CantabrIAIN

And I call it 'Revolution'

I have booked my flights back to visit Auckland for Christmas. I used two flight providers to give myself the best choice of times and prices.


And so I did. For about NZ$1.80 I figured it wasn't much sweat off my brow. I thought it was a shame that I couldn't actually raise the amount I was giving to compensate for my non-carbon-neutral other flight, but alas it is linked to my QANTAS booking only.

Labels: ecology, stewardship, travel

posted by Iain @ 10:30 pm 0 comments

God's Big v:Blog - Journey & Promise

For the last couple of weeks I have been preparing for a video piece to be played at Church's 'Digestion' evening service last night.

It went well!

The theme was 'JOURNEY & PROMISE', the second part in the series called "God's Big Story".

God's Big Story is a way of teaching the Bible, dividing it into Creation, Journey & Promise, Power & Justice (?), Songs & Sayings, Jesus & the Gospels, and Letters of Love.

A great thing that we do is read a 'hot text' - scripture plus a reflection - and then split the audience into 6 sections where they all try to relate the text to each part of the Bible. It's quite neat, providing a sense of the flow & interconnectedness of Scripture (perichoresis! *geeky snort*).

It was fun making the video. I got to apply myself creatively, I got to interview some people about their own stories, and I got to reflect a little myself.

As I have done at other times, I helped with the music team, last night led by cuz-in-law & good friend Anne.
I especially enjoyed being able to help Steve by contributing to the teaching component; Steve's sermon, my video, and Amy's hot text meshed well together on the night.

Note: The song in my video keeps playing - intentionally - after the visual component finishes. This time was used for a period of contemplation & reflection on Steve's message and my video where people were also invited to take communion.


The Church's new Mac computer held it all together well (thanks, Andy!) and there were no computer glitches on the night. I will be making another video for two weeks time on 'Songs & Sayings', with my particular focus being on Psalms.

Labels: internationals, opawa baptist church, theology, videos

posted by Iain @ 12:09 pm 4 comments

...and then I tripped and fell into a new job.

The Tale of the Unexpected Promotion

EDIT: Big post, sorry, for those who want to know details of how I just got a new job it's worth it. Identities have been assigned non-meaningful letters to protect people from my net-stalkers.

Last Thursday was an ordinary day. It was 'week 2' of the work roster and I was going to do a night-shift that night. I get a call on the phone from work, asking if I would like to relieve for the PF the next day.
The PF is the Programme Facilitator, the person who organises the groups, events, outings, community learning moments (?), visiting speakers and constructive activities that the Residents get involved with each day (unless they have alternate constructive activities, like a job). Essentially, they arrange three LSPs a day - the Life Skills Programmes.

I've never been to a group, let alone observed the PF role, so I figure they're scraping the bottom of the barrel with me but I am really interested in the role, so I agree. My security lay in the fact that the LSPs were already planned.

Then I arrive at work for my night-shift (with my PF role following on in the morning as a double shift) and find that the LSPs are NOT planned.
The first one is a walk - easy enough.
The third one is a game of netball - I can manage that (unless they expect me to know the rules other than "it's like basketball only you can only take one step").
The second group is... um... some kind of group time that I have to make up!

I look through the materials in the PF room and find some 'games'. There are trust games, communication games, awareness games etc. I wanted to get everyone talking, but I wanted to stretch them and have the time make a difference. So after talking to my Team Leader in the morning about CBT (yes, like 1 hour before my first group) I settle on "Fear in a Hat".

The thing with CBT (cognitive-behavioural therapy) is that it holds up cognitions and examines them in light of whatever evidence we can put for or against them, and tries to discard 'wrong' cognitions and replace them with positive/constructive thoughts and behaviours.
"Fear in a Hat" seemed perfect! In it everybody put two fears into a hat, then passed the hat around. Each person took turns reading out a fear and then tried to understand why the (anonymous) person might feel that way. We then discussed the fear at a light enough level that nobody got upset, examining the fear in the group. Finally, I realised many of the fears had commonalities, so I attempted to highlight the shared aspect of the fears, normalising them as much as I could. It went down great! Everybody discussed their fears in an anonymous, light-hearted and non-threatening way. People came out of their shell in ways that I, personally, haven't seen (although others have, I know).

I had a REALLY fantastic day, and residents and staff alike seemed to think it went well. After talking to my Team Leader I managed to secure an interview for the job which was held this morning (this was great because I had managed to overlook the advertisement in the notices book).

