Friday 31 October 2014

Week Four: Mosquitos, Zombie Ministry, and More Blooming Pumpkins…

So this week starts (Wednesday) with me and the assorted YAMMs still on retreat in Georgia, and with me waking up with 68 mosquito bites … (I won’t give details on where about they were)… So we pack up and leave Georgia, me in a very uncomfortable way, only for us to run out of Gas around ten miles out from Florida. So our mini-bus waited as a separate car of YAMMs went and sought out gas. Eventually we get back on the road, and head, via Jacksonville (to drop one of the houses of), and a Cracker Barrel (an amazingly weird restaurant and store), on to Orlando.
We all arrived home only for Pedro and I to immediately leave for the church for the second lot of pumpkin unloading.
This unloading was much the same as the previous, only we had a quarter of the people, to move the same number of pumpkins. So it took us a lot longer than previously. If that wasn’t bad enough, I managed to accidently drop two 10 kilogram pumpkins on one of my (many) supervisors, Laura Turner, possibly breaking a few toes, but we won’t ever know as she didn’t go get it checked. Then after it passing 8pm and there still being a fifth of a truck to unload, we decided to start throwing the pumpkins down the truck by rolling them down the truck. This lead to me firing one of the smaller pumpkins, up the truck, and hitting somebody in the jaw (accidently) possibly dislocating it, as they seemed to relocate it, causing them more pain. Who was this person I hit? Yes it was Laura Turner… Again… Whoops… Apart from that, we got the truck finished in a speedy time, so Pedro and I got home around ten, for me to apply some anti-itch cream (which turns out I am slightly allergic to, waking me up at 3am with legs burning).
So Thursday I was meant to be off, but because I was in such pain now, with the bites and the burning skin making me highly sensitive, decided to come into work to do some emails, and set up some meetings. It was a very non-day, nothing really happened, and to be honest after the madness of the previous day I was glad. Of course it was an important day back home, with my wee brother turning 14. So I skyped him and he got my card, and had already received my present earlier in the year.
The next day was a big day for someone on this side of the pond. Shakeria, my flatmate, turned 21. So that day, Sarah, Keria, and I did a bit of shopping during the day. Buying myself some new rags, and Keria a birthday cupcake, before heading to meet with Ruth at a house she was sitting, where we gathered before heading to City Walk, at Universal, where we went out dancing (because I am just such a good dancer…). That night we returned to Ruth’s house, to watch Netflix and sleep.
Saturday was a long day, after around five hours sleep, Keria, Samantha, and I, went to East Winter Garden, to attend the ground breaking service, for a Habitat for Humanity build. Keria took pictures of the ground breaking, and the other build down the road, while I just looked present and chatted to some of the leaders. We only stayed an hour, and then proceeded to Einstein’s to get a breakfast bagel.

The afternoon was spent with Keria, Ruth, and myself, in a seminar, called bridges out of poverty, which focused on ways we view poverty, and ways we should think about combating it. I found what was being taught very interesting, but some of the comments being made by some of the “pupils”, seemed a bit polarised, though I do believe everyone took away a lot of useful information. Then Keria, Sam and I, decided to do a bit of window browsing/retail therapy at mall of millennia.
Sunday was a mad mad day, which mostly focused around this weeks “Fourty-Four games that I thought would end up with a child in hospital, but somehow didn’t…” So because this was such a massive game, I am going to make a separate blog post specifically for this.  It is this area that represents the Zombie Ministries, part of the title.
Monday, although it was my day off, I agreed to help Andrew (Director of youth ministry) to collect a ping pong table, in the morning. This involved tying a large folded table, into the back of a very run down pick-up truck, using very questionable rope. Thankfully it did not fly out, or get us pulled over. The rest of the day was spent with me trying to get over the awful cold that I seemed to be developing, and obviously I didn’t try hard enough, as I still have it…
Tuesday, I came in with little work to do, and with a fever. We had our usual Tuesday morning staff meeting, where we started to talk over the book How to be Rich, which I will talk a bit more once I finish/start reading it… Then I had a lovely meeting with Miriam, in regards to research she wanted me to do, to help aid the next Jamaica mission trip.
So that was my week, I am sure I have forgotten some stuff, but hey when your week is as crazy and awesome as mine has been, how could you remember every part of it.
This coming week please continue to pray for my friend Jen Styles-Williams, as she under goes her first surgery, as long as everything goes to plan, on Monday. Prayers also for her family would be appreciated. If you could pray for Laura Turner as well, as this next week is a big one for her, as she goes off to pitch a script in California.
Peace,
Owain  




