JouthZONE: No longer animator virgins

We have broken the barrier!!!!! We officially have a Junior Youth Group!!! How EXCITING!!!! It's every Sunday from 2-4:30...but we had a shortened session 2day, cuz our odd little community decided sometime ago to have their feast at 4 2day...but anyway, it was a nice intro session.

Before getting down to business, we had 2 plan what we were going 2 do...me and reema (shes gonna help ruth after i go) and my dad (cuz hes CRB checked) arrived late cuz of a pond disaster we had...details on my blog. Anyway, we got there, shared the supplies we bought and planned what we were gonna do. We bought loadsa stuff - pencils, pens, colouring pencils, felt tips, gel pens, glue sticks, folders, little note books, paper, card, glitter pens and loadsa other bits and bobs. We decided who was gonna do what...and what we wanted to achieve that session. And of course we shared our worries and excitement...

So we started with about 5 j-youth, Ruth's 2 younger brothers, Karma and Dalitso, their friends from school Derryn, Brooke and Nassir. Sahba, who used to live in Milton Keynes, arrived a little late. We began outside, with concentration (names instead of numbers). Was really funny, cuz 2 begin with they couldnt do it...and neither could my dad, which was the funniest part really. But we got better at it...and it was a really good game 2 get 2 know names. We then played another name game, where we stand in a circle and one person throws a ball 2 someone. They catch it and duck...the 2 ppl either side of the person who ducked have 2 race to say each others names...u could have it that the slower one sits in the middle, but it was cool just 2 play. The last ice breaker we did was the pairing one...having some questions 2 ask and remember bout ur partner. Overall it was a pretty successful intro cuz i personally felt the group was quite close.

Reema, my dad, Ruth and Nassir

Nassir again, Dalitso and Derryn

Sahba, Karma and Brooke

We went back inside, and two late comers arrived, Mwanga and Chimuka and their little brother George who was adorable!!! It would have been really cool to do some ice breakers with them too, but we just didnt have time just then, plus there was a possibility that more late comers would arrive. We sorted out the necessary stuff...the consent forms they had 2 give to their parents, the registration form we have 2 fill out and their folders we got 4 them.

As planned, we then discussed the virtue of respect, getting them to give us ideas about what it is and why and when we should practice it. They were great at coming up with things, and came to the conclusion that we should respect everyone and that the world would be a better place if everyone respected everyone. Here we are, discusssing respect...

The purpose of talking about respect was mainly to lead into discussion of the rules of the class...which they came up with themselves. We felt talking bout respect first was good cuz they had that idea in their head when thinking bout what the rules of the class should be, which ultimately centres around respect. They came up with a perfect list and we followed this we a fun exercise where we had printed the word respect on a piece of paper and they could decorate it any way they wanted. The idea was they would have a virtue a week where we discuss it for a while, preferably related to the particular lesson in the book (which we chose not to begin that day) or one we felt was necessary to discuss at that time. They'll decorate the virtue every week and we'll give them a ribbon of some sort where they can pin each weeks up...so they'll have sth in their room that'll remind them and their parents can see what they're getting up 2.

We didnt have time for much else, but we gave them the virtue of service to think about for next week and told them a bit about the book, Breezes of Confirmation. We then had refreshment, in the living room which we decided was a very bad idea, but luckily we had no accidents. Right at the end, another boy arrived, John...had transport problems, hopefully fixed now tho...so we had 5 at the beginning and 9 at the end...we have another 3 confirmed next week and another maybe...so we may end up with 13 next week...will be interesting.

All in all...it was a bit rushed and disorientating when they all arrived at different times, but it was a great first session and hopefully they all enjoyed it are looking forward to coming back next week...they all seemed keen...which is the important thing. Hopefully i wont have to leave Ruth alone next week...cept we've had this family thing planned for ages, and i cant really pull out of it...but we'll see.

Everyone, please start up a jouth group...its the best thing u could do with ur time. Plus its really fun :) Ruthy and I will keep this updated and when i go, im hoping my sis will aswell. Here are some pics 2 finish off...