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Service is FUN! --- Youth Workshop at the Conference of Heartfelt Service by Terilee Wunderman, photos by James Hassett & Teri
Our two-day Heartfelt Service Youth Workshop at MSIA's Conference of Heartfelt Service began Friday morning with 25 children and teens from the ages of 7 to 18 gathering together to share in the joy of service. By the end of Saturday, through the steady, inspiring facilitation of David Raynr, our workshop included games, singing, dancing, sharings, group processes, videos, meditation and chanting Ani Hu, creating service projects, serving out in the world, and even a soccer tournament. Along with Wayne Pepper, Team Captain, eight adult assistants, including yours truly, received an abundance of blessings from serving these precious youngsters as we chose to explore what service means to them, individually and as a group. The heartfelt devotion these boys and girls offered so freely to each other and then into the world demonstrated the profound healing and joy that serving from our loving hearts brings forward, regardless of age. Early Friday morning, David Raynr inspired a group discussion of what service means and asked the group to consider how they could serve those with whom they have the most difficulty as that is often the way to bring forward the greatest healing. With several sets of brothers and sisters in the room, many delightful opportunities became present to see how loving one another is the key to serving and overcoming our natural and ordinary differences. John Morton, whose son, Zane, participated in the workshop, then joined us in a lively game of spontaneous self-expression and getting to know one another. We then played “Master and Servant” which brought new awarenesses to the group about the process of giving and receiving. One youth participant shared, “Giving and receiving are both important. It feels good both ways!” David Raynr introduced “Calling in the Light”, and we listened to John-Roger’s “Our Song of Love.” The room then filled with Ani Hus from the children’s sweet voices, all choosing to join in harmony and Oneness. Riding on that beautiful sound, the children then joined together to learn a song and dance led by Luke Hubbard and Evan Raynr. After just a few rehearsals, the group performed live in front of the adult Heartfelt Service Workshop, surprising and rousing the room full of participants into joyous rendition of “Call in the Light and Take It Away!” John Morton then encouraged the adult workshop participants to contribute donations to the upcoming Insight Teen Leadership trip to Tanzania, Africa. When we returned to our room, the group discussed the joy and rewards of serving through their music, including the inner ones as well as the donations received. We then watched a new short film from Jsu Garcia, “Who Are You”, which included one of our workshop participants, Daniel Hayes, in the cast. Jsu then made a surprise visit and gave a warm “Hello” to everyone. On Friday afternoon, the children broke into two groups and developed their own, original service project to take place in a Los Angeles park on Saturday morning. The younger children made cards with colorful pictures and messages of love, caring, and celebration. They proposed items to bring, including balloons, games, food, and other treats to share with families visiting the park. The teens planned for baking treats to share, bringing arts and crafts and face painting materials, and organizing games for everyone. Parents joined us at the end of the day and helped coordinate the plans the youngsters had developed. Early Saturday morning, we all met at Woodbridge Park, a ten-minute drive from the Sheraton Hotel. Under a group of large shade trees, everyone pitched in and set up tables for face painting, arts and crafts, jewelry making, trays of delicious treats, cold drinks, and fresh coffee. A group of water-lovers filled water balloons and invited children in the park to a playful water balloon toss. Children and parents danced and sang to music provided by a battery-powered laptop computer and extra speakers. A football game got started, then a soccer game ensued, including fathers and children and anyone interested in joining in. Children from the workshop enjoyed serving each other and all the folks in the park. They handed out the cards they had made and flowers they had picked. They walked up to anyone in the park and invited them to join in our fun. Families gathered with us and enjoyed our treats, fun activities, and most of all our loving hearts. Joy and friendship were abundant through our Heartfelt service! When we returned to the Hotel, the children and teens, after just a couple of rehearsals, returned to the adult workshop and sang once again on stage in service to their loved ones. This time, Luke Hubbard and Evan Raynr led the group in singing, “I Can Fly.” The adults joined in for several choruses and then served the youngsters in return with their joyous applause and standing ovation. John Morton then joined us, along with Leigh Taylor-Young and Michael Hayes, for a Question & Answer hour. Children wrote questions in their Heartfelt Servant journals and on 3 x 5 cards and handed them to John. Questions included how to get along better with siblings, how to deal with negative thoughts, and how to overcome insecurities. I heard John remind everyone that we are all good and to be sure to remind ourselves of that truth often. John introduced the first law of Spirit --- acceptance --- and suggested we choose acceptance when faced with difficult circumstances, including accepting and honoring ourselves just as we are. John shared that the Youth Workshop Q&A reminded him of a Blessingsfest and how when one person is blessed, we all are blessed. He added that when one person is helped, we all are helped as well. After John Morton left to return to the adult workshop, David Raynr provided a sensitive discussion about John-Roger, founder of MSIA, Insight and Heartfelt, and how children and teens can further study the teachings of the Traveler. Everyone then gathered in a circle and shared about their learnings from our service experiences. Sharings included awarenesses that helping others is fun, feels good and makes us happy, service comes in all shapes and sizes and can happen in any and every moment, and joy is contagious and expands. Children shared how just saying “Hi” to someone is an act of service and that inviting people to participate is uplifting and helps others feel wanted. John-Roger then surprised us all and joined the group along with John Morton, Jsu Garcia, Michael Hayes, and Nathaniel Sharratt. Each youth workshop participant introduced themselves to John-Roger and shared the names of their parents and siblings. John Morton then reminded the group that everyone has a direct closeness with God, no matter how old they may be. He reminded everyone that being involved with MSIA is a free choice we make independently, because our worship is inside of us and based upon who we are. Throughout the weekend, the children enjoyed fun competition and the joys of teamwork and good sportsmanship. Friday included an indoor soccer tournament, and Saturday included an indoor round of Capture of the Flag. Both games were delightfully and strategically refereed by David Raynr and Wayne Pepper. The older children served their younger friends by playing with care and gentleness while still allowing for the fun and learning of playful competition. At the completion of our two days together, the children participated in a Giving & Receiving process with one another. Then the assistants gave each youngster a special gift to remind them of the blessings that they already are and how we all share together as we serve from our loving hearts. Baruch Bashan Read more articles from MSIA's Conference of the Heartfelt Service, 2009
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