WEEK 9

Week nine was another great week at the Warehouse. We started the evening out by playing games with the kids. I watched some kids play playstation and just got to hang out and get to know them. One kid named Matt talks to me every week and always has something new and exciting to talk about. Usually we play basketball together but this week he really didn't want too. Pastor Matt took a week off and instead Greg spoke. His message was on Jonah and repentance of the city of Nineveh. He challenged us to decide which group we fitted into, the group of sinners like Nineveh or the judgmental Jonahs. Afterwards we had a chance to beak into small groups with the kids and talk about some questions regarding the message. I had 3 kids in my small group and we had some good conversatoins. Afterwards we kind of wrapped things up rather quickly and headed home. I am kind of sad that this practicum is almost over because I am getting attached to alot of the kids. I am planning on staying there for the next semester and helping out even though I don't need the hours for a class. I have been learning many valuable things about the way to run a youth ministry and some of the things that I shouldn't do. Overall, I have enjoyed my time at Lakeview Wesleyan.

WEEK 8

This week was a slower week than usual. It was also kind of frustrating as well. We had quite a few kids show up, like around 30 so it was a good turn out for the event. I was just kind of frustrated because we didn't have any weekly game planned and the message was cut short because of the Colts game on TV. I understand that the game is important and everything, but I do not think that it should take priority over the message or youth group for that matter. Our message was about whether or not the Bible is credible but we didn't get through the whole thing, well at least not the intended content. I am sure that things will get better, but I am learning alot of things by doing this practicum. Maybe the meetings should be scheduled during the week instead of Sunday if football is that important.

WEEK SE7EN

So week seven was a good one. We had our annual "Turkey Bowl" this past Sunday night at the Warehouse. It was bowling with turkeys! We laid down some plastic wrap on the floor and greased it up with vegetable oil for some slip. We then divided the kids into sections and had a bowl off using a raw turkey. Some of the kids really got into it and had a great time. Pastor Matt had some great prizes like gift cards to AppleBee's and even a television. We had a guest speaker come for the message portion and speak about making your faith your own. It was great to change things up for a bit and hear a new speaker bring the world. He was an alum from Marion who had lived for a while in San Diego and had some great stories to relate with his message. Afterwards the student workers had the joy of cleaning up the turkey guts and grease that was left on the floor after the event. It was great to do some hands on ministry at the Warehouse...

WEEK SE7EN

So week seven was a good one. We had our annual "Turkey Bowl" this past Sunday night at the Warehouse. It was bowling with turkeys! We laid down some plastic wrap on the floor and greased it up with vegetable oil for some slip. We then divided the kids into sections and had a bowl off using a raw turkey. Some of the kids really got into it and had a great time. Pastor Matt had some great prizes like gift cards to AppleBee's and even a television. We had a guest speaker come for the message portion and speak about making your faith your own. It was great to change things up for a bit and hear a new speaker bring the world. He was an alum from Marion who had lived for a while in San Diego and had some great stories to relate with his message. Afterwards the student workers had the joy of cleaning up the turkey guts and grease that was left on the floor after the event. It was great to do some hands on ministry at the Warehouse...

WEEK 6

This past week was a great week at the warehouse. This Sunday we all met at the Warehouse for Sr. High youth group at 5:30. The attendance has been going up and we are seeing some new faces around the place which is a rewarding feeling. Frank has been doing a great job running the van to pick up people and has started his own ministry in it. We continued battle of the sexes again this week with another game. It was spin on the bat make a basket game and the girls finally won a game against the boys. It was alot of fun and everybody got into it and had a good time. It was good to see the competitiveness between the two sides and the team atmosphere that is created between the boys and girls. Pastor Trexler continued his series on defending the faith and this week he talked about other religions and why Christianity makes the most sense. He talked about the Bible's origin and how it lines up to the other religion's texts. We broke up into small groups afterwards and I got the three football players from Southwood. It was good to hear them talk about their faith and eventually their love for football. Afterwards most of us went over to Pastor Trexler's house to watch the Colts vs. Patriots game on Sunday Night Football. He ordered pizza and wings and we just hang out until 10:30. It was an eventful week and I really feel like I am building relationships with the kids in the youth group. Looking forward to another eventful week before Thanksgiving!

WEEK 6

This past week was a great week at the warehouse. This Sunday we all met at the Warehouse for Sr. High youth group at 5:30. The attendance has been going up and we are seeing some new faces around the place which is a rewarding feeling. Frank has been doing a great job running the van to pick up people and has started his own ministry in it. We continued battle of the sexes again this week with another game. It was spin on the bat make a basket game and the girls finally won a game against the boys. It was alot of fun and everybody got into it and had a good time. It was good to see the competitiveness between the two sides and the team atmosphere that is created between the boys and girls. Pastor Trexler continued his series on defending the faith and this week he talked about other religions and why Christianity makes the most sense. He talked about the Bible's origin and how it lines up to the other religion's texts. We broke up into small groups afterwards and I got the three football players from Southwood. It was good to hear them talk about their faith and eventually their love for football. Afterwards most of us went over to Pastor Trexler's house to watch the Colts vs. Patriots game on Sunday Night Football. He ordered pizza and wings and we just hang out until 10:30. It was an eventful week and I really feel like I am building relationships with the kids in the youth group. Looking forward to another eventful week before Thanksgiving!

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.