Monday, June 30, 2008
Team Today:
Today 30 June 2008
The team spend time in the morning reading the Africa YCD thesis's, as guidelines, to assist them on their's.
In the afternoon, they did home visits, community conversations and K-clubs. On their way back; the van broke down and they walked home. A few were left to assist Pintu ( our driver) to get it fixed. It worked out alright!
Shital has had high fever and is on medication, he hasn't been going out much.
Arnest took his exams today in (Dhaka, main city) and he will be joining the team tomorrow! We have missed him 'in the house'.
Today is the second day of week five of the process.
The team spend time in the morning reading the Africa YCD thesis's, as guidelines, to assist them on their's.
In the afternoon, they did home visits, community conversations and K-clubs. On their way back; the van broke down and they walked home. A few were left to assist Pintu ( our driver) to get it fixed. It worked out alright!
Shital has had high fever and is on medication, he hasn't been going out much.
Arnest took his exams today in (Dhaka, main city) and he will be joining the team tomorrow! We have missed him 'in the house'.
Today is the second day of week five of the process.
Amazing Grace....
The translator...
God makes things work for His own good....as we visited Shima's home; a 10yr old boy joined us. He was the only one that spoke English and translated to the people that sat around us.
God does take care of the details, I walked in a village with people I never knew I would meet again, grounds I never knew I would step on, an unexpected fellowship and in the midst of it all, a small boy that became the translator. This was a deep Ministry for me. As we continued to be in the community, a small boy came and joined us, and a bird was sitting on his arm; the bird was so peaceful and just chilled there; flapping its wings and shifting as if it was on a branch, with no worry at all!
I have seen an amazing grace today....
God's great plans....
My first week in the country, I joined a Praise and Worship team that was leading a training in one of the Districts. The Lord led me to pray with a 13year old girl called Shima. I had a burden to pray for her Gifting and fruits of the Holy Spirit as she grows up, so that the Gifts might not overwhelm her; hence, open doors for pride. The Lord has invested alot in her; He has revealed His presence and purpose for pure Healing, wisdom, knowledge and encouragement, through her!
I wasnt sure if I would ever see her again. until this morning when the Lord created a chance to not only see her, but meet her family and sit in her house. She is from Andulia one of the place where TSA has a good project running. Captain Elizabeth Nelson and myself, visited the projects this morning! The connection to Shima's home was unexpected, but the joy, peace and fellowship we had in that village was profound.
People came and sat with us, we sang worship songs, as the rains poured outside. Muslims, Hindus and Christians, sat together at Shimas veranda and just 'lived the moment'. The greatest shock for me was when Shima introduced me to her twin sister! This was the last thing I was expecting, identical sister called Rima. In this photo, Shima is the one with a mark on her cheeks, Rima (twin sister)is the one with a white scarf and the eldest too.
In this village, there are around five families that are Christians, and any little encouragement is a 'boost' for their faith. The experience we had in that village was an example of incarnatinal living. Perfect joy in season.
(PS: Rima placed a 'tip' on my face, just incase you are wondering....)
29 June 2008: Local Facilitation Team
Yesterday, we spend the day with five young people from the community. We shared tools being used to capture the experience; and walked them through the entire process. They were amazed at the work the team has been doing..
Rathon (one of the guys) said " You come to the community, do home visits, conversations, meet with the women and elders, have kids clubs, and you still come back and do all this work; I am amazed".
The 'team', spend time in small groups talking through the process. We had an overview of Integrated Mission concepts and the SALT approach.
The entire team is around 12 young people, most of them are in school, but are available most of the afternoons! They have been part of home visits, conversations and the work with children!
Rathon (one of the guys) said " You come to the community, do home visits, conversations, meet with the women and elders, have kids clubs, and you still come back and do all this work; I am amazed".
The 'team', spend time in small groups talking through the process. We had an overview of Integrated Mission concepts and the SALT approach.
The entire team is around 12 young people, most of them are in school, but are available most of the afternoons! They have been part of home visits, conversations and the work with children!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
In the evenings....
Most of the evenings, after Accountability partners at 20hr00; we either, watch a 30min movie, or just sit, chat and laugh. Its one of the best moments of 'the team's life'. We usually have some snacks, sweets, a fruit or a glass of 7UP!
We love those times, they are alot of fun but also; highly educative!
We always, look foward to being in the community, to witness the process unfolding; getting there could be a story on its own!!
Decision making....
Rimi and the rest of the team continued with a mapping process with the young people that had not finished on the last visit. The young people gathered together and mapped out their strengths. They also mapped out their vision of how they want their community to be seen in the near future. They talked about these issues and begun to think of strategies on how young people can respond better.
Tomorrow, five of the young people are joining the team at the 'house' as part of the mentoring process. We live very far away from the community and its been challenging to find sufficient time for close strategic mentoring/discipleship for some of the young people. Ten young people are visioning to form a community response team. Girls and boys together wanting to make a difference. Most of them have been participating in the K-clubs too and are able to work with children.