Saturday 25 October 2014

Week Three: From Camp-outs to Georgia


Wednesday was interesting, typically speaking it was back to the normal programming, with Thrive running in the afternoon and evenings, So I went to children's ministries program and took the prayer station, where they were praying things in their life they wanted God to help with. There was an eclectic group of prayers, from asking for help with hay-fever, to help to become a marine biologist, noting these are children aged 4-8. Never the less I had a great time praying with them, and they seemed to enjoy chatting about what was going on in their wee worlds. For their activity we took them to the big boy and girl playground, and then I was drafted in by the kids to play hide and seek. I tell you it's harder than you think to find someone hiding out in the open.
Evening came and I started work with the youth. The group I was helping take was ripe with difficulties from the get go, many of them were moody and didn't really want to participate in the quick bible study, which eventually lead to one lass walking out after two minutes. and then another cussing another kid out during the activity, ultimate Frisbee. Never the less, even though I felt rubbish by it all, I talked through things with my boss and realised these kids are just different to the ones I would have been in youth groups with before, they have a completely different set of ticks and responses.
So Thursday me and Pedro started getting all the stuff together for family camp-out and the house paint, from marshmallows to paint buckets. We also stopped in at guitar store to pick up some strings for a guitar Pedro had been given, and in a complete impulse buy, I bought a guitar. It is a beautiful Martin backpackers guitar, perfect to take home, and to university. I spent the night playing it, and just loving the feel of it. Then late on, me and Samantha an Keria went to iHop, an all hours pancake and waffle bar.
Friday I was in work from two to help set up the camp ground for the camp out that night. We brought the marshmallow guns and hovercraft out, and we were set. Camp outs over here are huge, we had four camp fire pits, a BBQ food truck and an ice cream truck, along with face painting and balloon art. Also note that food truck food here, is good tasting food. So Pedro and I took the children around on the hovercraft and then set up for marshmallow wars, where kids go running around with plumbing pipe guns, shooting marshmallows at each other, while trying to capture the other teams pumpkin/flag.  That night we had to stay up all night to make sure everyone was safe, and that nobody wandered to far, and into an alarmed section of the building. This night shift lead to a midnight drive to Wendy's, as Pedro wanted to get yet more food, I however did not fall to the temptation. So morning came and I woke the camp up with a glorious trumpet call.
Well after no sleep Pedro and I got ready to take our youth group to paint a house in East Winter Garden. The painting was between our youth and a youth group from the EWG community. It started of well, the youth groups mixed well, we all were having a laugh. When we started painting the house, we were painting the walls white, and the trim blue. after nearly completing the house by mid day, we were told that the colours were meant to be inverted... Somewhere the communication lines had been crossed. So we ate lunch together and then started at the house again. The fact we had to start again wasn't helped by the fact the other youth needed to leave before two. So we worked on and got the majority of the house done by our deadline of three thirty. Not going to lie, it could have been better, but we tried!
That night Pedro, myself,  and some of the college students, went to City Walk, and Universal, in the intention of going to a film, but due to traffic, and some of them getting incredibly lost, we just had coffee and Chinese, and then explored the area.
Sunday was the typical routine, church then youth, and in youth we did a pumpkin scavenger hunt. we got home at nine to leave immediately for our retreat to Georgia (with a lay over in Jacksonville),
Epworth was just so beautiful, the sun was shining, the grass was green, and the birds singing (and mosquitoes were biting). I also got to meet the rest of the YAMM's, They are a great group of people, so full of energy and spirit for what they are doing.
So Monday we arrived and had a lovely lunch in St Simon's, and were then given free ice cream by a gentleman we got speaking to in a vintage second hand store, who turned out to own the local ice cream shop. I have found that people that you get talking to about what we are doing, are generally very generous in giving you free stuff, mostly food, and when you are living off around $250 a month, that is much appreciated.
So during the retreat we had a number of small group reflections, and sessions. This included an exercise to work out your key personality traits, I scored very highly on the leader side of things, with a strong enthusiast wing, Basically this means I have a strong, loud personality, and I like to be in control. It also says that under stress, I start to become an "investigator", I look into things, I research things, although this may not be totally focused research. I can completely relate to this trait, haven seen me go through it with my exams in may-june. It also stated when I was well situated into an area or program, I become a "helper" (another trait I scored highly in). I like to think that when I am pointed in the right direction I am a help, but you'd have to ask my co-workers and bosses. I believe that the enneagram did capture a bit of my personality, however I do hope I am not like the people it linked me to (examples being Stalin, and Putin.)
We also took part in a ropes course, not going to lie the first few high steps where hard but after that it was great, would thoroughly recommend it to any one looking for a team bonding activity.
The Tuesday evening we gathered round a fire that I prepared and they cooked smores, and I just play with the flames. It was great fellowship, and fun.
So that is my third week done. It was long but still had a great time!

