There are no limits
To what you can do.
Your talents and abilities,
Your uniqueness and warmth,
Your strength and dedication
In everything you do –
All of these will help you
Reach your dreams.
There are no limits
To what life has to offer you.
The world is full of possibilities,
Just as you are filled with promise.
Seek, discover, and embrace with openness
The richness of experience.
Believe in yourself
And you will always know success.
-Michelle RIchards =]
Friday, July 3, 2009
Day Five at CLI
Tuesday 5.30.09
Today is our last full day here, it's kind of sad but it's also a relief, I can't wait to get back home, to my mom ,dad and chloe and those little poops who for some reason worship me and shylah and arthurrr! I miss them all so much :(
Breakfast was a repead of the very bland eggs etc. I forget the theme...it was too early haha. We played duck duck goose for warm up then jumped right into what Frank called the longest and most difficult workshop.
It started off as CLI Fued and we all though that was all we were gonna do but we only played one round to establish the five most important things in a bugs life. Then getting into our groups we had to pretend to be bugs and use all our skills plus the new ones we learned along in this workshop to create a plan based on one of the five factors. My group chose nourishment and Kevin basically planned the whole thing himself; to set up an army and airfiece of ants to raid the picnic table of destiny and gather five pounds of food a day for the colony, while overthrowing Rosemary who kept killing off our troops.
After two hours of planning that all out we had lunch, another repeat this time of chicken ceasar salad. And after lunch we finished off by discussing what we will do at our meetings in the next months and splitting off into new groups based on what we will be doing at the convention. I chose to do the prayer expirience, in my group are Zoë and Andrew.
For break I once again hid in my room, though I did bring my book outside to read under the shade of a nice tree where I could watch everyone play volly ball and swim.
Dinner was fried chicken and french fries. My group was assigned lunch grace for tomorrow, marti gras themed. We had town meeting early, lacking in bodily issues for once.
Liturgy was absolutely amazing. We first went to the chapel and had a regular mass, but when that ended we made our way down a candle lit path to the villa. The inside was more beautifully set up than anything I'd seen. I can't even describe it...
First, Frank and all the team members went through many readings, about Jesus washing the feet of his followers. Then Frank went around the room and washed the feet if each team memer who then washed the feet of each cantidate in their group. It was a large and meaningful step.
Following the foot washing and more readings we were asked to close our eyes and listen to more readings and very calming music, mostly Enya I think. We were asked to feel as if we were completely alone and if we felt the need to reach out for anyone around us, just to know that they were with us in spirit. I fell asleep along with many others during this relaxing exercise and was awakened to the feeling of two large hands lightly squeezin my head, I think they were Franks. Following Frank were the hands of every other team member, annointing us.
Upon opening our eyes we were all handed candles and we circled the room singing "This Little Light of Mine" occasionally altering the lyrics to hold the name of each persons hometown; it was a joyful and I gotta say spiritual moment. After that we turned to our neighbor ad offered him a sign of peace. This turned into everyone going around the room and hugging absolutely everyone else, all thirty-five cantidates and I think twelve team members (ten plus the director Frank an inturn Reneé).
After the ceremony we made our way into the dining room for ice cream sundaes and a slideshow of all the pictures taken by the team members.
After the liturgy the evening prayer service was a well deserved cool down for the day, with glowsticks and candles. Today was my favorite.
Breakfast was a repead of the very bland eggs etc. I forget the theme...it was too early haha. We played duck duck goose for warm up then jumped right into what Frank called the longest and most difficult workshop.
It started off as CLI Fued and we all though that was all we were gonna do but we only played one round to establish the five most important things in a bugs life. Then getting into our groups we had to pretend to be bugs and use all our skills plus the new ones we learned along in this workshop to create a plan based on one of the five factors. My group chose nourishment and Kevin basically planned the whole thing himself; to set up an army and airfiece of ants to raid the picnic table of destiny and gather five pounds of food a day for the colony, while overthrowing Rosemary who kept killing off our troops.
After two hours of planning that all out we had lunch, another repeat this time of chicken ceasar salad. And after lunch we finished off by discussing what we will do at our meetings in the next months and splitting off into new groups based on what we will be doing at the convention. I chose to do the prayer expirience, in my group are Zoë and Andrew.
For break I once again hid in my room, though I did bring my book outside to read under the shade of a nice tree where I could watch everyone play volly ball and swim.
