29.06.08
I should start with a disclaimer with regards to my last post.
It’s been pointed out that it comes across as quite critical and an attack on the country that is putting me up for 3 months! So I feel I should just explain that it was born from a conversation with some Americans at camp about the relevance of the Pledge of Allegiance and what it means to the average resident of the USA. It wasn’t meant at all to represent my view, and if it comes across that way, please accept my apologies!
So today has been the first break day and a day to relax. We’ve just finished music camp which was very very fun! As you might expect I was in my favourite place, surrounded by music, I had a great time!
I divided up my week singing in the faculty chorus, playing in the faculty band, playing piano for the middle chorus, playing in the humu ono band, playing piano for the camp worship team, playing piano for the praise and worship elective, teaching individual brass lessons in the private brass elective, and helping teach advanced theory class!
The campers we’ve had this week have been delightful. A smaller cabin of 9 boys, and a slightly older age-range has meant that behaviour-wise, we haven’t had to deal with much this week, and we’ve been able to really have fun with them. Our special guests this week for the music faculty have been Matt and Nicola from Pasadena (originally Portsmouth) with Caleb Danielson and Meredith Flinn also from Pas. This talented group of people each brought something very special to the week, and helped to create a really fun atmosphere for the campers and staff alike.
A real highlight for me again has been praying with these kids each day and seeing real transformation in them. The whole experience so far has really strengthened my passion for and belief in camp ministry, and the power of good it could do back home if more people would embrace it and maybe learn from the excellent model we have in the London South-East division.
Another thing that has been strengthened in me today is my hate of shopping. We traipsed around a mall for a couple of hours, and it just made me thank the Lord even more that I do not feel compelled to shop at any time! I saw a few strange things, including a hair straightening stall, which, as the name suggests, you go to to have an attendant straighten your hair, therefore ensuring that your shopping experience is fn and frizz free!
We finished off today with a really intimate time of sung worship and prayer under the stars. I put together a song list and played the piano for over and hour whilst a few of the team sat and sung. It was really nice just to spend time together in that way, and to have a prayer circle at the end where God was clearly present blessing us.
Can’t wait for tomorrow, hope it will be a time to relax, with not a shop in sight! Bring on the beach…
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Cynical world view?
I pledge half-hearted allegiance to the flag of the United only by name States of America, and to the Republic for which it no longer really stands. One introspective nation under the God of materialism, indivisible unless there is a presidential election taking place, with Liberty and Justice for all unless any of the following apply: Innocent of any charges whatsoever, part of a minority, part of a majority, prisoner of war, prisoner on death row, ever done anything wrong in the past, part of any religious organisation, part of any non-religious organisation, trying to enter the country, trying to leave the country etc...
Terms and conditions apply, statutory rights are affected, any likeness to characteristics of the USA, real or ficitious, is entirely accurate.
Terms and conditions apply, statutory rights are affected, any likeness to characteristics of the USA, real or ficitious, is entirely accurate.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Briefly
Just a quick one today, the next set of kids should arrive in the next 3 hours, so we hav spent the morning preparing which has been fun.
As it's a music school, I've been assigned to play piano for the middle choir, and to play in the faculty band ( I think) which should be good fun. We're all really excited about them arriving, should be a great 9 days!
Slightly gutted that will be missing band weekend back home, think it's going to be a really fantastic few days, I've heard only really positive things about Aaron so far, so it's a shame I won't be there to hear him!
Anyhow, off to go and make sure I have enough devotions prepared for this week!
Aloha!
As it's a music school, I've been assigned to play piano for the middle choir, and to play in the faculty band ( I think) which should be good fun. We're all really excited about them arriving, should be a great 9 days!
Slightly gutted that will be missing band weekend back home, think it's going to be a really fantastic few days, I've heard only really positive things about Aaron so far, so it's a shame I won't be there to hear him!
Anyhow, off to go and make sure I have enough devotions prepared for this week!
Aloha!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Crabmeat and cream soda
So today all too quickly we came to the end of the first service camp.
The last few days have held some really positive experiences, I've met some really awesome kids, had a great worship day with my cabin - praying with most of them, seen a real transformation in some of them. There have also been some real challenges, having 11 out of our 14 cabin kids with behavioural issues, seeing the background behind some of these kids and how broken they are, feeling that we've spent more time disciplining than discipling.
Despite having violent fights, one kid using our cabin window and curtain instead of a toilet at night etc. I still wouldn't change our group of kids for the world. So it made it difficult when we had to say goodbye to them today!