Forty-Four games that I thought would end up with a child in hospital, but somehow didn't….

#3 Pumpkin scavenger hunt.
Basically hide a number of pumpkins around a large campus with numbers on them, give groups of children a list with clues on where to find said pumpkins, with room for them to record which pumpkin was at which spot. To make it interesting set an obstacle course at some of the pumpkin areas, including a hovercraft race, a wheelbarrow relay (best done with one with a flat tyre and a dodgy axil), and pumpkin gutting (where you take out the insides of a rotten pumpkin).

Please I ask for your continued prayers for those mentioned in the past posts, also for those YAMM's I met this week that they would continue you to feel the lords presence.



Friday 17 October 2014

Week Two: Pumpkins. . .


 Back home in Northern Ireland, we don't tend to celebrate Halloween as much as the Americans. Boy do they celebrate it. So Wednesday eighth was a very weird experience for me. We (being the youth the interns, and some other St. Luke-rs, staff and members.) unloaded over 2600 pumpkins, and set up the St. Luke's Pumpkin Patch. If you are finding it Hard to imagine over 2600 pumpkins, try imagining a Tesco's delivery lorry (as the Americans call it; a semi) filled from front to back. It was a lot! What made it better was the fact it was around 94 degrees F, 32 degrees C. So unloading was between four and it was half eight before we had finally got every pumpkin off, and cleared the hay from the "semi". It was hard work, but honestly it was good fun, and fellowship, I got talking to a number of new people, and had a good laugh, and there was pizza at the end, so hey I was happy!

Thursday started off with me coming into St. Luke's to take the children's service, for preschoolers. typically trying to get a word in over seventy young kids is a challenge, however I was struck by how well behaved they were. They listened to my story on harvest, and they happily participated. It was a pleasure. I then had two meetings, one on a book the staff are reading (Toxic charity, by Robert Lupton), which is well worth a look for those serving in community development charities back home. Then I had my first staff meeting. I can honestly say it filled me with joy to hear so many people speak passionately about their jobs and service, and ideas in both those meetings, it made me feel that hopefully that I will one day be as passionate about my work, even if I don't have a clue what field that will be in yet.

Friday was a non-work day. So I chilled at home and that night introduced two of my room mates (Samantha and Ruth) to the hilarity of Father Ted. They were nearly peeing themselves at times. Late on, Adam Harnet, one of my supervisors, picked me up to take me to his to spend the night, so I could get to my Saturday morning project.

Bright and early Saturday morning we left for the East Winter comunity garden project I was helping at. We a lot of weeding and re-soiling, and then I let my feet and legs become a living feast for some fire ants. Those six legged demons sure can bite, the pain was like that of a wasp sting, That aside working in the calm of the morning, was somewhat relaxing and refreshing. I also met an amazing eighty something year old lady, who just knew everything about plants and gardening and was also an incredible handy women, knowing how to fix a variety of thing most wouldn't have a clue about, like a leaking tap.
That afternoon I just did some prep for Sunday, and relaxed.