Dinner was fried chicken and french fries. My group was assigned lunch grace for tomorrow, marti gras themed. We had town meeting early, lacking in bodily issues for once.
Liturgy was absolutely amazing. We first went to the chapel and had a regular mass, but when that ended we made our way down a candle lit path to the villa. The inside was more beautifully set up than anything I'd seen. I can't even describe it...
First, Frank and all the team members went through many readings, about Jesus washing the feet of his followers. Then Frank went around the room and washed the feet if each team memer who then washed the feet of each cantidate in their group. It was a large and meaningful step.
Following the foot washing and more readings we were asked to close our eyes and listen to more readings and very calming music, mostly Enya I think. We were asked to feel as if we were completely alone and if we felt the need to reach out for anyone around us, just to know that they were with us in spirit. I fell asleep along with many others during this relaxing exercise and was awakened to the feeling of two large hands lightly squeezin my head, I think they were Franks. Following Frank were the hands of every other team member, annointing us.
Upon opening our eyes we were all handed candles and we circled the room singing "This Little Light of Mine" occasionally altering the lyrics to hold the name of each persons hometown; it was a joyful and I gotta say spiritual moment. After that we turned to our neighbor ad offered him a sign of peace. This turned into everyone going around the room and hugging absolutely everyone else, all thirty-five cantidates and I think twelve team members (ten plus the director Frank an inturn Reneé).
After the ceremony we made our way into the dining room for ice cream sundaes and a slideshow of all the pictures taken by the team members.
After the liturgy the evening prayer service was a well deserved cool down for the day, with glowsticks and candles. Today was my favorite.
Day Four at CLI
Monday 5.29.09
Woke up to a plain morning prayer and the deliciousness of french toast and orange juice!The workshop was about the different positions in a group such as facilitator and recorder and reporter. The second workshop with the grads was to build a tower out of marshmallows and raw spagetti. My team pretty much lost haha.
Lunch was sandwiches on a bulky roll, either ham salad, chicken salad or tuna. I had tuna. The theme was the beach because it incorperates each theme so far: water, light and todays theme of oil (sunscreen).
The afternoon workshop was the best! Each member of the group was either gagged, as in they couldn't speak, blinded or had their legs and arms tied together. I was the immobile one haha I had to hobble everywhere, Kevin was muted and Audrey was blinded. First we had to solve a puzzle, one that was just a piece of paper cut into odd shapes. The problem was that ONLY Audrey could touch the paper and tape. That seriously took us like twenty minutes. When that was done we had to all write our signatures on a piece of paper and stand in order of age before going outside to complete the obstical course. This included things like making Audrey bat a ball thrown by kevin, tossing a water balloon back and forth via a cloth and walking through a mine field of plasitc ball pit balls. We came practically in last but it was still fun as hell!
Break=texting and reading as usual. I almost went swimming but I found a nasty bug in my bathing suit and changed my mind.
Dinner was lasagnia along with an Italian themed environment. "Hey mombo, mombo Italiano" planning and setting up for the liturgy, which my group along with group 5 again was assigned, was very stressful. This bitchy girl Rachel was just being an irritating pain and Zoë was completely overboard with stress. The survice turned out perfectly though, aside from Kevin's near fainting spell when he went up to do a reading. Even I did just fine reading in front of the group, but I guess they said he was dehydrated.
Town meeting consisted of waste talk again, fire in the hole issues, unflushed toilets, spit in the pond.
The talent show was a blast. Anna has such an amazing voice, her accapella rendition of The Climb was incredable. The Portugese Woman act was hysterical as was Nolan and Toms juggling act. Anna came in second, this girl KJ came in first for performing an original song with both guitar and vocals, and I came in third for my fantastic artwork!
We meditated for evening prayer which was relaxing and before bed I actually hung out with people. My report card may have sucked, but all in all not a bad day.
Our fail spagetti/marshmallow church
Fail cross
Day Three at CLI
Sunday 5.28.09
Woke up late but early today, in enough time that I had a nice length shower. Morning prayer went alright, we definately could have done better. Breakfast was of the most bland scrambled eggs with just as bland home fries and not so bland saucages.Warm up was to do the cha cha slide, fun stuff. Can you tell I'm rushing and exhausted?
