Training - Our experience

In this section will be updated news about what we're getting up to on training. All the activities we will be doing and our individual thoughts about them

3rd October 2007: -

Well, we're almost at the end of training and it has flown by so quickly. We've had a very busy schedule but it has been one amazing time. Whilst at IMC we have had many sessions on; Living Faith, Understanding Mission, Team Building and have had many team times and worship sessions which have been really encouraging. We've had great food, great accommodation and lots of fun getting to know the other 32 people not on our team.

During the training process, we have also been linked to a church in Bristol which has been our training church! This church was Stockwood Baptist Church and we spent two weekends here, getting alongside and involved in their church life.
During the first weekend we got alongside the church to just see what sort of activities they do, and the style of worship they use on a sunday morning!
Over the course of the weekend, we attended a barbeque, played games with the children from the church, were interviewed on the sunday morning in the service and went in to their sunday school and ate loads of food! On the second weekend however, we were very much more involved in the life of the church. When we arrived on the Friday we went to a Harvest Ploughmans supper at a sheltered accommodation for the eldery, whilst here we sat amongst 45 elderly residents, ate with them, chatted to them, sung with them and then were interviewed about what we would be doing overseas in Bangladesh. After this on the Saturday, we had a spare day. We used this time to bond as a team by taking a trip into Bristol Town centre. We went to Starbucks, into a few shops, and then to Pizza Hut for lunch before making our way back to our hosts homes to prepare for the services we would be doing on the Sunday. Out of all the training i have to say that this was really a worthwhile day and was one of the days that i feel really helped us as a team to bond.

On the Sunday, we led the morning service at the church, and also the childrens and youth work(sunday school), before also leading a joint evening service in the Anglican Church, Christ the Servant.
Finally, on the Monday, we led an assembly at a local primary school, Stockwood Green and then also a year seven lesson in a secondary school, in the afternoon before getting trains back to Birmingham. So... as you can see we were kept very busy at our training church.

As well as training church weekends and sessions at IMC, during our training we also spent a few days in Wales, at Min Y Don, a christian outdoor adventure centre. Here, we were involved in lots of activities such as; canoeing, crate climbing, problem solving, orienteering, hill walking, high ropes, low ropes.. and even camping out one night in the woods, under our own built shelters and eating food cooked off of a small fire.
This weekend was a very challenging weekend for the team, and there were a few moments when we were tested to the limits, but it was also a very enjoyable weekend in which we learnt a lot about communication, team strengths and weaknesses and each others likes and dislikes.

4th - 5th October 2007 : - Christmas party!
Woo hoo.... what a last day! Tonight we celebrated christmas as we won't be together this year for christmas or new year. At 5.20pm we started off with a sit down christmas dinner which was absolutely amazing with tinsel and crackers and then we got presents from santa, played party games before going into a full night disco!

At 00.00 we then celebrated new year, before a few more hours of some dancing, and then we finally went to bed.

Celebrating christmas and new year in October did seem very strange but also very worthwhile. A very enjoyable evening which i think we're all going to remember.