Sunday was an 8-9 day. It started with early morning bible class where I, with the help of Andrew, head of youth ministries (amazing guy), took the 13 year olds. They were not anywhere nearly as well behaved as the preschoolers. they couldn't listen for more than two minutes. They were so awful I felt the need to apologise  to my old youth leader via mail, just in case I was ever as bad as they where. Man talk about a tough crowd.... Then we had worship, lead by Pastor Jen. It was nice after seeing so many on-line sermons of hers, on the St. Luke's webpage, to finally see one in person. So after the service the youth went to burgerfi for lunch, and then me and Pedro came back to the church to draw a giant heart on nine joined up canvases, for the youth to paint and join up later. We both then went  and helped cook the youths dinner, which was fun as the chef Stephen was dead-on and taught us numerous new ways to prepare food for large numbers of people. Youth group went off without any major hitches.

Monday was another day of rest, however I spent it mostly doing washing and trying to sort out my american banking. Hopefully soon I will not have to carry around cash all the time.

Tuesday my day was spent mostly fixing up a hovercraft. and building and gluing marshmallow guns. I will explain next week. But I was basically high of the plumbing glue fumes by the end, the room was spinning, to say the least.

At this point I am going to introduce a wee segment to my blog called:

Forty-Four games that I thought would end up with a child in hospital, but somehow didn’t….

I am making up for my lost week last time. so this week you get two. These are all games, we have played with the youth of a Sunday evening.

#1           Epic Death.
Basically you get two teams of children and youth. You put up a paper flag between two chairs for each team, then the teams pile boxes and try to protect their paper flag. You get a large number of dodgeballs and line them in the middle between the teams. On the start whistle, each team runs to collect as many balls as possible, and Epic Death commences. The teams now chuck balls at each other and the flags. If you are hit by a ball without catching it you’re out, if you do catch it, the thrower is out. The goal is to rip the other team’s flag completely down, by pelting it with balls. Headshots aren’t allowed.

#2           Pumpkin wars.
Two teams. Defenders and Attackers. Defenders build a giant fort out of bins, tables, chairs, and any other object in the area, to protect their pumpkin. They are armed with Nerf guns, of different shapes and sizes.
The attackers have to run and steal the pumpkin, without getting shot, if they are hit they return to their checkpoint. At the end Andrew passed off the game as not winnable, I just think the attackers weren't creative enough to find a way to succeed 

This coming week please continue to pray for the Stiles-Williams family, pray for Pedro and I, as wee have horrendously busy week. Also please continue to pray for all the YAMM team, that we all continue to serve and trust in God.

Peace,
Owain

Friday 10 October 2014

Week One: Diving Right into the American Dream

So I got to my friend Wendy, who was bringing me from the airport to my new home. As some of you may know the weather in Orlando has been hot and very wet over the month of September, so as soon as I took my first step out of the air conditioned bliss that was the Airport, immediately I hit a wall of heat and moisture, it felt as if I was walking through a never ending steam room. So we got to the car, and the first order of business was to find me a drink, so we pulled in at Taco Bell (other fast food joints are available) and got me what I can only describe as a behemoth sized Mountain Dew.
Eventually after navigating the Orlando traffic I reached my new home sweet home.
I was greeted by three of my fellow interns, and new house-mates, Shakeria, Sarah, and Samantha, my room-mate, Pedro, was asleep in our room. To celebrate my long awaited arrival, they had left decorations up from Ruth's birthday, along with writing "welcome Owain" up on every surface they could clean it off, and they even spelt my name correct!
So that night they cooked dinner, however about half way through the oven stopped working, so that night we had half cooked chicken. It didn't kill me so hey, who cares.
So after a late night, I went to bed and awoke at around 8 (not bad for one with jet lag) then went to work for 11. St. Luke's UMC is about 25 minutes drive from our house, which isn't too bad. Once I arrived I was struck in shock by the size of the campus, it probably covers as much ground as my old school back home, it is MASSIVE! Pedro gave me a tour around all the buildings, and I was introduced to a lot of new friendly faces.
We had lunch at Chick-fil-a under instruction of the children of Britt Gilmore, which was nice, and cheap, comparison to home that is. So after lunch I was thrown straight into the biggest day in the St. Luke's week,
On a Wednesday St. Luke's holds and event called "Thrive", which has activities for those of all ages. At three o'clock, I started work with the Children's Ministries. Although I was tired, I felt it was right that I divide straight in, as there was no point waiting another week to see there main night. After my first session with the children (elementary school aged), and after teaching them the game Red River, and Splat.  I sat down at the communal dinner. It is a great idea where everyone who has come to thrive can sit down have fellowship with each other.
After dinner I had Youth Fellowship, which involved a small bible study in groups followed by a activities including art, cookery, music, and sport. I helped with the sport, which at the moment is ultimate Frisbee, but soon will be tag rugby (I plan on educating them on real sports)
The rest of the week was not nearly as busy, I had a few meetings with supervisors on what I will be doing, and was off on Friday.
Thursday night I did finally meet my YAMM supervisor Heidi, and it was a pleasure to meet someone who was full of energy for what they were doing, and full of care for those she is looking over.

