any one. :)
Can't wait to see what God does over the next month!
-Jessica Mac
Taking a Break
So, I'm never sure how I feel about the fact that leaders are expected to “take a break” from Sunday school/youth group/whatever during the summer. It's a nice idea, but...
...then I end up being the only shepherd that the 5th graders know, and, the moment I slide down to the floor to talk to one kid, kids from every other small group materialize on the floor around us, because they desperately want to be safe and heard and loved by someone-not-a-stranger. (Not because they are needy but, because, like every other human, they want to be KNOWN.)
...then one of my 6th graders is so terrified of moving up to middle school that he can't remember his own birthday or his parents' names to write on the welcome card and can't decide where the balance is between being “cool” and staying so close that he is all but part of my side.
...then I get to high school youth group and watch all of the same things fly though their eyes, with not enough leaders to connect with all of them. I watch a freshman girl visibly relax when I pull her into a row with other people. I watch a junior girl do everything in her power to make sure that I see her, and I watch the boy next to her force the youth pastor to look at him and remember that he is there.
These are kids who, for every reason that you can imagine, need someone who doesn't live in their house to be “Jesus with skin on” to them. These are kids who feel things so strongly that their emotions are palpable.
They want someone to do life with them, to care about who they are and what they are going through. And...that isn't exactly the sort of thing you take a break from.
Sunday
I will give you an assignment for tonight, but I want you to spend the evening with your dads, making sure that they feel honored and special. We will be meeting up early Monday morning to get started hardcore.
DO: start packing
RSVP and let me know if you plan to be there Monday morning and for how long: until noon, all day, spending the night, etc...
Check your email (or look for me at church!) to get your “assignment” for tonight!
READ: Joshua 1:9
PRAY: that God would clear your schedule at the times that He wants you to be a part of this thing.
DO: start packing
RSVP and let me know if you plan to be there Monday morning and for how long: until noon, all day, spending the night, etc...
Check your email (or look for me at church!) to get your “assignment” for tonight!
READ: Joshua 1:9
PRAY: that God would clear your schedule at the times that He wants you to be a part of this thing.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Saturday
Enjoy your crazy day, and get ready for Monday morning!
Sunday night, I will give you an assignment, but I want you to spend the evening with your dads, making sure that they feel honored and special. We will be meeting up early Monday morning to get started hardcore.
DO: listen to the conversations around you today and take note of what people are talking about. How often do justice things come up?
READ: Matthew 6 at least three times, even if you have to do it verse by verse in between graduation parties or fundraisers. Be intentional, and take the time to finish it.
PRAY: for excitement and creativity over the next month, because, guys, our goal is to change the world.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Friday
Someday, I will be able to think of this day of the week without the song running through my head...
In the meantime, I”m excited to see you Monday morning.
Sunday night, I will give you an assignment, but I want you to spend the evening with your dads, making sure that they feel honored and special. We will be meeting up early Monday morning to get started hardcore.
DO: set aside a backpack and fill it with two sets of clothes, one that you'll wear on the day that you come join us and one for in case you end up spending the night.
READ: Psalms 37 and highlight the parts that confuse you. If you get the chance, go back over it again and ask someone about it.
PRAY: that God would start showing you things now that will tie into the rest of the month (issues, ideas, actions, people, etc).
In the meantime, I”m excited to see you Monday morning.
Sunday night, I will give you an assignment, but I want you to spend the evening with your dads, making sure that they feel honored and special. We will be meeting up early Monday morning to get started hardcore.
DO: set aside a backpack and fill it with two sets of clothes, one that you'll wear on the day that you come join us and one for in case you end up spending the night.
READ: Psalms 37 and highlight the parts that confuse you. If you get the chance, go back over it again and ask someone about it.
PRAY: that God would start showing you things now that will tie into the rest of the month (issues, ideas, actions, people, etc).
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thursday
We're getting closer! If I don't have your email address or phone number, I need them soon. Otherwise, there will be participation forms for your parents to fill out whenever you join us!
Sunday night, I will give you an assignment, but I want you to spend the evening with your dads, making sure that they feel honored and special. We will be meeting up early Monday morning to get started hardcore.