It means that we are now on break until the next group of kids come in on friday for music school which should be slightly better behaviour-wise... at the moment they are quite below on numbers, so we could have 5 instead of 14 in the cabin!
This evening I experienced my first Taco Bell (great) and went hunting for sand crabs on the beach after dark (not great). I thought I liked crabs...apparantly not! A couple of us went out and shamefully I ended up being a flashlight holder with the girls instead of a hunter-gatherer with the boys! Still, one of the larger ones we caught we brought back with us and someone broke off a leg for me, so I had fresh (raw) crabmeat! Earlier on I had bought some special cream soda (yum) flavoured with honey and vanilla. This turned out to be my first major mistake so far in Hawaii...it's vile stuff!
Therefore, if you are offered freshly caught crab, make sure it is dead before you eat it...and if you are offered some weinburg's 'gourmet' cream soda...stay well clear!
The last few days have held some really positive experiences, I've met some really awesome kids, had a great worship day with my cabin - praying with most of them, seen a real transformation in some of them. There have also been some real challenges, having 11 out of our 14 cabin kids with behavioural issues, seeing the background behind some of these kids and how broken they are, feeling that we've spent more time disciplining than discipling.
Despite having violent fights, one kid using our cabin window and curtain instead of a toilet at night etc. I still wouldn't change our group of kids for the world. So it made it difficult when we had to say goodbye to them today!
It means that we are now on break until the next group of kids come in on friday for music school which should be slightly better behaviour-wise... at the moment they are quite below on numbers, so we could have 5 instead of 14 in the cabin!
This evening I experienced my first Taco Bell (great) and went hunting for sand crabs on the beach after dark (not great). I thought I liked crabs...apparantly not! A couple of us went out and shamefully I ended up being a flashlight holder with the girls instead of a hunter-gatherer with the boys! Still, one of the larger ones we caught we brought back with us and someone broke off a leg for me, so I had fresh (raw) crabmeat! Earlier on I had bought some special cream soda (yum) flavoured with honey and vanilla. This turned out to be my first major mistake so far in Hawaii...it's vile stuff!
Therefore, if you are offered freshly caught crab, make sure it is dead before you eat it...and if you are offered some weinburg's 'gourmet' cream soda...stay well clear!
Monday, June 16, 2008
What's in a name?
So the kids have been here for a couple of days here...and they are awesome!
As you'd expect, there are some minor issues, one or two scuffles, but overall, we are so blessed with these kids. In my cabin there are 14 boys aged 9 and 10. Far more than I'm used to back at camp at home! Already I've been asked if I'm from Australia, how many children I have of my own, what's my wife's name, and told that I look about 46...oh dear. I might have to start a new moisturising routine!
Unfortuantely it seems that I am having to play 'bad cop' in our cabin at the moment, which I don't mind doing, but it just means that whenever I do have a laugh or have fun, the kids look at me as if they didn't know I had a sense of humour?!?!
Ah well, if nothing else, the mozzies love me, I counted 15 bites below the knee on my left leg! Might have to start wearing mozzi repellant...I wonder if they do violent kid repellant?!
I led a camp-wide devotion last night on the second part of the Jonah story which was slightly nerve-wracking! Apart from anything else, chapter 4 of the book is very odd, I'd never realised! Anyhow, I pretty much ignored all my notes and spoke about a different topic entirely which was fun!
It's starting to get confusing here as there is another matt on staff as well as myself, plus I have both a Matt and a Matthew in my cabin...makes for an interesting end of day report write-up: 'Matt showed hostility and aggression towards the rest of his cabin during cabin clean-up' etc...
Pics are up on fbook.
As you'd expect, there are some minor issues, one or two scuffles, but overall, we are so blessed with these kids. In my cabin there are 14 boys aged 9 and 10. Far more than I'm used to back at camp at home! Already I've been asked if I'm from Australia, how many children I have of my own, what's my wife's name, and told that I look about 46...oh dear. I might have to start a new moisturising routine!
Unfortuantely it seems that I am having to play 'bad cop' in our cabin at the moment, which I don't mind doing, but it just means that whenever I do have a laugh or have fun, the kids look at me as if they didn't know I had a sense of humour?!?!
Ah well, if nothing else, the mozzies love me, I counted 15 bites below the knee on my left leg! Might have to start wearing mozzi repellant...I wonder if they do violent kid repellant?!
I led a camp-wide devotion last night on the second part of the Jonah story which was slightly nerve-wracking! Apart from anything else, chapter 4 of the book is very odd, I'd never realised! Anyhow, I pretty much ignored all my notes and spoke about a different topic entirely which was fun!
