Posts in Training Workshop 1
Training Workshop 1: Youth Sports Team
Day 1 - October 3
Morning after agony set in after our soccer game. That achy feeling our muscles hold after sudden unknown use. Regardless of argument, running for a soccer ball is not the same as running for the N, R or W trains, no matter how many times you may catch the train! I don’t use those muscles often, but this morning I noticed them.
It is amazing how many muscles I don’t use. Not because I don’t want to. Often I just do not have the chance to use them. They’re not part of the daily routine. It’s funny our daily routine can develop a muscle memory. It wasn’t until playing a different game that I quickly discovered how focused my muscle groups are. Each sport, each position requires a specific set of muscles, a specific strength. And, they’re not always interchangeable. Perhaps that is why good athletes cross train. (And God has given each of us specific strengths, and he has called us to be in shape in season and out.)
Kicking a ball around in Central Park was exhaustingly fun. Perhaps God has to use this morning after aching in my bones to wake me up. To tell me that I will be using muscle groups over in Scotland, even now, that are under developed. Someone who plays soccer regularly wouldn’t feel the way I do today. No, they’re trained. So, I need to build my muscle memory. My spiritual muscle memory. Can I listen when someone speaks and not wander off into a million directions? Can I listen instead of speak? Can I be humble? Can I lay hands on the sick and pray they’ll recover, stand by myself when the team breaks up? Can I encourage with sincerity, be genuine, and be approachable?
Can I love and listen? Can I share about myself with my team, and can I learn to let my own feeble legs be strengthened?
Soccer was fun. Who knew pint size Poland Spring bottles would make such great goal posts.
Training Workshop 1
October 3, 2009
The workshop began with Ben and Jess Cleaver leading in worship, followed by Treg McCoy with some announcements. “Miracle provisions have been coming in,” said Treg, who is thankful that God is supplying. Faye R., an outreach team member, currently unemployed, shared her testimony about how God came through for her financially. All she did was pray, believe and watch God move miraculously. God gave her Proverbs 24:10-12: “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works?”
Tim went up next and told us to close and open our eyes. He then said, “welcome to Scotland!” He gave us an overview on Scotland and introduced a 10 minutes recap video from the first-timers training with Earl Stocker, John Weaver, Steve Grace and Ron Ross. The video spoke about dos and don’ts, accountability, humility, expectations and more. It was equally helpful for non first-timers. In the video we learned was a bit of history about the Scottish people. In World War II, many Scots were killed, and many blamed God for the deaths. Today, young people don’t see God in it and the Scottish people have been feeling very defeated. We are called to Scotland to encourage the churches and their leaders, to reach out to the community with the love of Christ, to show them that their hope is in God.
Jessi Carrasco then shared with us on practical tips about how to share a testimony. Sharing a testimony is about telling your story just as it is. Every good story has a beginning, middle and end. We were advised to stay focus and stick to one story and not speak “Christianese,” but to just be real and be ourselves.
Info Center Team
The Info Center Team makes Doodads from old sweaters at the Training Workshop on October 3rd.
We broke into different groups at 11am. In the Info Center team, Wendy Thomas shared about how the idea of the “doodads” was born, and how making doodads has enhanced her prayer time. Doodads are soft toys made out of sweaters. Wendy was touched by the reports of the team that returned from a missions trip to Haiti in May. Her heart was broken for the children and she wanted them to have soft toys. That was how doodads were born. Her son, Joshua has his own line call “noodles”, and her daughter Rachel has her line call “snoots.” Noodles and snoots are made out of the sleeves of the sweaters. The soft toys benefit ChildCry, a Times Square Church Ministry that feeds hungry children around the world. Each team member wrote a name idea for the Info centere. The name of the Info Center will be announced later.
Daycare Team
In the daycare team, the kids range from 1 to 5 years old. All of them were having McDonalds and enjoying their French fries. When we asked the kids, “What do Scottish people look like?” Emma answered, “Scottish.” The youngest member said “Hallelujah” out of nowhere. Way too cute!
Hospital Team
In the Hospital team, members were sharing about what they heard during the morning and went to Ezekiel 37:1–11. They are believing that God is sending us to give a word of life to the people in Scotland. As they were sharing, the 5 Stones ministry walked in with some donuts and coffee.
Healing Room Team
Next was the healing room team; a team of 14 praying women. This team is scheduled to go out to the streets on Wednesday, October 7. Fayette Stocker, the team leader was sharing logistics with the rest of the team. They spoke about how to be a considerate roommate, to be kind, meek and to speak in truth and love. First-timers closed the meeting in prayer.