DO: take five minutes to write down any ideas that you want to see come life over the next month, things that your gut gets excited about – even if it's that you want to do a flash mob in the middle of Howard Amon park. Just write it down!
READ: Matthew 25:31–46 at least twice, and feel free to let it bother you.
PRAY: for friends to invite along, even if just for an hour. (Maybe Suzy and Billy Bob have always wanted to do a flash mob too!)
Sunday night, I will give you an assignment, but I want you to spend the evening with your dads, making sure that they feel honored and special. We will be meeting up early Monday morning to get started hardcore.
DO: take five minutes to write down any ideas that you want to see come life over the next month, things that your gut gets excited about – even if it's that you want to do a flash mob in the middle of Howard Amon park. Just write it down!
READ: Matthew 25:31–46 at least twice, and feel free to let it bother you.
PRAY: for friends to invite along, even if just for an hour. (Maybe Suzy and Billy Bob have always wanted to do a flash mob too!)
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
In Preparation
The “Focus Month” officially starts on Sunday night. Are you ready? I know that I am not. There are a dozen other things that need to happen between then and now: graduations, yard sales, car washes, birthday parties, Father's Day, etc. And, quite frankly, I get busy and distract – Ooh! Shiny!
So... we'll keep it simple, something to do, read, and pray in preparation for the next month. (Even if you can't be with us in real life, feel free to follow along on this blog and participate in any way that you can!)
DO: check out the packing list and make sure that, even if you're not planning to join us for several weeks, you have everything that you are going to need. Get a hold of me if you don't, and we'll figure it out!
READ: Isaiah 58 at least three times over the course of the day – if you're out and busy, look it up on your phone and read a verse or two in between events.
PRAY: for creative ideas to bring to life over the next month. Maybe you've always wanted to do X,Y, or Z but never quite had the guts to do it by yourself. Tell somebody about it! We can probably make it happen.
Sunday night, I will give you an assignment, but I want you to spend the evening with your dads, making sure that they feel honored and special. We will be meeting up early Monday morning to get started hardcore.
So... we'll keep it simple, something to do, read, and pray in preparation for the next month. (Even if you can't be with us in real life, feel free to follow along on this blog and participate in any way that you can!)
DO: check out the packing list and make sure that, even if you're not planning to join us for several weeks, you have everything that you are going to need. Get a hold of me if you don't, and we'll figure it out!
READ: Isaiah 58 at least three times over the course of the day – if you're out and busy, look it up on your phone and read a verse or two in between events.
PRAY: for creative ideas to bring to life over the next month. Maybe you've always wanted to do X,Y, or Z but never quite had the guts to do it by yourself. Tell somebody about it! We can probably make it happen.
Sunday night, I will give you an assignment, but I want you to spend the evening with your dads, making sure that they feel honored and special. We will be meeting up early Monday morning to get started hardcore.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Ancient
It was ridiculously fun to have them, though, and we kept them busy running around and playing games all night.
I taught quite a few of the kids when they were in third grade Sunday school, but, when I tried to convince them that they weren't allowed to be in high school because it made me too old, they just laughed at me and informed me that I am, in fact, old.
Clearly, I missed the memo whereby twenty-two was declared ancient!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Crazy Morning
Crazy Sunday, but a good Sunday.
The Haiti team sold homemade brownies and ice-cream between and after church services as a fundraiser, summer Sunday school started for the elementary schoolers, the new sixth graders moved up to middle school for the first time, and the new freshmen come to high school youth group to tonight.
Because of when I ran out of the fundraiser and showed up for elementary Sunday school, I ended up helping with crafts - meaning that I got to see all three groups of kids cycle through, rather than just stick with one group the entire time. The difference between the first two groups of 1st-3rd graders and the last group of new 4th and 5th graders was... just a little pronounced.
Smaller room, bigger kids, lack of leaders that the fifth graders knew and trusted (although not a lack of leaders), last station of the day, "new" situation (although we've done this every summer that they would remember), and a group that is not used to being herded = much noise and plenty of needing to know that they were heard and seen even in a massive crowd.