It's starting to get confusing here as there is another matt on staff as well as myself, plus I have both a Matt and a Matthew in my cabin...makes for an interesting end of day report write-up: 'Matt showed hostility and aggression towards the rest of his cabin during cabin clean-up' etc...
Pics are up on fbook.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Kapplemeister
12.06.08
I’m not sure quite how this has happened, but I seem to have become resident choir-master here at camp Homelani! I’ve been asked to lead and train up the other team members in singing some staff songs at our weekly production here at camp. They seem to be under the impression that I can sing!
We’ve chosen to sing amazing grace to the tune of ‘In the Jungle’ from the Lion King, ‘Oh Happy Day’ from Sister Act, and ‘Happy Day’ by Tim Hughes (intentional link). Also in the same production, I’ve landed the part of director in one of the major scenes, NOT because of my precocious dramatic talent as I had suspected, but because I have a British Accent, as do ALL directors…go figure?! Best part of all? I was told by some of the girls last night that I sound like Michael Buble when I sing… result!!
So yesterday afternoon was spent on the beach and swimming (gorgeous clear blue water, soft fine sand) where I managed to completely cook my upper back and shoulders, so have bought a load of after sun today to soothe that off.
In the evening, we had our formal night and end of orientation. We all dressed up, everyone looked great, and had canapés and appetisers, and then had lots of local foods and a great evening of fun and games. A popular a small group started is that you have to sneak up behind someone, lightly kiss their back/shoulder, and sing ‘sneaky kisses, sneaky sneaky kisses’ before running off without them noticing. I turned out not to be so good at this game and got caught by the camp director, who promptly returned the favour this morning!
Today is our first break day of the summer, which has been spent getting little things done that needed doing, and going to Wal*Mart to get some essentials. The kids arrive tomorrow, so the excitement is building!
Looking forward to going out into town to eat tonight. Peace out.
I’m not sure quite how this has happened, but I seem to have become resident choir-master here at camp Homelani! I’ve been asked to lead and train up the other team members in singing some staff songs at our weekly production here at camp. They seem to be under the impression that I can sing!
We’ve chosen to sing amazing grace to the tune of ‘In the Jungle’ from the Lion King, ‘Oh Happy Day’ from Sister Act, and ‘Happy Day’ by Tim Hughes (intentional link). Also in the same production, I’ve landed the part of director in one of the major scenes, NOT because of my precocious dramatic talent as I had suspected, but because I have a British Accent, as do ALL directors…go figure?! Best part of all? I was told by some of the girls last night that I sound like Michael Buble when I sing… result!!
So yesterday afternoon was spent on the beach and swimming (gorgeous clear blue water, soft fine sand) where I managed to completely cook my upper back and shoulders, so have bought a load of after sun today to soothe that off.
In the evening, we had our formal night and end of orientation. We all dressed up, everyone looked great, and had canapés and appetisers, and then had lots of local foods and a great evening of fun and games. A popular a small group started is that you have to sneak up behind someone, lightly kiss their back/shoulder, and sing ‘sneaky kisses, sneaky sneaky kisses’ before running off without them noticing. I turned out not to be so good at this game and got caught by the camp director, who promptly returned the favour this morning!
Today is our first break day of the summer, which has been spent getting little things done that needed doing, and going to Wal*Mart to get some essentials. The kids arrive tomorrow, so the excitement is building!
Looking forward to going out into town to eat tonight. Peace out.
Breaking Fast
10.06.08
Today we’ve had the bulk of our ‘safe from harm’ training. Our equivalent in the UK to ‘safe and sound’. In the main, it’s just the same as ours, lots and lots of little rules and clauses and things to do and not do, presented in a couple of hours, with an accompanying video. It was as fun as it sounds.
The morning looked up when we had a visit from a local doctor of therapy, who runs a project for kids with severe behavioural difficulties. Along with her associate, she provided an entertaining yet very informative workshop for dealing with children, and showed us some useful exercises for dealing with violent children without using violence in return!
One of the exercises involved one member of staff walking towards another and seeing how close they came before either staff felt uncomfortable within their personal space. The Dr. was amazed at how close our team came towards each other, which we attributed to having done a ’high-ropes’ course the day before which brought many of us far too close together!