First two workshops were of ... For one of them we did an activity where we had to stand on eiter side of the room or somewhere in between, one side representing strong agreement and the other representing strong disagreement. We were read statements ranging from "it's okay to drink" and "I believe in God" to "Jesus loves all gays". I was completely honest, even when I was not in the same place as my friends.
Lunch was chicken ceasar salad.
The break between lunch and afternoon workshop was great. A guy named Nick who is a piano GENIUS was playing some epic stuff on the big ol' piano at the villa. When he left I played a bit then joined my community buddies for the hoedown throwdown.
Afternoon workshop was about group dynamics and we got to do one of those sick puzzles where you have to figure out who is where and likes what etc. With just a few vague clues. We also watched a couple chunks of Oceans 11 and categorized which steps in group planning they where in.
For break I just read and thought and texted. I love Clary, just putting that out there.
Dinner was hamburgers and hot dogs with a western themed setup.
My group was paired with group 5 to plan out this evenings Social. Our theme was game night so we decided on a scavenger hunt which was fun but all too difficult to keep under control. In this group though I found my three best friends here at CLI; Audrey who is the stained teeth girl, she's so sweet and innocent, she shows me how to just forget the little stuff and feel good. Kevin is the man. He may look like a long haired creeper stoner bad ass on the outside, but he is really a big sweetheart with a good sense of humor who loves hugs. And probably most important, Zoë, who helped me feel comfortable in my own skin so I would no longer have to be the quiet kid in the corner. She doesn't even know she did it but she has had the biggest effect on me here, aside from all the workshops by the team. And lucky for me, she knows Megan Barry, who is gonna set up a sleepover between the three of us.
Tonight's literagy was less dragged out but just as fulfilling as last night's.
Lastly, night time prayer was amazing. We were handed candles and at the end of the prayers we were asked to write a reflection in our journals. I wrote about how this trip has affected me, how I have such a strong relationship with God, and belief in Him than I ever thought I would. I wrote of Arthur, my mom and chloe, my family as my friends both old and new such as Audrey, Kevin and especially Zoë and what they've done for me. I prayed for them all and silently thanked them through my scripted prayer.
I love this place.
I think I like today
I think it's good
It's something I can't get my head around
Me [left] and Zoë [right]
Zoë [left] and Kevin [right]
Day Two at CLI
Saturday 5.27.09
Woke up at seven to a quick double knock at the door. I didn't think I'd wake up so easily but I guess I slept lightly last night. We all met in the "lobby" of the hotel which is just the courtyard and then made our way to the "villa" as I now recall it was so named. Here we had our morning prayer, todays theme being water and it's importance. The prayer space room was decorated with ocean table cloth like material and had a disk recording of the ocean playing. Quite relaxing.Breakfast was pancakes, homefries and bacon with orange juice. The water theme followed us into the cafe where our tables were draped with sea scenery table cloths, our placemats decorated in little fishy stickers accompanied by Finding Nemo napkins! In the center of the table was a bowl of water filled with six rubber fishies, fishies who happened to have the ability to squirt water at people. This morning was a wet one.
To add to the moisture we had a water balloon toss for warm up.
I actually did the hero dance today lmao I did not like it but I stand out more not doing it.
Our AM workshop was about what it is to be a deciple. I think I can do it, I want to. I've talked to God alot these past two days. I can't wait to see where I'm taken in the next few.
We had a quick break and all I did was sit. Awesome.
Lunch consisted of salad and sandwiches; ham, roast beef or turkey. I picked the dead cow as Father Dave said. He loves dead things. We had cake for dessert because it was some girl named Rachels birthday. I had tea, I miss coffee.
My roomates name is Courtney Sine and the yellowey/white stained teeth girl in my group (with the amazing Father David) name is Audrey and I decided that if it wasn't for her teeth she would be really pretty.
PM workshop was about communication, we played a game like telephone and my team totally owned, thanks to my skill at the end.
Break I sat in my room, texted mom and arthur, drew a little and pooped. I meant to read but I just didn't get to it, an hour and a half isn't enough, yet it's too much for a class at school. Time is funny.
After break we had a clean up/cool down/headcount time where we just chilled at the villa and learned a bit about who we have to plan the rest of this week before scurrying off to a delicious Mexican dinner of fejitas complete with La Bamba and sombreros followed by a nummy dessert of jello with whipped cream.