Normal behavior for 4th and 5th grade, but pretty entertaining to watch the teachers who are used to younger kids try to adjust to, nonetheless. But, we have an awesome group of high school shepherds (Sunday school teachers) who just rolled with the punches and loved on the kids regardless. Because, yes, these high schoolers really are that amazing.
* Hopefully, as the summer goes on, we'll get some shepherds in who are a little farther from their own elementary years. The high schoolers are AMAZING, but the kids need to know that "real adults" - to borrow a phrase from a 4th grader - care about them too. And, the high schoolers need to know that it's not all being left to them! *
The Haiti team sold homemade brownies and ice-cream between and after church services as a fundraiser, summer Sunday school started for the elementary schoolers, the new sixth graders moved up to middle school for the first time, and the new freshmen come to high school youth group to tonight.
Because of when I ran out of the fundraiser and showed up for elementary Sunday school, I ended up helping with crafts - meaning that I got to see all three groups of kids cycle through, rather than just stick with one group the entire time. The difference between the first two groups of 1st-3rd graders and the last group of new 4th and 5th graders was... just a little pronounced.
Smaller room, bigger kids, lack of leaders that the fifth graders knew and trusted (although not a lack of leaders), last station of the day, "new" situation (although we've done this every summer that they would remember), and a group that is not used to being herded = much noise and plenty of needing to know that they were heard and seen even in a massive crowd.
Normal behavior for 4th and 5th grade, but pretty entertaining to watch the teachers who are used to younger kids try to adjust to, nonetheless. But, we have an awesome group of high school shepherds (Sunday school teachers) who just rolled with the punches and loved on the kids regardless. Because, yes, these high schoolers really are that amazing.
* Hopefully, as the summer goes on, we'll get some shepherds in who are a little farther from their own elementary years. The high schoolers are AMAZING, but the kids need to know that "real adults" - to borrow a phrase from a 4th grader - care about them too. And, the high schoolers need to know that it's not all being left to them! *
Monday, June 6, 2011
Vegan Chocolate Spice Cake
This chocolate spice cake was modified from a recipe that someone modified from a recipe, but I think that you still ought to be able to google the original cake under the name, "wacky cake."
Either way, it's tasty, cheap (although, not quite as cheap as the plain spice cake), vegan, and invariably makes me think of "The Outsiders" when I run our of time to make oatmeal and end up snagging a piece for breakfast.
The recipe may sound a little odd, but it works! I promise!
(Fair warning: chocolate/cocoa are often slave produced commodities, so make sure that yours wears the Fair Trade label before you buy it.)
1.5 cups white flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder (or the approximate equivalent of unsweetened baker's chocolate
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup water
Method:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large skillet heat water, shortening, sugars, cocoa, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly (the spices and melted chocolate will want to stick to the sides and the sugars will want to burn to the bottom, if left unattended.) Let cool slightly.
Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, mixing well. Pour vinegar on top. Add the liquid from the skillet, and mix until you have a smooth batter.
Pour mixture into a greased 8×8 cake pan. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
Cool and eat. Like most cakes, this one is better if you can resist until the second day. But, who really wants to wait that long?
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Business Meeting
Sunday night was the annual business meeting at church, and the first business meeting that I have been to since I became a member (right before leaving for Kenya).
Nothing super amazing, but it was a good use of an evening nonetheless, and it was cool to have members from all three of the sites and all however-many of the venues together in the same spot at the same time. We voted on some elder nominations and the purchase of a new piece of land from one if the smaller sites that has been meeting in a theater. We worshipped with teams from all of the sites.
And...they talked a little bit about starting to pass on leadership of the church, which was, quite honestly, a little weird to hear, because, with the exception of a few staff who have been hired from out of town over the last few years, most of the leadership has been around, and been in leadership, for as long as I can remember.
I'm not sure which is weirder, the thought of different people being in charge or the thought of these people NOT being in charge.
Either way, though, I am excited to see what God continues to do in and through this church that has worked so hard to be; not just another mega-church, but a body that is legitimately on fire for Christ.
Vegan Spice Cake
This is a heavy but extremely tasty spice cake (almost to the point of being a gingerbread). It's cheap, easy, vegan, and the sort of thing that it feels like Laura Ingals Wilder might have eaten.
The steps are a little weird, but I've done it several times, and they really do work.
