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Who's Been Here?
We have had a
number of groups staying in Coleg y Bala during
the month of May, the first consisting of
English speaking young people from across Wales.
This particular course started on Friday 5th
May, and despite a late start (the result of
traffic jams and over-heating car engines!) we
kicked the programme off with team challenges.
In the style of TV programme ‘I’m a Celebrity
Get Me Out of Here’, the blind-folded
competitors were required to take part in a
number of ‘bush tucker trials; the first
involving the collection of yellow stars from
buckets containing such food products as cold
spaghetti, jelly and baked beans!
The title of the weekend was ‘Out of the
Wilderness’, and the aim was to focus on the
time spent by the Israelites in the desert
before they entered the Promised Land. In
particular, we tried to focus in on the
attributes of Joshua as a leader; and thus Bible
teaching was interspersed with team-building
activities such as a tent-making competition and
an arm-wrestling challenge!
On Saturday afternoon, we escaped the showers
and enjoyed a picnic on the beach at Harlech;
and despite the cold weather, one group of boys
spent about half an hour in the sea whilst
another dug a very impressive hole in the sand!
Back at Coleg y Bala, we held pool and table
tennis tournaments and watched a film together
in the evening. However, there was also a chance
for reflection, when on Sunday we tried to apply
what we had learnt in the previous sessions.
Thinking about the Israelites waiting to enter
the Promised Land (Canaan), we thought about how
God longs for us to enter His Promised Land
(Heaven) and how this has been made possible
through Jesus’ death on the cross.
The 12th-14th May was a chance for children from
Cheshire, Flint and Denbigh to come to Coleg y
Bala for the weekend. Led by Meryl Walters, the
course itself was entitled ‘Time Flies’; and in
the style of Dr Who, we began on the Friday
evening by travelling back through history-with
the help of our very own time machine, ‘the Big
Clock’- to the time of Joseph and his 11
brothers. From the start, the children were
divided into four teams (the digital watches,
alarm clocks, egg timers and sundials) and were
encouraged throughout the weekend to collect
points in the form of minutes. These were won
through participation in games, through quizzes,
through dancing (‘Walk Like and Egyptian’ became
our theme tune!) and through various other
activities related to the sessions.
During Friday and Saturday’s sessions, each team
was required to collect a ‘time key’ relating to
the part of the story told. On the Sunday
morning, Meryl talked us through these four
symbols that we had collected along the way (a
multi-coloured coat, a glass of wine, a piece of
bread and a key), and linked them in to the life
of Jesus. This was an important time, as we saw
how the story of Joseph in fact linked in to
what we know of Jesus himself.
In addition to these action-packed sessions, we
enjoyed parachute games, a trip to the leisure
centre and the film ‘Cheaper by the Dozen 2’ on
Saturday evening. The children listened and
responded well throughout, and the leaders
seemed to have a great time too!
The weekend of 19th to 21st May saw the return
of members of the Gower pastorate of churches to
Coleg y Bala. With an even split of children/
young people and adults, the Coleg y Bala team
took responsibility for the children’s programme
while church worker Jonathan Hodgins led the
adult sessions. After supper and a short walk on
Friday evening, there was only time for a brief
epilogue before the majority of people were
ready for bed. However, everyone seemed suitably
revived on Saturday morning, as we began a
series of two consecutive sessions. Whilst the
adults looked at the theme of holiness, we (the
children and young people) concentrated on the
boy Samuel and the theme of listening to God’s
voice. We began our time together with a game of
pass the parcel, with each layer of wrapping
containing a Bible verse which talked about our
value in God’s eyes. From this, we thought about
the importance of our prayers, and looked
particularly at Hannah’s prayer for a baby. In
our second hour together, we went on to make
telephones out of string and plastic cups; and
it was found that in order for these to work
effectively, it was important for one person to
speak clearly at one end whilst the second would
listen carefully to what was being said.
In the afternoon, there was a choice of
activities. Whilst the majority of the adults
enjoyed a few hours in Bettws y Coed, the
children opted for swimming and a treasure hunt
through the streets of Bala! After supper, the
children practiced songs for the Sunday morning
family service and the adults continued with
their look at holiness. However, everyone came
together later on for a film before bed.
The service on Sunday morning was led by Bryn,
and was focussed on Samuel’s anointing of David
as Israel’s new king. The children took part in
a small sketch which demonstrated that although
man often judges individuals by their outward
appearances, God is concerned with our hearts.
We also enjoyed singing together; and in
particular, the song ‘Dance of the Trinity’
(taught to us by Nia) became a popular
favourite! What is more, everyone excelled
themselves in a brain-teaser quiz, and the
children demonstrated their string telephones to
the adults!
After lunch, it was time for everyone to finish
packing up and loading their things onto the
bus. All in all, the weekend seemed to be a
success; for it had been a time both of building
relationships and of fellowship, as well as a
reminder to be constantly listening for God’s
voice.
Rebecca Perry
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