Snow is stupid. (I couldn't think of a title)

Well, my second week in the States is almost up. Sorry if these updates are a bit too frequent but I figured it would be a nice way for me to document all the little things I've been doing. Also, my short-term memory is pretty bad so if I don't do this, I won't remember anything!

This week has been great fun, I'm getting more into the swing of things although the snow keeps messing everything up! As soon as the snow fell, the schools were closed so we have spent quite a bit of time at the centre this week. We managed to get to Urban Promise on thursday where I delivered my first lesson to the kids. I didn't quite realise how many kids would be there so it did stretch me a bit. It was more like proper teaching, as the set up at Urban Promise is very structured and school-like so that was a new experience for me. I'm so used to doing activities that get the kids all hyped up, so I went with my usual approach but quickly realised that probably wasn't the best way to do it in that environment! Well, you learn by living. It was only my second time of meeting my 'camp' so I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself. 

Yesterday, we went back to do JJM and just played cards with the guys. They were quieter than usual but I think that's because most of them wanted to be released for the weekend but they have to earn that by doing good during the week. After that, we went back to Urban Promise to help with a sleepover at a local Church. 

First of all, we went bowling with the kids. Now, I didn't expect that bowling would be any different in America. I was wrong. As we were trying to figure out what shoe size I would be over here, I passed by boots to the guy behind the counter. Everyone stopped & looked at me as he exclaimed, 'I don't want your shoes!' Well, that's not how we roll in England. I looked to the Germans to back me up, but that's not how they roll in Germany. So, red faced, I headed to put on my bowling shoes with my boots in hand. I was then beaten by a 6 year old. By 30 points.

Once I got over that, we went to the Church ready to eat our snack and put on our PJs to watch Monsters University. I love that movie as it takes me back to the good old University days. We then slept on a cold, hard floor in the Church and awoke to pancakes and bananas. 

As I was laying there this morning, shivering, having not slept a lot - I got to thinking about how precious Youth Ministry is. Youth leaders do so much stuff that is so uncomfortable and out of the ordinary purely out of love for the kids they work with. I am constantly blown away by that. I hardly ever hear people complain about it, because they know that those crazy things could potentially have a life-changing impact for the kids. At the YFC Conference, the American speaker who lead the morning talks spoke of when he was a young person and the things that impacted him the most. It wasn't the crazily elaborate games or talks. It was the times when his youth leaders would ask for his help. When adults would involve him in their lives. I don't think we can do enough of this, especially with the kids here who have such heartbreaking stories. 

One thing that has surprised me so far is that I can feel certain insecurities cropping back up. I've noticed that the leaders constantly encourage not only the kids, but each other and I didn't realise how vital that would be for me. I know that insecurities come when you're out of your comfort zone and it can become exhausting pushing yourself constantly. I just keep feeling like I'm not good at anything, but this style of working and living is so different to what I'm used to. For me, sharing a room with someone is out of my comfort zone. Leading kids in a school setting is out of my comfort zone. Everything being so centred around sports with the kids is out of my comfort zone. I think as I begin to feel more settled and more a part of the teams I work with, I will be more at ease and will stop beating myself up! A wonderful friend of mine sent me this quote earlier on in the week that I want to keep reminding myself of:

 'We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.' 

Mother Theresa 

Sometimes it's easy to feel like what your doing is insignificant, or almost 'where do I even begin.' But as long as I keep being me, and loving these young people in the best way I know how, I could have a lasting impact - and that is the reason that I'm here. 

Learning Curve

I've decided to round of each post from now on, with something that I've learnt about America that week. So this week I learnt that:

Americans don't use the word savoury when describing food.

When I asked what word they used to describe non-sweet food they said they would call it 'food.' 

P.s. I cuddled AND fed a baby today.  P.p.s. I also had my first brew of Dunkin Donuts coffee this morning. It was extremely necessary.

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'You Learn by Living' Part 1 - Changing.

I'm not sure how many parts my first 'series' is going to be made up of, but I've decided it simply will not fit in to one post. The website I mentioned in this post led me to purchasing my new book. It's one of those that refreshes and challenges me each time I pick it up - so much so, I have begun taking notes on it and seemed to have folded down every single page as they all contain words that I want to hold on to. So, what is this mysterious book I hear you ask?

Look at it here - You Learn By Living by Eleanor Roosevelt. I knew relatively little about her before I first picked up this book but I've been learning more as I've read the examples she uses about her own life to back up her points.

Evolving

Her mindset is extremely similar to mine, first illustrated on the introduction pages to the book:

'None of us can afford to stop learning or to check our curiosity about new things, or to lose our humility in the face of new things.'

The idea of 'lifelong learning' was one of my favourite pieces of teaching at University. It really transformed the way I saw myself, and the way I lived my life. I've heard so many people say that the person you were at 18 is the person you will always be. I think that is absolute codswallop. If you seek knowledge, change and the broadening of your horizons then you will never stop evolving and growing as person, thus making you different and more mature. 

I truly believe that we can stand to learn something from every encounter we experience. This could be at work, at home, with friends, at school, in relationships or at college. It could be from a big mistake, a small one, or a success. We can always draw learning from our actions if we search hard enough for it. This type of learning requires looking deeply in to ourselves, and helps us to realise things we perhaps never knew. What are my fears, hopes, habits, desires? I will write more about this in part 2!

'There is no experience from which you can't learn something. When you stop learning, you stop living in any vital and meaningful sense. And the purpose of life, afterall is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.'

A lot of the time, we are afraid of making mistakes. We do everything we can to avoid and ignore them because they are not seen as a necessary part of life. For me, I tend to learn through action. I can't usually read a set of instructions and then set to work - I like to be shown how to do something, or I like to try it out myself. This approach might mean it takes a while, I might make more mistakes and have to try again - but that's how my brain works. Does it really matter how long it takes to get something right if each time we try, we learn something? The process of learning how to do something is as, if not more, important as the end product.

'We cannot shut the windows and pull down the shades, we cannot say, "I have learnt all I need to know, my opinions are fixed on everything. I refuse to change or to consider these new things." Not today. Not anymore.'

I love these words. They feel like soul food. I know so many people who cause me frustration because of this. Sometimes, those who think like this are younger than me - I find that a scary indictment. We cannot afford to think like this anymore! In a world that is changing and evolving so quickly, we cannot remain ourselves unchanging. This stops us from becoming relevant, and relatable to all kinds of people.

We need to hold on to our curiosity for learning, and for life. People are always saying to me that i'm nosey - but I disagree. I ask a lot of questions, I like to get my bearings when in a new environment, with new people or in a new place. I like to work out how I can fit, what makes people tick, what their opinions, passions, dreams are, who does what in the office etc. Mainly because I'm curious. I don't just want to turn up and know nothing about where I am or who I am with, I have this thirst for knowledge. That's what keeps me fresh and excited about life!

'If a child's curiosity is not fed, if his questions are not answered, he will stop asking questions. And then, by the time he is in his middle twenties, he will stop wondering about all the mysteries of his world. His curiosity will be dead.' 

This is one of my motivations for choosing youth work. Young people have so many questions. They are in a stage of trying to make sense of the world in which they have found themselves, and they want to find out what their part is, what can they offer? They need alsorts of people, from all walks of life to listen to their queries, their struggles, in an attempt to form themselves into adults who contribute to their society. We all need this, and well all need to hold onto our curiosity, our adventure for life and our willingness to learn and adapt. 

Much Love xxx

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