Acting 4 England November Newsletter - Kristin in the UK

Images of Jesus in England

Two weeks ago I had a visit with my field officer from Time for God. As we entered a room in the church that I've never been in before, I was shocked to see this painting on the wall:

While in Costa Rica last January with Susquehanna University, I studied this painting while looking at Images of Jesus in Central America. Jacques Chery's painting illustrates how the branches and roots of Christ's word spread throughout many ways of our daily lives from helping the poor and sick, to being with family, to war. I was so surprised and overwhelmed to find this painting in the church that I'm working in. My time in England is obviously a lot different then the short time I spent in Central America but I have been able to find images of Jesus here in Potters Bar and Act 4.

Last Saturday about 150 people showed up for an Act 4 Family Praise Party. Even though I was exhausted from arriving at the church early, rehearsing three hours with children to perform at the event and rehearsing with the band, the energy and excitement in the room during the one-hour program was awesome! Seeing so many people, from toddlers to elderly, up on their feet, singing and dancing was great! The children's performance brought so much happiness and joy to the people in the audience.

One child performing in the group was Massie. Every Tuesday I work with a group of primary school children teaching them theater and music and every Tuesday I work with Massie. Massie often never participates in group activities, either spending time in the corner sucking her thumb by herself or wanting to do everything and not allowing other children to participate. Most of the time, I find myself getting really frustrated with her. I hear myself saying "Massie- come join us!" or "Massie- let the others have a chance!" or "Massie- please be quiet" or "Massie- stop running around!" or "Massie- please listen!"

On Saturday, Massie performed in the Family Praise Party but two minutes before it started Massie was in tears! She did not want to perform, she wanted to sit with her mum and the only way I could convince her to participate was reminding her that she was going to wave the pink flag in one of the songs. By the end of the program, Sam asked all the children to pull an adult out on the floor to sing the final song. From across the room, Massie ran to me with a huge grin on her face, took my hand to stand in the front of the audience to sing "All we need to do to be good is to treat each other fairly and love all we should!" Of all the children in the room, Massie is the last child that I would ever expect to pick me to sing a song with her.

While visual images of Jesus are scarce here in England, I see Jesus through the children that I work with and meet. I have found in many ways that children are more accepting of me then some adults and children have such a spirit in them of how "to be good, treat each other fairly and love all we should," just like Jesus.

Meet Alan Doel: Tuesday Youth Club Volunteer
How long have you been volunteering with the Tuesday club and what do you do?
I have been with the Tuesday Youth Club for six years and I work with the WarHammer group. WarHammer is a game using toy soldiers that attempts to replicate a battle situation with dice as an element of chance. It is a very strategic game and is a cross between chess and toy soldiers.

What called you to work with the young people in Potters Bar?
I was invited and I've got a background as a Scout Leader. Doing things with boys is a natural expression of church activities.

What has been your favorite memory working with the club?
When you see the boys in the street you know you've got a friendship with them which I hope will continue after they leave the club. I have been seeing the same boys for a long time now and it's really great to not only advise them in the game but in life as well.

How do you think this club is helping the boys?
I think it shows that the church really does care for them. It is a small long term investment in what the church should be doing more of. I also wonder how many boys have a father at home. How many dads are missing? I enjoy being a male role model for the boys.

Act 4 Performance Team
One new group that I have formed is the Act 4 Performance Team. This is a group of children who are passionate about helping the Act 4 Team with certain events such as Family Praise Parties, Holiday Clubs and the annual Town Carol Service.
I help out at this club every Tuesday. I create lesson plans for each rehearsal, teach songs with choreography, introduce fun games and work with the children on bits of drama. One thing that I love about this club is getting to meet and develop relationships with some of the children who I see in the schools. I see so many children each week that it's really hard for me to get to know any of them on an individual basis and this club really allows me to do that.
The Performance Team had their debut on Saturday during the Family Praise Party and it was a great success!

What Are You Waiting For?
This half term's assembly theme is "What Are You Waiting For?" We ask the children "Is there something you feel you should do that you haven't yet done?" After being in 26 schools this half term, I have heard everything from riding an elephant to sending First Aid kits to Africa. Each of us has something we feel we should do but haven't yet done and there are many obstacles that get in the way of us accomplishing these things.
The children see a drama about the Three Kings who see a star in the sky and just don't know what to do. Instead of looking, wondering and singing many rounds of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" the Kings set off on a journey to discover more. They find that it is a messenger star telling the birth of a baby, a special baby, a King amongst Kings. Having found this out, they pack their bags and go and meet this new King!
My favorite part of the assembly is the very end when I help Abraham, one of the Act 4 puppets, in a Christmas Rap. Taking Eminem's "Loose Yourself" rap, we change the lyrics, sing and dance (see page 3 for the chorus). It's pretty entertaining and a few weeks ago a 5 year-old boy told me I was the best rapper he's ever seen! Maybe I should go join Eminem when I get back to the states?

Divided By A Common Language
New words I learned this month:
Cloak Room: Half Bath
Full Stop: Period.
Post Code: Zip Code
Queque: line
Jacket Potato: Baked Potato
Savoury Biscuit: Cracker
Ladybird: Ladybug

Abraham's Christmas Rap
Eminem's Loose Yourself
"Christmas ain't about unwrapping presents, It's about a little baby who came down from Heaven. He made this world a great place to be, so now it's time to live in Harmony!"

My Sense of England
I touched lots of 1pence sweets when I spent some of my money at the tuck shop during the Friday Youth Club.
I tasted my first Mince Pie at a Christmas Craft event at Christ Church.
I heard the spectators scream and cheer during my first English Rugby Game at Oundle School.
I smelled chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy on Thanksgiving Day. I was happy that at least I had a bird to eat, even if it wasn't a turkey!
I saw my ELCA friends at a retreat in London where we talked and shared stories about our experiences so far! It was a great weekend and I really enjoyed seeing everyone!

-- Cheers!
Kristin