1 cup water
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cloves
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Place water, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, shortening, nutmeg and salt in a saucepan and mix. Place on heat and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes. Allow to cool, then sift together the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Stir into cooked mixture.
You should end up with a very thick batter that will have to be pushed into the edges of your pan. Transfer batter to a well-oiled pan and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until cake tests done.
Cool and enjoy!
Moving Up
My fifth graders spent their last hour in the Children's Wing this morning. (Or, my fifth grader, as the case may be. We are well into the season of weekend sports, so, out of a tiny group of seven kids, I had one fifth grader, one sixth grader, a third grader and four fourth graders.)
He was excited to be moving up, though, and, seeing as these are the children who practically melt with relief when they make it the ten steps across a crowded room to where our small group is standing, I plan to sic a few leaders on him and a couple of my other fifth graders, to make sure that they do more than stand in the entry way, wide eyed, and hesitant to go anywhere near a large group of humans.
They have been amazing to have in my small group, and it's been so much fun to watch them grow as they get more confident in all of this God stuff and more confident in the fact that I will always tell them the truth, no matter what they ask.
(The fourth graders were amazing as well. I just have a little more time to hang out with them still. One of the boys informed me confidently that he was, "going to be in [my] group next year too." Which, as most of my kids ended up placing themselves into my group, regardless of where they were "supposed" to be, might just end up working out for him. Lol.)
We finished off the year with a Jeopardy style competition between the small groups to see who remembered the most from the year. And... they kicked butt. They remembered not only all of the memory verses (Oh, the excited eyes and fist pumping that occurred when they realized that was one of the categories!) but also characters and events from the various stories AND when we did which virtue.
I just wish someone else could have overheard them talking through the questions, because it was pretty hilarious at times. "No, forgiveness was in May!" "No!" "Yeah! It was! 'Cause, that's when we had the donut fight!" "Oh, yeah!"
Clearly, whatever we did this year, over 39 weeks of laughing, sweating, running, jumping, flopping on the ground, chaotic, sometimes bleeding, never slow, sharing of our lives, was enough to make some lessons stick and imbed some verses deep enough to not be forgotten.
Now, we just need to find a way to teach that to other small groups!
He was excited to be moving up, though, and, seeing as these are the children who practically melt with relief when they make it the ten steps across a crowded room to where our small group is standing, I plan to sic a few leaders on him and a couple of my other fifth graders, to make sure that they do more than stand in the entry way, wide eyed, and hesitant to go anywhere near a large group of humans.
They have been amazing to have in my small group, and it's been so much fun to watch them grow as they get more confident in all of this God stuff and more confident in the fact that I will always tell them the truth, no matter what they ask.
(The fourth graders were amazing as well. I just have a little more time to hang out with them still. One of the boys informed me confidently that he was, "going to be in [my] group next year too." Which, as most of my kids ended up placing themselves into my group, regardless of where they were "supposed" to be, might just end up working out for him. Lol.)
We finished off the year with a Jeopardy style competition between the small groups to see who remembered the most from the year. And... they kicked butt. They remembered not only all of the memory verses (Oh, the excited eyes and fist pumping that occurred when they realized that was one of the categories!) but also characters and events from the various stories AND when we did which virtue.
I just wish someone else could have overheard them talking through the questions, because it was pretty hilarious at times. "No, forgiveness was in May!" "No!" "Yeah! It was! 'Cause, that's when we had the donut fight!" "Oh, yeah!"
Clearly, whatever we did this year, over 39 weeks of laughing, sweating, running, jumping, flopping on the ground, chaotic, sometimes bleeding, never slow, sharing of our lives, was enough to make some lessons stick and imbed some verses deep enough to not be forgotten.
Now, we just need to find a way to teach that to other small groups!
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Brains and Boxes
Nine years ago, I sat on a dark rooftop with an uncertain and frustrated team. Frustrated by the four walls that seemed to be hemming t...
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Haiti VBS trip 2012 - Haitian Christian Mission from Jessica Mac on Vimeo .
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Nine years ago, I sat on a dark rooftop with an uncertain and frustrated team. Frustrated by the four walls that seemed to be hemming t...