After dinner we were put to work with plans for the rest of the night and tomorrow. My lovely group 6 was assigned morning prayer. We had to organize it according to tomorrows theme of "light" and prayer style of "creation" we did okay but not nearly as well as those groups whose works we saw and expirienced tonight.
The liturgy was beautiful. It was dark with light only from candles and small blue lamps, to give that effect of todays water theme. It was a very serene setting, I could have slept in my contentness. I learned one thing that touched me so, it made me cry a little. Jesus loves me and you and everyone more than we will or even could ever know. Take the closest relationship you've ever had, how much love there was between you and know that that's is just a FRACTION of how much Jesus loves you. And he will never not love you, no matter what. Just do one thing? Love him back.
From mass we moved on to our "town meeting" where we addressed our pleases and issues so far. The main complaints were of the shower and lights out, none of which was really resolved but I don't care for them either way haha. The one I did enjoy though was a complaint of how the water in the shower stops momentarily whenever a toilet is flushed. The solution; shout "FIRE IN THE HOLE" every time you flush if someone is in the shower. This was suggested by team member Chad.
Next was the social, theme being CLI Olympics 2009. We had a "swimming" race, hula hoop race, "egg" race and a ball&straw race. My team came in second.
And last, night prayer. Tonight was Marion, in which we celebrate the virgin Mary and all she's done for us. We each held a cup of water, and in it we put all our thanks for what we are greatful for. All I concentrated on was my family and all they provide me with from love to food, and the greatest friend I've found after all the hurt I've been through. Arthur Guerra, I would be lost without you, just as I'd be lost without a family. I hope to always have you by my side.
Night!
Night!
Audrey
First Day at CLI
Friday 5.26.09
Wicked traffic on the way here but I was only half an hour late and didn't miss a thing.
I have a roomate...I forget her name of course but cut me some slack, my mind is all over the place right now.
First thing we did was get introduced to the program and camp grounds. They call where we sleep the "hotel" and the pond is the "pool" haha. I don't see myself going in the pool at all bit we'll see.
When all the "team" were introduced this one guy jumped up like a psycho and screamed...I got him as my group leader lmao.
We took a test to see how well we follow directions, I pwnd.
The kids in my group are pretty cool. Kevin plays guitar, has disgustingly long hair (no offense), wears all black and all stars but seems like a really funny kid. I forget the girls name, but she's really sweet despite her very yellow teeth with nasty white marks, poor girl.
Our first activity was to brainstorm a list of all the qualities in a leader. We failed but it was fun haha. Then we took a test to see how our leadership balanced out. I was well balanced but my numbers were low...
Dinner was pizza, I sat alone but was joined by a hilarious group of kids, none of them knew eachother but they talked as if they'd known eachother for years, I wish I could do that... I only remember Liz, she sat to my right and was really nice, she started up a conversation with me and dinner was actually enjoyable.
After dinner we did another activity where one person from each group (I got picked of course) were givin a card with the type of leader they had to act as during the next project. I got an authoritative leader, exact opposite of what I really am. I did pretty well though, we ha to set up a make believe fund raiser and I found myself pretty bossy and agressive, though I could have done better and most definately didn't enjoy it. Then of course we had to present them. FAIL.
I wish I could figure out how to turn the brightness of my iPod down...
Once that was done it was time for some more physical activity. We were separated across the room to two separate groups on either side of the long rug. Everyone crumpled up three pieces of paper and thus began our "snowball fight". The goal was to get most of the papers on the other side of the rug and keep them there. Team with the least in the end wins. We won both rounds!
In the second game we played we set up the chairs in a circle. The person in the middle of the circle had to state something like "if you have brown eyes" then everyone who has brown eyes had to get up and run to a new seat as fast as possible. The last person without a chair is next in the middle and so on.
Break time. One girl announced VERY loudly that she had to pee, so we all got to go while the team set up prayer. I got a few texts that I checked and responded to during that break. One of them was sean, finally. The poop.
Prayer was deep, for me anyway. It was about praying for someone else through you to God. In the end we (but not really me) all got a piece of paper with a cross on it, on which we could write one or more prayers and then stick the paper to the large cross. I was the only person who didn't get a paper, just my luck. But I figured I didn't NEED to have the paper to make my prayer. I closed my eyes and though as hard as I could, asking God with all my might to help Arthur. At that moment that's all I wanted and had I gotten a paper all I would have written would be "Arthur Guerra". I know God heard me, I know Arthur will be better one day. It wasn't until I reopened my eyes did I realize I was crying.
