WEEK 4

This is a post for October 18th through the 24th. This was a very busy week in my practicum and there were three days in which I was active with the youth group. Every Wednesday night we have our weekly meeting at Pastor Trexler's house and discuss what will be going on the upcoming week. We talked about our small group experiences from the past weeks and the kids that were in our groups. GJ and I only had one kid in our group so it wasn't really that eventful. We also discussed what the message plan was going to be for the Sunday night service and what we were expected to do. It was actually really good this week and I felt that I got to know the other sponsor better throughout the meeting.This past Saturday our youth group took a van full of kids down to Indy to do some manual labor at one of Charlie Alcock's mission house. We raked leaves and cut down a tree and other stuff around the yard. It was really cool to see the mission house and all that it entails. I really got to know some kids better throughout the day and felt that I was fitting into the youth group finally. It felt good to do some hands on work instead of just being in the same building night after night too. It as a great day.Then on Sunday night we had our weekly youth meeting at "The Warehouse." We played an opening game that consisted of bobbing for snicker bars submerged in giant tubs of water. I got soaking wet along with everyone else but it was fun. It was great to see everybody participating despite the fact that it was freezing cold outside. The night went better than other weeks and the kids really seem to be bonding with the sponsors. I number of them initiate conversations now and know us by name. I really feel like things are going better than before now and I am really enjoying myself more and more each week.I estimate that I put in around 9 hours this week between the meeting, Saturday service project, and the Sunday night service.

WEEK 3

The wednesday we got together at Pastor Matt's house and talked about our week and what is going to happen. We talked about our calling lists and about the upcoming events at the Warhouse. Most of the evening was spent just hanging out with the other youth sponsors and talking.
Later on that week Bekah emailed us all our calling lists to contact people. On friday I spent some time calling the kids and telling them about the upcoming service on Sunday. This is something that I really wasn't comfortable with and did not really enjoy at all. It just really took me out of my comfort zone and put me in a position that I was not used to. I am still adjusting to the youth group here and I am having a tough time not comparing it to the youth group I am used to back at home.
This sunday we had youth group at 6. There were more kids this week than last and I am connecting with more of them and am getting better at knowing their names. Interacting with them is getting easier week by week and I feel like I am establishing friendships with some of them. I am really getting to know the other sponsors which is helping out a ton. Overall this week I spent around 4 1/2 hours in the practicum between meetings at Matt's, phone calling, and youth group on Sunday.

WEEK 3

The wednesday we got together at Pastor Matt's house and talked about our week and what is going to happen. We talked about our calling lists and about the upcoming events at the Warhouse. Most of the evening was spent just hanging out with the other youth sponsors and talking.
Later on that week Bekah emailed us all our calling lists to contact people. On friday I spent some time calling the kids and telling them about the upcoming service on Sunday. This is something that I really wasn't comfortable with and did not really enjoy at all. It just really took me out of my comfort zone and put me in a position that I was not used to. I am still adjusting to the youth group here and I am having a tough time not comparing it to the youth group I am used to back at home.
This sunday we had youth group at 6. There were more kids this week than last and I am connecting with more of them and am getting better at knowing their names. Interacting with them is getting easier week by week and I feel like I am establishing friendships with some of them. I am really getting to know the other sponsors which is helping out a ton. Overall this week I spent around 4 1/2 hours in the practicum between meetings at Matt's, phone calling, and youth group on Sunday.

Follow Up to WEEK TWO

I don't know if I am supposed to post my hours on here but I didn't on the previous blog so here is my times for week two...

Sunday 5:15 - 9:00 at the Warehouse. It was a special night so we went longer than usual!

WEEK TWO

This week was a very good week! This past Sunday night we had what we called, "Mission Possible" at the youth group. We had a special speaker named Dwight Robertson come and speak as a guest speaker. The whole focus was on outreach in our community. Not the type of outreach you would think, but the kind that is focused on love. By loving others we can influence their lives and by praying for them we participate in God's plan. It is more than week two by now but this is only the second post I have done. Things have not really changed in my practicum yet and it is kind of frustrating. Sometimes I feel like I am just there watching instead of being involved which is not good. We are suppose to meet this week to discuss more of what is expected of us at the practicum. That should be good. There have been rewarding things already though. The youth group is not very big but this allows for more interaction among the students. I got the chance to speak to a small group of guys this past Sunday and talk about high school stuff and what not. That was good, but I just want to be more involved. I guess I need to pray to God to show me what his plan is for me in all this... I feel like there is so much more to do but I just am not sure how to go about doing it.