Pastor Ron's Deep Thoughts and Shallow Entries: Ottawa SERVE 2014 - Day 1

It's July in Ottawa.

With July comes a great tradition.

The beginning of Ottawa's Youth Unlimited Special Needs SERVE event. Hosted at Calvin Christian Reformed Church, but with participation of many volunteers from many places in Ontario, all help make SERVE a great and successful week.

This will be our 6th SERVE in 7 years.

Lots of planning goes into a SERVE and I'm amazed once again at the work done to pull this week off.

The shopping for food, the planning of the Theme and small group time, the organization of Mentors, and registration of Participants and finalizing of work sites and fun events. It's mind boggling, but it seems to get done each year.

We began our week yesterday, actually, with the arrival of some of our mentors from southern Ontario. They usually come by train.

Some also arrived by car between 4 and 6 pm.

Being the driven person that I am, I decided to put these earlier arrivers to work in setting up the basement of the church. Lots of rearranging needs to be done to get things ready.

Rooms to be cleaned out and tables to be set up.

The movement of props, which are AWESOME again this year, BTW.

They did some great work in a short period of time.

The praise team also practiced during set up.

Taking some down time before dinner.

Here we are at a restaurant beside the church.

A great place to hang out and get to know each other.

After a good night's sleep, we went out for breakfast.

It's a small diner close to the church so we walked.

Here we are ordering breakfast.

We continued our set up after breakfast.

Part of that was putting together some chariots. We've used these for our VBS of many years ago, so it will be nice to use them again.

We are doing a transportation theme this year.

Mark, our speaker for the year.

He was AWESOME last year, and we look forward to another great week.

Here he is spending time getting his creative spirit flowing.

We begin the setting up of the stage starting with a Bus.

Great work Bea (and all the others who helped make the props).

This is a great introduction for people to see every day.

I love the place settings.

This is the room that holds the small group and craft supply stuff. Well organized and well stocked.

Bea and Grace do a great job every year.

Sarah helping set up the warm fuzzy table.

Lots of great comments will be created at this table.

This year I have Joy taking 90 % of the pictures and preparing pictures for the blog. Thanks for doing this Joy, and for putting up with my requests for this and that picture. : ) She took pictures of our Mentor's and planning team, minus a couple of people who will be introduced tomorrow.

We begin with Joanna, who is in charge of helping assist our Participants during the week. This is her third year in this position. She does an Awesome Job.

Becca - Repeat Mentor

Adam - First time Mentor

Braidon - First time Mentor

Kaitlyn, First time Mentor

Melanie - First time Mentor

Lisa - First time Mentor

Sarah - Repeat Mentor

Me, Pastor Ron - Coordinator

Niesje - Repeat Mentor

Summer - First time Mentor

Rachael - Repeat Mentor

Jonathan - Repeat part time mentor and Video

Bea - Small groups and help plan Theme and prop preparation.

Annet - Kitchen

Grace - Crafts and helps with small groups

Alexa - First time Mentor

Caralynn - Repeat Mentor

Carraugh - First time mentor

Megan - Repeat Mentor

Nicolette - Repeat Mentor

Anne - Kitchen

Lucy - Repeat Mentor

Amy - Repeat Mentor

Harold - Transportation and work sites

Chris - Repeat Mentor

Hey, how'd that one get in there.....

Esther - First time Mentor

The rest of our Mentors arrived at 11 am ish, and our group activity was go-karting and mini golfing. Here are some of the group approaching the go-karting area.

Summer and Rachael always smiling...well, not always. : )

Hmmmmm, when did you take that shot Joy. What am I thinking about?

We did 8 laps on the track, played one round of mini golf and got a drink with the package we purchased.

Some instructions to get the group organized.

1/2 of the group started mini golfing, the other 1/2 went go karting.

Annette looks ready to go....oh, we didn't get a picture of Annette...we'll have to do that tomorrow.

She is in charge of Spiritual Life and morning devotions, and getting prayer partners for our mentors and participants.

The first 1/2 of the group strapped in and ready to go.

So, if your go-kart happens to veer off into the grass it will stop working....and apparently Lisa had that happen on her first lap.

And they're off!!!

Braidon was a maniac out there.

Looks like Esther doesn't trust Adam's driving.

Lisa finally figured out how to stay ON the track, and is catching up on Rachael and ready to pass.

Here's Carraugh getting ready to mini golf.

Mark putting on the green.

Braidon putting as well. I think he actually made this hole.

This is a unique way to golf Chris.

Apparently it works.

Harold and Bea didn't go-kart, but did enjoy watching everyone else.

Joy getting ready to go.

Sarah was pretty nervous about go-karting.

She managed to strap herself in.

And now awaits the start of her 8 laps.

Breath in and out slowly Sarah.

Melanie ready to go.

Mark was also a maniac on the course.

Caralynn, slow and steady.

Each lap begins by giving a ticket to this person.

Some people don't like to slow down too much as they pass by. The staff didn't seem to mind.

Mark wanting to pass Jonathan.

He wasn't about to let him.

Alexa enjoying herself.

Hey, put both hands on the wheel would ya!

Hey, way to go Sarah...

You drove well, but don't get any ideas....

I'm not letting you drive until you get your G1

The group enjoying the many curves at Karter's Corners.

Amy was a VERY careful driver.

Mark challenged Sarah to a race

(even though you AREN'T supposed to do that MARK!)

and she agreed.

Mark is willing his kart to go faster.

Sarah says he's not a very good driver.

I tended to agree.

After the Karting, some of us played Vball.

Some of us fell during playing Vball. : )

Esther did awesome in Mini golf.

I think she got 3 holes in one.

Some people decided to play IN the structures while golfing.

I was asked to play Vball.

It was HOT out.

Adam and I waiting for the serve.

We arrived back at the church after taking showers and the group watched the movie I AM SAM.

We then had dinner, but as I was walking to my office, I turned and noticed the prayer room had been transformed into a really nice room for two. Some great cots and chairs and night tables. I'm jealous now. : ) Annette and Joy did an awesome job setting up their room.