I prepared the following material for my interview:

Reasons why Stepping Stone would benefit from me as PF

• i am enthusiastic & energetic around people
• i wouldn't need to drop any current weekend or night shifts to do it
• i would be passionate about the role & take it very seriously
• i get on with [the one other PF] & would be able to take the programmes forward with a joint, overarching vision
• i am a team player and a fast learner, and would be open to the needs of management
• I emphatically support the approach of Stepping Stone and specifically appreciate the way it is informed by their underlying Christian values (I love working there)

Reasons why the Residents would benefit from me as PF

• residents seem to appreciate my humour, which helps them relax around me
• getting to know the residents better as a PF would strengthen my trust relationship with them (making me more effective towards them, clinically)
• i would be committed to seeing their recovery through relevant & fun application of contemporary psychological techniques (such as CBT) in groups as well as the usual constructive outings
• I have studied theology and am sensitive to people, translating to an ability to care for them in a holistic manner, clinically as well as 'pastorally' (and i don't mean quoting scriptures)

Reasons why I would benefit from being PF

• i would appreciate fulltime hours (current 6 + 4 PF)
• it already fits into my schedule & commitments
• it would be excellent experience
• i would enjoy it immensely, as a strong extrovert

Responses to some possible concerns:
The concern that I don't have the right experience:
I have a Bachelor in Psychology, which is perhaps more useful in an individual or group setting, such as in PF groups (compared to, say, social work being useful for a
CSW).
In 2002, when I spent the year as the 'evangelism coordinator' for EU, I spent the year motivating people, giving me experience with group dynamics.

The concern that I may not be organised enough:
During my study at BCNZ i was a Peer-elected Student Council Member. I spent one year as the Secretary for the Council.
One of my previous jobs, at Voice of the Martyrs, was Assistant Office administrator, where I had experience dealing with clients as well as handling the administrative, paperwork & computer requirements of the business.

The concern that I am too new to know about Christchurch properly:
I have settled quite quickly in Christchurch, building contacts and friends. I have actually known people in Christchurch since 2004/5, not counting my Cousin & his wife. I don't have any problem finding my way around CHCH anymore.
Mr E and Mr B have both offered to help me if I were PF.

People's responses in my favour:
Staff Mrs A, Mr B, Ms C, Mr D, and Mr E have all said they think I would make a good PF. Mrs F told me that she thought I did a good job as PF, that my 2nd group went very well, and that she felt that I had some really great things to bring into the conversation. Residents Ms Z and Mr Y, on the day I relieved as PF, commented especially that they enjoyed themselves and that they think I would be a good PF.

I gave the interview my all, not presuming that I would get the job but trying at least to make sure they understood why I thought it was an awesome job and why I would be good at it. At the least, I wanted them to think of me if they needed anybody to relieve the position.

They asked me a few more questions and we talked about it a little bit. From their response, I could see they liked my answers. I didn't find it too hard because dealing with people and group dynamics is something I enjoy.

My Team Leader said that I presented very well and that they had a difficult decision ahead of them! This is good, because I wanted them to stop and consider me seriously.

Later that day my phone rang. It was my Team Leader: if I wanted it, the job was mine!

So I turned it down... not!

I'm Stepping Stone's newest PF! I have fulltime hours now, between my existing Clinical work and PF work. Say hello to my new career!

Stepping Stone Trust - They Pay Extroverts To Have Fun With People

Labels: motivation, PF, stepping stone trust, work

posted by Iain @ 4:38 pm 0 comments

v:blog - Christchurch Sightseeing with Dave

Hakuna matata,

Have I already told you that my friend Dave stayed with me for a little bit more than a week earlier this month?

It was good, barring his snoring!

I managed to compile a video for you of two separate days of sightseeing, with all their various fun experiences that Dave has never had of Christchurch.

I won't spoil it all for you, I'll just let you watch it for yourself!

I noticed two things about Dave:

1) He seems to have never seen a tree before (Dave: "Wow, look at that!"; Iain: "Where, behind that tree?"), and

2) He gets very self-conscious on camera and tends to turn around / look over his shoulder lots. It laughed at him an awful lot when I was putting this together.

I have a very minor backlog of videos in the wings, but I'm also fairly run off my feet at the moment so editing will have to wait. This massive 8+ minute, 22mb epic montage should tide you over, especially you suckers on snail-up (get a real internet connection!).


I'm still practising with sound volumes, fades, and editing, so feel free to let me know what you think of my production as much as the content!

The order of the day was the penultimate U2*, so the songs on the video are:

U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - Vertigo
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - Yahweh
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - Love and Peace or Else
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - The City of Blinding Lights

*I suppose U2 must only be penultimate since we know that Tenacious D have confirmed the existence of 'the greatest song in the world', alas, their version is only a tribute.

Labels: Cathedral, christchurch, food, friends, Lyttelton, Navy, Port Hills, Sightseeing, videos

posted by Iain @ 10:15 pm 3 comments

Aotearctica / New Iceland

Labels: christchurch, motivation, winter

posted by Iain @ 12:04 am 0 comments

Poem: Kaikoura

Labels: kaikoura, poem, Road Trip

posted by Iain @ 9:01 pm 0 comments

v:blog - Simple English Class cooks NZ-Style

So today was Simple English class, watch the video to see a few more of the classmates than the last video I did.

We went around to Elizabeth's house and we cooked Muffins, Scones, and Pikelets. Many of them had never heard of Pikelets at all before, and others were amazed at how easy it was to cook very nice tasting Muffins and Scones.

It was a big success!

Also, I recently invested in a new Tripod, so this is a Bonus Edition v:blog because I include travel footage with commentary on Christchurch's motorway & Cashmere Hills.

Enjoy!



The tracks in the video are:
The Doves - The Last Broadcast - 'Intro'
Chicane - Far From the Maddening Crowds - 'Offshore (original)'

Labels: cooking, ESOL, Five Minutes Drive, Plus5, videos

posted by Iain @ 5:54 pm 3 comments