The catholic pastor, in the meeting this afternoon, expressed his desire for YCD processes in the community, that will link with work for children and support care to be transfered through the YCD links. Its his vision that through these processess, illitracy will be curbed.
The women are also visioning to form a women support group; to respond to the issues of 'poverty'. They no longer want to borrow money from Micro-credit schemes, those put them in 'cycles' of debts and they are done with that. They will raise their own capital and support each other.
Art....
As we waited for the elders to come and the rest of the YCD gang! The kids gathered around us in the hall. Tapos took a chalk and begun to draw different figures, animals, flowers, homes; and the children would participate in conversation as part of the 'play'. Some of the children joined in the drawings too.
You learn to be creative when you work with children.
Grandmothers...
We continue to learn that grandmothers and older women are the ones taking care of the younger children. Most of whom are their grandchildren and they enjoy that role.
They say the 'mothers' are out of the country or out of the village working - but they also; have to teach their daughters to be parents quickly through experience. its easy to get married young; but another level of responsibility in raising children.
These women are a strength to any community!
Peeks...
When we are in the community, there are those who come close, are active and participate; those who watch through cracks of walls from their houses, others climb trees, and others just take peeks...
We see them...
We know they are there...
And we know they are learning by seeing...
Its still presence....
..its enough...!
Community entry points...
She is 15 years old and has been our entry point into a college that will be visited next week. I mentioned in a previous post on this invitation to a College, for conversations with students on
(1) Issues/effects/impacts of early marriages
(2) Issues on Trafficking and how best to respond and prevent.
I have visited her home twice and we have become very great friends. She introduced us to her uncles, and friends of her parents too;who are lectures to the College. They, became interested after our conversations in the home and forwarded the invitation for the team to visit.
My friend has relatives living next to the border, they told us that cases of Trafficking are many, her mother said that, a girl was being trafficked from Dhaka ( main city) to India. A man had gone to her family and told them, they needed a dance teacher. The family was happy that their daughter was going to teach dance in a village and earn good money. On reaching the border, the man was suspected and the girl was asked where her home was. When she said Dhaka and reasons why she was with the man, the police realised this was a hoax. The girl is now back in Dhaka with her family and the man was arrested.
Processess today..
Today, 28 June 2008,
We left the Mission house at around 1200 for the community. The team split into two on the way as one team responded to an invitation in one of the homes from a different village. The invitations have gone beyond the Para but to further communities from the Para ( the village we are working in )
Another team also responded to an invitation in a community which was visited last week by some of our team-mates. All the processes in the communities have been through invitations, some even from people passing on the road who are motivated by what they hear on the streets. The conversations have been ranging around early marriages and issues of illiteracy.
We gathered together at our 'room' in the Para around 14hr30, and settled. Our work in the community was to meet with the elders and there was a YCD -continued process from last week. As usual, the children were around, and a K-club continued. We have aimed that the processes are strategic, including the invitations we respond to.
We left the Mission house at around 1200 for the community. The team split into two on the way as one team responded to an invitation in one of the homes from a different village. The invitations have gone beyond the Para but to further communities from the Para ( the village we are working in )
Another team also responded to an invitation in a community which was visited last week by some of our team-mates. All the processes in the communities have been through invitations, some even from people passing on the road who are motivated by what they hear on the streets. The conversations have been ranging around early marriages and issues of illiteracy.
We gathered together at our 'room' in the Para around 14hr30, and settled. Our work in the community was to meet with the elders and there was a YCD -continued process from last week. As usual, the children were around, and a K-club continued. We have aimed that the processes are strategic, including the invitations we respond to.
Joel and Sumi
As it was a free day yesterday, Sumi's husband visited the team. They are a wonderful couple and the Lord has blessed them in marriage for over one year now!
Friday 27 June
On 27 June, the whole team had a free day, including John our cook. We spent the day, cleaning, hanging out and some of us watched movies on my laptop. The movies we watch are either a musical, Mr Bean or Tom and Jerry! Movies that have less conversations -
I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but 98% of the team-mates don't speak nor write English.I don't speak nor write Bangla either! between Richard, (Taposh) and Joseph (sometimes), and our hands, body languages, and discernment; we are managing!
I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but 98% of the team-mates don't speak nor write English.I don't speak nor write Bangla either! between Richard, (Taposh) and Joseph (sometimes), and our hands, body languages, and discernment; we are managing!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
K-Clubs (Kids and Youth clubs)
Kids and Youth clubs, great entry points to any issue in the community; but If you dont have balls, use small children....everyone is happy!!
Today in the Community...
Today, after our worship; we had a debrief of yesterdays processes; and planned for the youth and kids connections this afternoon. We also spent time looking at adventure based learning; as one of the key elements for PSS but also for our own fun!