Friday evening was my first real experience of american sport. I attended dinner and then the homecoming Dr Phillips game with the Stiles Williams, to see Grace as part of the homecoming court, representing "Colour Guard". It sure was an experience, with the court being shown off in open topped corvettes, in fancy formal dresses, all looking very dapper. The game itself was not extremely exhilarating, there were some good plays by both sides, but the "Pep" before and during the game was a completely new experience. It was impressive. A band in full uniform (in the Florida heat) played in the stands, along with colour guard dancing along beside them. Unfortunately torrential rain, caused us to leave the game during the third quarter.
The next day we went to Amy Winslow's for a post homecoming dinner, which included the interns being taken out on the Winslow family speed boat, at sunset. We all got dressed up for it, because I think we all really just wanted an excuse to get all fancy.
So the homecoming teens went off to the dance after dinner, and we then headed over to the Stiles-Williams, to the post dance party, which involved just dance, a giant inflatable twister game, and my first smores. For those who don't know what a smore is, it is a sweet cracker sandwich, with chocolate and roasted marshmallow. It was sickly sweet. Mind you so is a lot of stuff over here.
Sunday for me was spent at the contemporary worship, followed by a lovely lunch with Wendy and family, and then youth praise, and fellowship. During the fellowship there was a game played, which was made up by the in staff youth leader (and one of my bosses) Andrew. He named the game Epic Death... Put it this way it was like dodge-ball with more people and more balls, and I'm surprised nobody was injured... But all in all it was a good night and I look forward to spending more time with the youth.
Monday was spent with me trying to convince my House mate, that rugby is a better sport than american football, and her trying to do the opposite.
Tuesday was a day started by staff fellowship, which was a very emotional service, as Pastor Bill announced on behalf of Pastor Jen Stiles Williams, that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and that lead to another staff member announcing the same, The rest of the day was spent with me sorting out my St. Luke's UMC email, and meeting with Mariam Mengistie, director of missions development, and Bradley Roberts, executive director of Worship.

So that was my first week at St Luke's UMC, and it was brilliant, I am fully looking forward to the next 43.

I ask if you would pray for me to keep enthused in all that I am doing, and also please pray for my friends Jen, John, Grace, Caroline and Sam Stile Williams, as they come to terms and move forward through this cancer diagnoses.

Peace,
Owain.



Thursday 2 October 2014

Week Zero: Bags, Borders, and Beginnings.


34,819,200 in seconds, 580,320 in minutes, 9,672 in hours, or 403 in days. This is how long this trip has been in the making.  In August 2013 I started my networking with friends from St. Luke’s, fishing for the smallest of placements, willing to live anywhere, with anyone, and work in any area of volunteering. Little did I know that I would end up in this wonderful position, with so many opportunities!

Following my first few emails with Lynette, my boss, it was clear there where definitely opportunities for me to work over in Orlando, in mostly youth and children ministries , which I was very excited about, as these were the areas I was most interested in. So she confirmed that I would be working over there, and that we would start planning how I would get over, and how I would live there, and all the little things. So I filled out their intern application form, so they had all my details and my interests.