I’ve been amazed at the seriousness with which Americans treat their breakfasts. I would say they definitely see it as the most important meal of the day. I’m not usually a breakfast person, but have found myself joining in and having typically some pancakes with syrup, breakfast pizza (mmmm!), biscuits and gravy (ummmm…), fried rice (pretty much what you would have from a Chinese takeaway), cereal, egg bacon and sausage crème freche quiche type thing and any other assortment of wonderful tasty foods!
I don’t think I’ll be coming back with any less than I came unfortunately!
Today we’ve had the bulk of our ‘safe from harm’ training. Our equivalent in the UK to ‘safe and sound’. In the main, it’s just the same as ours, lots and lots of little rules and clauses and things to do and not do, presented in a couple of hours, with an accompanying video. It was as fun as it sounds.
The morning looked up when we had a visit from a local doctor of therapy, who runs a project for kids with severe behavioural difficulties. Along with her associate, she provided an entertaining yet very informative workshop for dealing with children, and showed us some useful exercises for dealing with violent children without using violence in return!
One of the exercises involved one member of staff walking towards another and seeing how close they came before either staff felt uncomfortable within their personal space. The Dr. was amazed at how close our team came towards each other, which we attributed to having done a ’high-ropes’ course the day before which brought many of us far too close together!
I’ve been amazed at the seriousness with which Americans treat their breakfasts. I would say they definitely see it as the most important meal of the day. I’m not usually a breakfast person, but have found myself joining in and having typically some pancakes with syrup, breakfast pizza (mmmm!), biscuits and gravy (ummmm…), fried rice (pretty much what you would have from a Chinese takeaway), cereal, egg bacon and sausage crème freche quiche type thing and any other assortment of wonderful tasty foods!
I don’t think I’ll be coming back with any less than I came unfortunately!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Easy like...
Sunday morning!
Bright shining sun, a gentle breeze, birds twittering in the air, this is the Hawaii I imagined!
This morning we've had our first Sunday Church Service. It was a really interesting experience noticing the little differences with how things are done here, like standing up for the scripture reading, or mellow hula dancing to a hawaiin version of 'My Jesus my Saviour' (much prefered to worship dancing, sorry English people!).
I've taken some pictures of the camp and the beach, which I'll try and put up on facebook in a second, but it really is stunning here, and the pictures don't do it justice!
The kids join us on friday, so we are starting to gear up for their arrival, still training, running through different situations/scenarios, and finding out what we are meant to be doing!
All in all? It's niiiiice.
Aloha!
Bright shining sun, a gentle breeze, birds twittering in the air, this is the Hawaii I imagined!
This morning we've had our first Sunday Church Service. It was a really interesting experience noticing the little differences with how things are done here, like standing up for the scripture reading, or mellow hula dancing to a hawaiin version of 'My Jesus my Saviour' (much prefered to worship dancing, sorry English people!).
I've taken some pictures of the camp and the beach, which I'll try and put up on facebook in a second, but it really is stunning here, and the pictures don't do it justice!
The kids join us on friday, so we are starting to gear up for their arrival, still training, running through different situations/scenarios, and finding out what we are meant to be doing!
All in all? It's niiiiice.
Aloha!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Everywhere you go, you always take the weather!
05.06.08
Met some of the guys last night, and most of the rest this morning. The team seem like a really good bunch, and seem to be bonding quickly.
The clear blue sea is literally our back garden! Went for a swim today with some others and it was just amazing!
Most of today was spent doing orientation and learning about how things are done here at camp, so alot of information!
Reason for the title? I’ve travelled many thousands of miles, to a tropical climate, and wake up this morning to a light drizzle of rain! I'm assured that this is very unusual though, and everything I've heard about Hawaii ISN'T a lie!
It's 10.25 pm, I'm sitting outside writing this in shorts and t-shirts, and the temperature is probably around 20 degrees. Niiiice.
Met some of the guys last night, and most of the rest this morning. The team seem like a really good bunch, and seem to be bonding quickly.
The clear blue sea is literally our back garden! Went for a swim today with some others and it was just amazing!
Most of today was spent doing orientation and learning about how things are done here at camp, so alot of information!
Reason for the title? I’ve travelled many thousands of miles, to a tropical climate, and wake up this morning to a light drizzle of rain! I'm assured that this is very unusual though, and everything I've heard about Hawaii ISN'T a lie!
It's 10.25 pm, I'm sitting outside writing this in shorts and t-shirts, and the temperature is probably around 20 degrees. Niiiice.
The journey
04/06/08
So today the journey begins! 3 months ahead of stepping into the unknown, new experiences, exciting opportunities!
How do I feel? Nervous - Yes. Excited - Yes. Slightly out of my depth - Oh Yes!
