The day began with breakfast and a quick prayer session for some of the countries our interns are going to. Following this we got into the big vans and travelled out to a ropes challenge course. The course was called “SPICE Challenge”.
Upon arriving at SPICE, we gathered around in a circle as the lead staff member showed us the differences between our comfort zones and where we get uncomfortable. This went on for a little while and eventually she had each person go around the circle and say one thing about themselves that they felt was their greatest attribute. For my greatest attribute I said “What’s great about me is my ability to respect others and their different views”. Following this we got separated into groups based on our mission teams. Since our team only consists of 5 people, we were in a group with all of the single person missions. In total we had around 10 people on the team. Our team leader was a nice lady who I found out liked to play tennis. It was nice to chat with her about the different tennis courts she had played on in California and in Indiana.
For the first part of getting to know our teammates we circled up and did something a little uncomfortable. We went around the circle and each shared one thing (or multiple things) that we felt was holding us back from having a successful mission trip (and life in general). For this exercise I pretty much knew what I needed to say right off the bat. “I’ve had a lack of initiative and I let others walk over me. I don’t stand up for myself or my beliefs.” After I said this I felt some relief right away as I had admitted to myself and the group one of my greatest struggles. Following my confession the group leader asked – as she had with everyone else – why I felt I struggled with this. I let the group know about my tendency to be passive and then the rest of the group shared their needs.
After this we walked to our first task as a group, which was standing on a raised beam out of the ground and trying to get in alphabetical order. This was needed to be done all the while not touching the ground. For this first task we had a moment of trial and error but eventually figured out the best technique to move people down the line to get in order. We then talked about what we learned and I began to feel like this ropes course was going to be a waste of time for me. The lessons we’ll learn here aren’t going to change anyone’s lives, I thought. Pretty soon my mindset and my thoughts on this would all change.
For the next few activities I stayed towards the end of the pack and didn’t make myself the first one to try a new challenge. Our leader noticed this and challenged me to take the lead on at least one activity. We had completed the challenge of the “Mohawk Walk”, the swinging rope challenge, the stump garden, the trust bridge, the leverage bridge, and the sphere carry. At last we came to a challenge where I knew it was my time to take the lead. The challenge that I took the lead on was called the “Trust Fall”. This is where one person stands on a platform while the rest of the team stands below. The person on the platform puts all their trust on the team as they turn their backs on the team and then falls back without looking.
It’s my nature to be cautious as I’ve mentioned and so it was difficult at first for me to volunteer to be the first faller. Once on the platform our leader asked us to tell the group what we were giving up today so that it wouldn’t hold us back any longer. I told the group that day that I was giving up the struggle I mentioned earlier. I turned my back on them, said “Spotters ready?”, they shouted “Ready!”. I said “Falling”, and they said “fall”. I guess you can figure out what I did next. As I fell it was a quick adrenaline rush that I’ll never forget. I learned through that activity that I can trust others and that I have the power to give up things that I’m struggling with.
Following this we went through a few more activities including the one I liked called “The Wall”. We had to get everyone up and over the wall that was probably about 8 or 9 feet high. I was the last one to climb the wall so I wasn’t allowed to have anyone to help me up. (Once you had climbed the wall you weren’t allowed to push people up). Before I ran and jumped I didn’t think that I would be able to make it, but sure enough I jumped up high enough and felt a rush of satisfaction as my hands gripped the top of the wall. I pulled myself up and learned that I am strong enough to overcome challenges in my path to success.
Lastly for the day we came together as a large group again and summed up our stay at the ropes course with the leadership staff. We were asked to say if we had learned anything in front of the group and I was one of the first to speak up. I told the group that I had learned how to take initiative and that I knew I could rely on my team if I needed help. This was a great experience and I will always look back at it fondly.
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