So moving on to November 2013, Lynette and a group of missionaries, came over to look around a number of their mission partners in Belfast. In their group they had two teenagers, Grace and Reed, and as a part of a, let’s say test, I had to arrange a few activities for them, so they didn’t have to do all the boring adult meetings. So I arranged for a tour round Sullivan (my school), and arranged for them to go to my old youth fellowship on a Sunday night, which recently had received some money from St. Luke’s. So they (seemed) to have a good time, I also took them to Carrickfurgus Castle, along with Jen, Graces mother, as they wanted to see a real life castle. Over all Lynette seemed happy with my work, and we continued to plan for my arrival.

In March 2014, I got my B1 visa, and booked my ticket from home to Orlando, flying Dublin, Manchester, then to Orlando.  By that point however I had to start really focusing on school work for my A2 exams, but Lynette kept working on, finding out who I could work with, and if there where any of other areas of mission I could explore over here.

So summer 2014 finally arrived and my exams were over, so I started planning again. I met up with Britt Gilmore, a past member of St. Luke’s turned Methodist minister in east Belfast mission. He and his kind family, had dinner with me, and started preparing me for the cultural differences between Home and America, from little things like where to eat, to explaining the separation of Church and State.  Britt’s two girls informed me that the one restraint I had to go to was Chic-Fil-a, which I tried the first lunch time I was at work, (and boy was the portion cheap, and huge).

Finally august came and I got my results, which confirmed I would be going to Glasgow University for physics with astrophysics, come September 2015. This meant that I didn’t have to worry about reapplying for other courses, between the results and leaving. So I started preparing for physically leaving. 

I made sure I had all my paper work and tickets, and passport, all in a single folder. I also had my parents Silver Anniversary to help with as well (which went off well). So by the time the celebrations were all over, I only had a week to go.

I sorted all my clothes, and my two suitcases, and decided what I was going to keep for university, and what I was going to bin.

The big day finally arrived, we drove down to Dublin airport and my family saw me into the airport, not a hundred present sure if that was in fact due to deep family support and love, or to make sure I actually was leaving the country. My flight from Dublin to Manchester was smooth enough, I enjoyed the flavours of my last Guinness till next summer, and I arrived save on the other side, to be brought home to English Scottish family, for a lovely home cooked dinner and a bed for the night before needing to be at the airport again at 9 am.

The Flight from Manchester to Orlando was a long one, I was sat next to two relatively large gentlemen (as in needed two fully extended seatbelts large), but apart from having to lean to one side the whole flight, it was relatively comfortable. Virgin served all complimentary drinks and food for the entire flight and there was a personal entertainment system for everyone, all with plenty of films to choose from that I hadn’t seen yet. So four films and a big bang theory later, I arrived in Orlando.
Border control and customs was a pain! To start two flights from Manchester arrived at the same time, meaning there were approximately 1,200 passenger’s needing to pass through security. Then after nearly two hours in line I got to the front and the kiosk agent asked me a number of questions which ultimately ended in me being told my visa could only be used for 6 months at a time,  despite the Consulate in Belfast having never told me such a thing. After a nine hour flight and being up for 14 hours, and feeling hungry, I just went white. Explaining how this internship was till august 2015, and generally just kicking up a fuss, the agent eventually said “ well I can stamp this now, and you’d have to exit and re-enter the country in six months, or you can have a meeting with the senior supervisor of Border control here” with her stamp hovering above my visa, as if she thought I was going to fold. I asked for the meeting and I went and waited a room with other people who had evidently been refused entry or had been messed around with their visas to. I was called fairly quickly, and I presented my case to the supervisor. Thankfully he agreed to let me in till September 2015, due to proof of entry to university, and a ticket home. His words were “I don’t normally do this, but considering your work is non-profit and you are no threat to the people of America I will grant you an extension.” Well at least he realised I wasn’t a terrorist.

So eventually I got out of security and found Wendy, my friend, and taxi to my new Home in Orlando.

And that is where I am leaving it till next week!

Peace,
Owain