Well I gotta get up at seven tomorrow and they feel the need to put us to bed at midnight. Seven hours of sleep is not enough for me, hope I get to shower tomorrow...
Wicked traffic on the way here but I was only half an hour late and didn't miss a thing.
I have a roomate...I forget her name of course but cut me some slack, my mind is all over the place right now.
First thing we did was get introduced to the program and camp grounds. They call where we sleep the "hotel" and the pond is the "pool" haha. I don't see myself going in the pool at all bit we'll see.
When all the "team" were introduced this one guy jumped up like a psycho and screamed...I got him as my group leader lmao.
We took a test to see how well we follow directions, I pwnd.
The kids in my group are pretty cool. Kevin plays guitar, has disgustingly long hair (no offense), wears all black and all stars but seems like a really funny kid. I forget the girls name, but she's really sweet despite her very yellow teeth with nasty white marks, poor girl.
Our first activity was to brainstorm a list of all the qualities in a leader. We failed but it was fun haha. Then we took a test to see how our leadership balanced out. I was well balanced but my numbers were low...
Dinner was pizza, I sat alone but was joined by a hilarious group of kids, none of them knew eachother but they talked as if they'd known eachother for years, I wish I could do that... I only remember Liz, she sat to my right and was really nice, she started up a conversation with me and dinner was actually enjoyable.
After dinner we did another activity where one person from each group (I got picked of course) were givin a card with the type of leader they had to act as during the next project. I got an authoritative leader, exact opposite of what I really am. I did pretty well though, we ha to set up a make believe fund raiser and I found myself pretty bossy and agressive, though I could have done better and most definately didn't enjoy it. Then of course we had to present them. FAIL.
I wish I could figure out how to turn the brightness of my iPod down...
Once that was done it was time for some more physical activity. We were separated across the room to two separate groups on either side of the long rug. Everyone crumpled up three pieces of paper and thus began our "snowball fight". The goal was to get most of the papers on the other side of the rug and keep them there. Team with the least in the end wins. We won both rounds!
In the second game we played we set up the chairs in a circle. The person in the middle of the circle had to state something like "if you have brown eyes" then everyone who has brown eyes had to get up and run to a new seat as fast as possible. The last person without a chair is next in the middle and so on.
Break time. One girl announced VERY loudly that she had to pee, so we all got to go while the team set up prayer. I got a few texts that I checked and responded to during that break. One of them was sean, finally. The poop.
Prayer was deep, for me anyway. It was about praying for someone else through you to God. In the end we (but not really me) all got a piece of paper with a cross on it, on which we could write one or more prayers and then stick the paper to the large cross. I was the only person who didn't get a paper, just my luck. But I figured I didn't NEED to have the paper to make my prayer. I closed my eyes and though as hard as I could, asking God with all my might to help Arthur. At that moment that's all I wanted and had I gotten a paper all I would have written would be "Arthur Guerra". I know God heard me, I know Arthur will be better one day. It wasn't until I reopened my eyes did I realize I was crying.
Well I gotta get up at seven tomorrow and they feel the need to put us to bed at midnight. Seven hours of sleep is not enough for me, hope I get to shower tomorrow...
Kevin [left] and Audrey, aka yellow teeth girl [right]
CLI 2009
I got back on wednesday from my five day trip to East Freetown Cathedral Camp for the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) program offered to me by the youth ministry leader of my church. Suprisingly, I had the greatest time of my life. I'm so glad I was blessed with such the oportunity to attend what will probably be one of my best and most important memories of my life.
CLI was one of the most powerful, spiritual and mind enriching experience in my life. I have never been more inspired or more connected with with the Lord and myself. I thank you for all that you and your fellow team members offered me on that trip, Its something I'll never forget.
CLI Vision Statement
To develop Christian Leaders who have a strong love for God, a growing godly character and a high level of Biblical and ministry competence.
CLI Mission Statement
To collectively unite the training strengths of seminaries, local churches and parachurch ministries resulting in the holistic development of godly leaders.
CLI Core Values
CLI Mission Statement
To collectively unite the training strengths of seminaries, local churches and parachurch ministries resulting in the holistic development of godly leaders.
CLI Core Values
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In the next few posts I'll retype the journal entries i kept for each day, recounting our activities and my feelings.
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