ST. PIRANS YOUTH WEEK PICNIC 2020: THE MIND TASKING GAME, THE CHARADE

Dear kingdom-minded, success-driven teens and kids, recall that last time we talked about using the forced COVID 19, pandemic break, to learn new skills, identify and develop other talents of ours. One of the things specifically mentioned include developing your writing skills.

In that post, I pointed out clearly that my purpose of asking you to write is not necessarily to make a writers out of you, but that developing the habit of writing will enable you to document your ideas, thoughts and experiences, for future references. Let me also add here another benefit I believe you will get from developing your writing skill. It will help to capture and document events that happen around you, for future referencing also. Such events are anniversaries, travels, and special discussions, like those with the elderly, e.g. Grandpas and Grandmas. Others are school activities, like Saturday Activities, for those in   St Paul’s Academy Jos (SPAJ), Speech and Price, and other events.  

Dearies, I have the feeling, and very strongly too, that you will be delighted reading your stories in the future. Waoo! Just beginning to imagine, how I will feel, reading this piece, in addition to yours and numerous others in 20 years’ time. Think about it and begin to do something now! Send your stories to this Platform. Many are waiting to share with you. Don’t be stingy about it. Hahahahaha.

Well, while I wait for your stories, let me share the report of ST. PIRANS YOUTH WEEK 2020. Sit back, read, and enjoy it. Do remember to invite others to also read and share lessons from the story (if any).

Let me start this part of our discourse with a question and answer: Have you ever been to a program for the celebration of youths? I know you have. Why not share your experience and lessons learnt with us?   

My report of the St. Pirans Youth Week 2020 begins…

On Saturday August 8, 2020, Youths of St. Pirans Church on the Plateau; held a Picnic in the Church compound. The Participants include children, teenagers and youths of diverse background and cultures, made of up of both male and female. The program began by 10 AM, when the youths congregated at the church compound, and were divided into different groups and sent to several places for Evangelism. When they came back to the church by 12noon the picnic and fun laden activities aspect of the event began properly. The environment was serene, friendly, and very colourful. It portrayed the gathering of not just children, teenagers and youths, but Christians.

Before the arrival of other youths, some began arranging the chairs while others played games, such as football and volleyball as a form of warm-up for the remaining activities. While enjoying their games, little did they know that surprises and more fun await them, until when everybody was called together, and given ribbons of different colours.  

 

 

At exactly 12:15, the opening prayer was said by one of the teenagers by name Matthew Dang. Thereafter, the Master of Ceremony (MC) Miss Uchay Agomoh, announced that the ribbons shared represented different houses; and that persons with same colours belong to the same house and should sit accordingly. With this announcement, the sitting arrangement changed. Suddenly, though intended by the organizers of the programme, the idea of sticking with old friends, was automatically altered. 

                                Yours truly, the Anchor (Right), digging it out in a grand style

From my observation of the exercise, I can say, the aim of the grouping was to encourage making new friends, discourage noise making, ensure that people pay attention, in addition to promoting the idea of learning how to work with other people, including those you’re meeting for the first time. In a nutshell the exercise supported mingling and getting acquainted with other people, beyond those the participants of the programme knew before the event.

The forced but fun oriented movement of the participants resulted to the formation of four houses: Blue, Green Red and Yellow. With this grouping yours truly found herself settling with the yellow house. The MC, thereafter, announced that a game called CHARADE will be played.  

In view of the above, the miming game was played. The houses competed. In each round of the game, the houses chose one person each to represent the group. The representative was asked to collect a paper from the MC and read what was written on it silently and act it out without talking or moving the lips or giving any other clue to the house members, beyond demonstrating the content of the message. The representative had the option of selecting other members of the house to do the acting with him/her if necessary. The representatives had one minute to act while the group members had one minute also to decode the acting. Each group had two chances to get the answer right, otherwise the other group was given opportunity to attempt. If they succeed, a bonus mark was awarded them. The only tips given for the exercise was to focus attention on the Bible. The timing was done by Miss Ropheka.

It was really an interesting and tasking session. It tested the game players knowledge and understanding of the Bible and the ability of both the actors/actresses to reflect and decode events and situations quickly. At the end of the game, the results were announced. Green house came fourth, Blue house third, Yellow house second and Red house first. 

After the miming game, a break of 30 minutes was given to enable the participants stretch out a little. In the same interval, food and snacks were served to all present at the program.

Dearies, let's pause here and observe our own break too, and continue later. Meanwhile, I enjoin us to use the interval to Ponder over the game and make our contribution on lessons learnt from the Game.

Till I come your way next time, Stay safe. observe all the COVID 19, protocols and pray fervently for the reopening of Schools in Nigeria.

I remain your Anchor and Host:

Nnabugwu Chinaza.