Dodging Landmines

Having started out as a group of strangers, we're working to get to know each other better, build trust, and have some fun preparing for our time of future ministry through exercises like these. Rain eventually chased us indoors where we continued the rest of our training by hearing Shane and Alex share their testimonies, followed by a discussion of what to pack (and fit in one suitcase).

Team Bonding

Only 2 more team meetings remaining!

Alex gives Ricky instructions (no gestures allowed!)

Jeff's interpretation of Lawrence's description for the proper block arrangement (it couldn't have been that simple, could it?)

Our meeting this week got bumped back to Thursday because of on-campus housing sign-ups being on Tuesday (our usual meeting night). As a result, Matt wasn't able to make it so we missed him, but still had a fun time. And just in case you've been to the center and don't recognize where these photos were shot, the center was previously booked by other groups so we met in the Waggoner's apartment.

Our first activity was an exercise in giving and receiving instructions. Paired in teams of two, one member viewed a sample arrangement of blocks set up in the kitchen and had to instruct their partner in the other room how to set up their blocks in an identical pattern. The partners then swapped roles and practiced giving (or receiving instruction). Afterwards we discussed the fact that often times we will be in a postion to receive instructions, for example, in facilitating an aspect of camp and we have no idea what it is "supposed" to look like. Other times we may find ourselves in the position giving instructions to someone for whom we're not speaking their language and we have to find a variety of different ways to express the same point.

The bulk of this evening's session revolved around the issue of culture shock: it's causes, symptoms, and cures. It was a time to discuss similarities and differences between American and Hungarian cultures and prepare ourselves for the possibility of encountering confusion, frustration, and embarrassment over a lack of understanding why certain aspects of life in Hungary are different (not necessarily wrong) as compared to our home culture here in America.

It's hard to believe there are only two more weeks remaining in the semester! We planned a night of team bonding which will take place Sunday evening at DQ. Check back on Monday for photos of that event!

Meet the Team

Here's the team (Aidan & Elisabeth not included)! We've been meeting together for a month now and getting to know each other better. Each member is working on developing their support team, selected their workshop subjects, and considering their destinations for the international travel day of camp. Please check back to this site which we will try to update on a weekly basis until we leave for Hungary in June. Then we'll use this as our chief delivery method for updates once we arrive in Diosd for camp!