If there is one thing I have learned over the last 23 years, it is that I don't have a creative bone in my body. I don't know how to come up with new and exciting ways to communicate ideas to others in a way that will stick with them. If someone tells me exactly what to do, I can try and follow their directions and something mildly successful might occur. But please, please, PLEASE don't ask me to come up with a creative idea on my own.
And yet, it keeps happening. People forcing me to be creative in order to teach and share new ideas. I knew I would have to go out of my comfort zone when I came to South Africa, but I didn't think it would be into this area. Thankfully no one has asked me to teach an art class. Yet. But they've come close.
For example, the other day I was helping out with a park ministry (similar to a one-day VBS since the schools are on holiday for this week). My role wasn't much - mostly helping keep the kids in line and improvise a short lesson when we split into small groups for discussion. However, as I was leaving, Pastor and I had a short conversation:
Pastor: Amanda, we are having park ministry again in December.
Me: Okay...
Pastor: It's going to be three days this time.
Me: Okay...
Pastor: So you will write a skit to share the lesson.
Me: What?!?
Pastor: And maybe draw a poster to show what we're talking about.
Me: Um...I don't know if I can do that. (If you have ever seen my attempts at artwork, you would know that I am telling the honest truth and not just trying to get out of doing something.)
Pastor: Sure you can.
Me: No, I really don't think I can.
Pastor: Well, we'll talk about it more later. But just start thinking about it. And working on it.
And that's the end of the conversation. Just for the record, I also don't know what the theme of this park ministry is supposed to be. Perhaps it is up to me to come up with a theme? Sigh. Pray for some idea of creativity to come into this very uncreative brain.
And yet, it keeps happening. People forcing me to be creative in order to teach and share new ideas. I knew I would have to go out of my comfort zone when I came to South Africa, but I didn't think it would be into this area. Thankfully no one has asked me to teach an art class. Yet. But they've come close.
For example, the other day I was helping out with a park ministry (similar to a one-day VBS since the schools are on holiday for this week). My role wasn't much - mostly helping keep the kids in line and improvise a short lesson when we split into small groups for discussion. However, as I was leaving, Pastor and I had a short conversation:
Pastor: Amanda, we are having park ministry again in December.
Me: Okay...
Pastor: It's going to be three days this time.
Me: Okay...
Pastor: So you will write a skit to share the lesson.
Me: What?!?
Pastor: And maybe draw a poster to show what we're talking about.
Me: Um...I don't know if I can do that. (If you have ever seen my attempts at artwork, you would know that I am telling the honest truth and not just trying to get out of doing something.)
Pastor: Sure you can.
Me: No, I really don't think I can.
Pastor: Well, we'll talk about it more later. But just start thinking about it. And working on it.
And that's the end of the conversation. Just for the record, I also don't know what the theme of this park ministry is supposed to be. Perhaps it is up to me to come up with a theme? Sigh. Pray for some idea of creativity to come into this very uncreative brain.
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