I said goodbye to most of the family first thing this morning (5.30) and later to dad at the airport after an intimate breakfast with the notorious orange and carrot juice (don’t do it).
I did find it quite difficult to walk away from dad into one of the worlds biggest and busiest airports, and was pretty choked up for the first couple of hours. I’ve discovered that airports can be a very lonely place if you are on your own!
Anyhow, I’m writing this at the end of the first leg of my journey, the 9 hour flight from Gatwick to Atlanta. Aside from the smell of the baby being changed 10 feet from me, all is well! It’s 5.35pm GMT, so naturally, as is the american way, I’ve already had a lunch and dinner on this flight, played many trivia quizzes, lost far too much (virtual) money on the onboard multiplayer poker game, done a few sudokos, and read some of a Bill Bryson Book.
Life is good, if a little isolated!
2nd Leg of the journey.
Atlanta Airport:
Noun et verb
Def~
1) Something that is intrinsically bad/rubbish/total waste of time.
2) The performing of an action taking three times the length of time it should.
3) The total love of and adherence to daft rules.
4) A form of punishment, usually psychological.
Example use of noun. If you find yourself in the USA, make sure to, by whatever means necessary - up to and including rerouting via Australia - avoid stopping at, passing through, or indeed over Atlanta Airport.
Example use of verb. “If you dare even think of doing what I just asked you not to I’ll Atlanta Airport you.”
Slightly encouraged that we arrived at Atlanta Airport 20 minutes early, but disconcerted by the fact that the hour and a half it took to transfer from one plane (through customs/security/baggage) would have caused us to miss the plane if we hadn’t arrived early!
The second part to that is that on my way back from Honolulu to new York, the stopover in Atlanta is a measly 50 minutes, so it’s almost definitely not going to work! Shall have to think of a plan.
3rd Leg of the Journey
Found out at the aforementioned Atlanta Airport that my flight from Atlanta to Honolulu would be via LA, another stopover!
This flight thankfully went relatively uneventfully, and I arrived in Honolulu! Surprisingly dark for 9 o’clock at night, so didn’t really manage to see much, but was immediately struck by the heat and humidity. Looking forward to the days ahead.
So today the journey begins! 3 months ahead of stepping into the unknown, new experiences, exciting opportunities!
How do I feel? Nervous - Yes. Excited - Yes. Slightly out of my depth - Oh Yes!
I said goodbye to most of the family first thing this morning (5.30) and later to dad at the airport after an intimate breakfast with the notorious orange and carrot juice (don’t do it).
I did find it quite difficult to walk away from dad into one of the worlds biggest and busiest airports, and was pretty choked up for the first couple of hours. I’ve discovered that airports can be a very lonely place if you are on your own!
Anyhow, I’m writing this at the end of the first leg of my journey, the 9 hour flight from Gatwick to Atlanta. Aside from the smell of the baby being changed 10 feet from me, all is well! It’s 5.35pm GMT, so naturally, as is the american way, I’ve already had a lunch and dinner on this flight, played many trivia quizzes, lost far too much (virtual) money on the onboard multiplayer poker game, done a few sudokos, and read some of a Bill Bryson Book.
Life is good, if a little isolated!
2nd Leg of the journey.
Atlanta Airport:
Noun et verb
Def~
1) Something that is intrinsically bad/rubbish/total waste of time.
2) The performing of an action taking three times the length of time it should.
3) The total love of and adherence to daft rules.
4) A form of punishment, usually psychological.
Example use of noun. If you find yourself in the USA, make sure to, by whatever means necessary - up to and including rerouting via Australia - avoid stopping at, passing through, or indeed over Atlanta Airport.
Example use of verb. “If you dare even think of doing what I just asked you not to I’ll Atlanta Airport you.”
Slightly encouraged that we arrived at Atlanta Airport 20 minutes early, but disconcerted by the fact that the hour and a half it took to transfer from one plane (through customs/security/baggage) would have caused us to miss the plane if we hadn’t arrived early!
The second part to that is that on my way back from Honolulu to new York, the stopover in Atlanta is a measly 50 minutes, so it’s almost definitely not going to work! Shall have to think of a plan.
3rd Leg of the Journey
Found out at the aforementioned Atlanta Airport that my flight from Atlanta to Honolulu would be via LA, another stopover!
This flight thankfully went relatively uneventfully, and I arrived in Honolulu! Surprisingly dark for 9 o’clock at night, so didn’t really manage to see much, but was immediately struck by the heat and humidity. Looking forward to the days ahead.
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