Mojo

What is Mojo? Yes, it is another made of word of mine. I really should keep a list of these words. I think it is used at Seattle Mariners Games, but I used it to describe flirting. It happens often when surrounded by young single adults all summer long. The girl gives looks and small hints. Whether the boy catches the hints is another story. First, the attraction, then the process of getting to know the person and their personality. Are you physically attracted to them? What about their personality? Do they make you laugh? Do they carry the traits you are looking for? Are they kind to others? What about their spirituality? Can you hold a long conservation with them? Do you have the same interests? After 8 weeks of spending time with my peers, I still love to people watch. Each week, each person may have adjusted their interest or continue their interest in the same person. What is difficult with EFY, is that you are focused on the youth during the week. You bridled your passions, then the weekend happens, everything comes out in two days of serious mojo. So Entertaining! I love it, I never get tired of watching it.

Quotes Addition

I am going to be adding quotes to my blog, that I overhear that I think are worthy for everyone's enjoyment. Being at EFY, there have been many quotes and I want to remember them. This is the way to include you in my life and the daily joys or funny stories I have.

EFY moments

I must spend some time highlighting a few EFY moments from the past four weeks.
My First memory of Idaho, need I say more.

The Northwest team plus the Diamonds. (He had an English accent.)

Brother Richards with Carli and Katy in Tacoma 1. I don't think they were ready for a picture.

Katy and I chillin' with some great sunglasses. I make this look good.

We realized that we could tattoo our tongues with the fruit rollups.

Brother Anderson and I (Tacoma 2)

The Staples and I (Forest Grove One)

The Beach Trip to Cannon Beach (music to my soul)

Jason and Steven swimming?

Everyone burying their feet into the sand.

Holly and Scott's interpretation of Karate Kid!

I am no photographer, but

I am not photographer, but I feel like every once awhile, I captured something cool. Here are some of the photos:

Friend Making

I realized recently that I don't like making a ton of friends anymore. It is not that I don't like people, but that it is exhausting sometimes. When I was younger, I love making friends and being everyone's friend. It was great. I thought, the person with the most friends wins. Now, I am tired. I would prefer to skip to the surface friend portion. I realize that is part of the process, but honestly, I think sometimes you can tell whether you will be good friends or surface friends. I desire meaningful relationships with people, not just surface friends. Surface friends are fine, but they seem to come and go quickly, which seems to be hurtful as well. I believe I have had so many, it has started to make my heart hardened slightly. I never thought I would be tired of making friends, but it has come. I am still outgoing and friendly, but my desire has diminished compared to early years. I find it harder to let people see the real me. I don't like to feel that tons of people know that I am extremely vulernable and sensitive. I feel like a created a huge wall to my heart. I don't want to make friends, just to know that in a few months, they will not be your friends anymore for whatever reason. I fight this all the time. I don't want to have a huge wall, but it exists.

I am thankful that the church helps fight this with home/visiting teaching and various callings that change over periods of time. It forces people to not be in their comfort zones all the time. When people share meaningful, spiritual experiences together, it brings them closer together.

Thick Skin

As one of my roles as coordinator at EFY, I get to help solve problems on Monday as the youth check in. Our biggest issues seem to be roommates. EFY allows the participants to be match with one roommate. Then, the youth can be linked to be in the same session of EFY (not the same group or floor or housing). It is stated clearly on the website in one than one location. I dread Mondays because it is the day, I have parents yell at me, parents and youth cry because their expectations are shattered in a few minutes. It is hard, not to take things personally. We didn't decide the housing. We only have so much flexible with housing and then they have to be in a certain age grouping. We honor roommate requests, but group requests we can't do. Another huge issue is dress and grooming standards. This year the focus has been that guy's hair must be cut a certain length or they can't check in. Emails have been sent to youth and their parents.

What is funny to me, is that I would rather deal with my alternative school kid's parents then EFY parents somedays. Maybe I am out of practice of having thick skin. This past Monday was a little difficult and disappointing. My partner Scott, had a dad yelled at him that he was annoyed his son had to cut his hair. What is funny, is that it is standard given in the strength of youth pamphlet. Defend your son for not following church leaders, that doesn't make sense.
Then, I get to deal with mom's who me to fix their daughters housing. Here is the situation. Two mom's approach me had thought that their daughter and roommate were going to be in the same group as another set of friends. (As previously, we can do this.) I explained to the mothers the policy of linking and we can put everyone in the same group. The purpose of EFY is to make new friends and what great experience it will be to make new friends. (sidenote: the girls were on the same floor, but different counselors) The mothers were not happy and wondered why I couldn't fix their problem if I was the solutions table. I explained to them further that to make this change in housing causes a ripple effect and counselors already have names for their youth, etc... One mother understood and backed down, the other mother did not. She stated, "you are the solutions table and I need solution." I explained to her I couldn't provide her the solution she desired and that was the solution. I explained to the youth, that with the girls in the two groups, they would know twice as many boys and new friends. They didn't seem to care. Then she (the mother) did something that completely shocked me. She turned and whispered to her daughter, they looked at me and laughed. I stayed calm and smiled.
What are parents teaching their children?: If you have problem, I will solve it for you. I will enable you and not allow you to learn from a difficult experience. I don't wish for you to make new friends. I will teach to you disrespect other adults and be rude. I was crushed at the behavior of this parent.
If it was my parents, my mom would have told me to deal with it. Life is hard and I need to be strong. What is funny, is the other mother apologized for being rude.