Today, 26 June 2008,
Shital and I, were left at the 'house', while the team alongside the Local Facilitation team in the community led a community kids and youth club ( K-club) with a total of over; 100 children, youth and mothers participating. The team practiced the three fold of a normal community PSS process.
*****
Large group formation, with ice-breakers;
small groups formation, with specific guidance and focused games for a debrief and analysis
Large group 'in-flow' of all small groups for a wider sharing on lessons learnt.
******
With enough time; A Facilitation team, going through a PSS K-club cycle, could do home visits as the next phase even during a K-club afternoon; otherwise, linkages to homes are helpful, even if not within the K-clubs allocated times.
As we are aware that the main issues the community is struggling with is; early marriages, and illiteracy; the questions surrounded those areas too. Its an entry point to a wider community response. Psycho Social support; and a transfer of energy, vision and lessons from children to their homes.
Interesting and encouraging; that in this community, mothers are joining the K-clubs too. Its not unusual though; since most of the mothers are around 16 - 23yrs old; most of them still 'young' and find it interesting to 'play' and be youthful. Most likely, something they have 'missed' out on.
Today, 26 June 2008,
Shital and I, were left at the 'house', while the team alongside the Local Facilitation team in the community led a community kids and youth club ( K-club) with a total of over; 100 children, youth and mothers participating. The team practiced the three fold of a normal community PSS process.
*****
Large group formation, with ice-breakers;
small groups formation, with specific guidance and focused games for a debrief and analysis
Large group 'in-flow' of all small groups for a wider sharing on lessons learnt.
******
With enough time; A Facilitation team, going through a PSS K-club cycle, could do home visits as the next phase even during a K-club afternoon; otherwise, linkages to homes are helpful, even if not within the K-clubs allocated times.
As we are aware that the main issues the community is struggling with is; early marriages, and illiteracy; the questions surrounded those areas too. Its an entry point to a wider community response. Psycho Social support; and a transfer of energy, vision and lessons from children to their homes.
Interesting and encouraging; that in this community, mothers are joining the K-clubs too. Its not unusual though; since most of the mothers are around 16 - 23yrs old; most of them still 'young' and find it interesting to 'play' and be youthful. Most likely, something they have 'missed' out on.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Pintu...Joins!
Pintu our driver, came to the House, earlier than usual. He joined in the teams debrief, planning processes, including worship. He drove us to the community and joined in the community processes. He is becoming 'totally one of us - with benefits!
We haven't had a 'conversation' on what the whole process is about; but he seems to naturally 'get' it and naturally participates!
In the last seven years of my participation in the response; I have learnt that, a deeper response comes from people like Pintu, and they influence their own surroundings; even with 'little' experiences.
Muslim community - meeting...
Today, our plan was to respond to an invitation to a Muslim school in a Muslim community. We arrived at the venue but the young people had not arrived. As we were just sitting, as usual, people begun to gather around. Men, women, children e.t.c. They all wanted to have a conversation with us!
A few of the team-mates peeled off from the rest of the group and begun to play with the children, while the rest of the team sat together for conversations. The issues discussed were on early marriages, and how that's affecting the community. There are already measures being suggested by the younger women, to prevent that chain of concern from generations. It was a sudden meeting, begun alittle bit rough, as people always think we have money, or have other agendas or have come to preach and steal people from their religions! Richard and Tribina navigated those conversations, and in the end the conversations had shifted
from...
This is our problem, We are living with it, teach us what to do...
to...
We can suggest ways to solve the problem facing young women and early marriages.
Richard mentioned that there would be a childrens process on Thursday 25 June and if they were interested, they were invited to join. One of the ladies started to ask if there will be food, but before she finished the statement, the rest of the community jumped on her, to shut up, others were telling her, 'don't you see they are giving support with their time and you are asking for food', e.t.c e.t.c it was hilarious to just watch that response from the community. That woman might be stigmatized for a while...
This Muslim community sees the team, everyday as we walk through to the village; they already had suspicion and already knew there was something going on in 'the' particular community we work in. They wanted to be included!
God has opened doors - even Muslim communities are inviting connections!
Fish farming...
We had a conversation with this man; and we thought he was fishing for business or for subsistence.
In this photo, he is just, checking them out; - size; and how they seem to be surviving. He would catch them, hold them,in his hands, turn them around and throw them back into the dam. I thought that was cool....
He would repeat the process over and over. He doesn't think they are ready.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Youth Capacity Development...IV
As the community counselling and kids discussions went on; the rest of the team was linked to the young people in the community. The team used mapping as a tool for stimulating conversation and participation. Arnest facilitated very well.
Mapping is a great tool to involved everyone, connect people through the conversations ,but also reveals to the facilitation team the areas/parts of the community which are hardly seen by any outsider. You can also use mapping for qualitative and quantitative annalysis.
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