Day 1 - Mentor Training

So, today was the first day of SERVE, unofficially.  I would have had this blog up sooner, but Shellie and I were chatting, and with Shellie, well, that can take a while.  : )  

Today was the day that our Mentors arrived.  19 of our 22.  The other three will be coming in the next day or two.  I spent the morning going to the airport, and the train station getting mentors.  I always love the first day of SERVE.  Seeing these young people/young adults coming and taking a week away from work, or their relaxing summer is just, well cool!  

Below are some pictures of the our day today.

Here we are at Coyote Rock Climbing.  It was VERY hot and humid, even though we had a wonderful downpour as we arrived, which was the beginning of the end of our wicked heat wave here in Ottawa.  

You had the option to use rock climbing shoes if you wanted too.  Several in the group did that.  Hannah discovered that her feet are different sizes, or maybe the shoes were?

Here are some of the group putting on those special shoes.  

Then there were the harnesses that needed to be put on.  Similar to the high ropes course that we have done in years past.  

Oh, there's our speaker, Shellie, striking up a wonderful pose for the camera.  

There was a time of training for everyone.  You have to know how to tie a figure 8 knot, and how to keep your partner from falling off the wall and hurting themselves.  

Here are Joel and maybe Nathan?  Working out those knotting skills.  

Each time we do this, the adults seem to bow out of the festivities.  No different this year.  I must confess that I do like high roping, even though I'm afraid of heights, but I don't have the upper body strength, or the love for heights to attempt rock climbing, so I too passed on participating this year.  Besides, I didn't see any of these 3 offering to take pictures of video, and someone had to do that!  

It took a long time to get those knots memorized.  

Joy and Ben happen to be under 14, so they weren't allowed to be be-layers (? spelling), so they were sent off to go climb in another part of the building while the others did some more training. 

They made good use of their time, as you can see from Ben here.  

Eventually everyone began their climbing.  Here you see Amber and Fayth on the wall.  I'm not sure if they are scared or not.  I would be.  

Here is Jacob tackling parts of the wall that don't require help with ropes.  

Joel going up the wall.  I heard it was VERY humid and hot at the top of the structure.  

Here is Chris trying a maneuver to go over the edge.  You have to have strong arms for this.  I wouldn't be able to do this at all.  

Now who took this picture.  I think Hannah did.  Makes me woozy.....  : )  

Megan and Joy just hanging around.  

Joanna, our most consistent Mentor as this is her third time coming to this SERVE.  She enjoyed her rock climbing experience, but said she'll have sore arms tomorrow.  

Some of the group taking a break from the heat.  

Ben, you look like you are going to fall asleep.  

Ah, Shellie.  Relaxing and enjoying getting reacquainted with Tamara and Janine.  

Now, this happens to be a picture of my van.  I'm pretty sure that Fontana took this picture.  Whenever she gets hold of my camera, STRANGE pictures show up.  According to her, (and I think Hannah too), these pictures are worth money or something like that.  Anyone want to pay for this picture?   I'm accepting cash or  certified cheque.  : )

Oh, another picture worthy of a sale on the Internet....right Fontana?   

Once the group showered, we returned to the church and the Mentors got their identification name tags.  They, and their participants tomorrow, have to make a fingerprint for identification purposes on the back side of their Special Secret Agent badge.  They all had fun using the different colored ink.  

Ah, our kitchen staff.  Our regulars are Anne and Annet. Other volunteers like Christine on the left will be coming in during the week to help cook for everyone.  

Christine is always smiling......

Before Supper some of the group helped make a detective manikin out of paper and pantie-hose.  They had fun.  

Here is Joy sampling my very old trench coat.  Maybe we should just make her the detective manikin?

It was finally time for dinner.  Ladies first this night.  See, Christine is still smiling and everyone else is getting fed.  

The girls lined up and getting food, while the guys waited, rather impatiently, for their turn.  

Hmmmmm.  Fontana and Rosy eating while the boys look on, salivating.......

Eventually they were allowed to eat.  Jacob loved that idea.  The meal was GREAT, as usual.  Thanks already for the great food Anne and Annet.  

After dinner it was time for some orientation in the youth room.  Stuffing 19 people in our youth room can be a bit of a tight squeeze.  We received our fedora's, part of our costume gear for the week.   

Here's the group in the youth room listening to Bea giving instructions on all the activities that will be going on over the course of the week. Some pretty cool stuff.  I can't say enough about the talent in this planning team. Everyone is using their gifts in such GREAT ways.  Bea and Grace did another FABULOUS job again this year with the small group stuff.  Just amazing. I hope to be able to capture pictures of those things for you this coming week.  

After our orientation time we relaxed, watched a movie, or just socialized.  However, SOME of the group like to goof of and have a little fun.  Tamara being one of them.  Seems her feet have grown a  great deal in the past months......hmmmmmm

Oh, and her ears have that same problem.   She must have VERY good hearing now.  : )   

So ends our first day of Mentor time.  Tomorrow morning it's breakfast at 8:30, then more mentor training and then our participants begin arriving.....it's getting exciting.   Stay tuned tomorrow night for details on how the second day of SERVE will have gone.   Blessings and good night.