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Post by ScholarGal on Aug 12, 2008 15:27:06 GMT -5
Question for current/former workers: When you started in the work, did you have any mentors other than your first companion? Question inspired by a post on the European board: I suggest that young workers need some kind of moral support when they go in the work and during their first years, especially when they are sent abroad away from friends and family. Perhaps certain individuals of the friends could be appointed to be like a mentor, purely on a friendship basis, to ensure that excessive loneliness etc. doesn't lead to problems. A young person who left the work told me he was oppressively bored during his few years in the work. That is not good for anyone. A system needs to be set up so that a worker can get help before a situation becomes a problem. We owe it to our youth. It is a shame that a young person, willing for so much that goes against human nature, should end his/her time in the service of the Lord in disgrace because of negligence.
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Post by worker83 on Aug 13, 2008 22:24:37 GMT -5
The workers I professed thru were also my closest mentors - at least the younger one ! There was also the help from the other young sister workers - a sorority feeling - we're all in this together. Like Nathan, after the first year, I often turned back to that first companion when times were tough for encouragement or guidance.
In answer to the UK question of a young worker who was bored in his first years ??! I solved that, when my companion was writing tons of letters and I had none to write - took the workers' lists and randomly chose names to start corresponding with them - on the west coast, east coast, foreign, wherever - one name off each list - kept me busy and soon I had more letters than I wanted to answer ! The other day I got a letter from an unknown young worker who was doing the same thing ! I thought, oh, no, I can't start corresponding with them, but then remembered the feeling - and thought, sure I can !
I'd have a feeling that young worker that was oppressively bored, had other issues that he was neglecting to deal with and likely the cause of his leaving. There's plenty of avenues to occupy oneself - help the friends where you are living - mow the lawn, or whatever - I did alot of that my first years. . . learn a foreign language (I never had time for that). . .
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Post by juliette on Aug 13, 2008 23:12:51 GMT -5
The workers I professed thru were also my closest mentors - at least the younger one ! There was also the help from the other young sister workers - a sorority feeling - we're all in this together. Like Nathan, after the first year, I often turned back to that first companion when times were tough for encouragement or guidance. In answer to the UK question of a young worker who was bored in his first years ??! I solved that, when my companion was writing tons of letters and I had none to write - took the workers' lists and randomly chose names to start corresponding with them - on the west coast, east coast, foreign, wherever - one name off each list - kept me busy and soon I had more letters than I wanted to answer ! The other day I got a letter from an unknown young worker who was doing the same thing ! I thought, oh, no, I can't start corresponding with them, but then remembered the feeling - and thought, sure I can ! I'd have a feeling that young worker that was oppressively bored, had other issues that he was neglecting to deal with and likely the cause of his leaving. There's plenty of avenues to occupy oneself - help the friends where you are living - mow the lawn, or whatever - I did alot of that my first years. . . learn a foreign language (I never had time for that). . . I almost hesitate to post this, because I can't think of a way to write it that won't sound like I'm attacking or finding fault, but here goes... I think of all of the "missionary" work that could be done in the world... helping the poor, volunteering in urban schools, working with the homeless, visiting the sick (not just the sick within your field in your fellowship), etc... and wonder why a younger minister would have the time to be bored and start writing letters randomly to other ministers. I remember the workers spending a lot of time writing letters, and I'm sure that many of those letters could have provided encouragement to others. It seems from what you've posted (and what I've seen personally) that workers, especially younger workers, have a lot of time to fill. I wonder if it's because they don't spend a lot of time out in the world ministering to strangers and seeking lost souls outside of those who are brought to gospel meetings by others. Again... I'm not trying to be combative, but I felt the need to post. The "younger" minister in the church I attend spends a lot of time in outreach, youth ministry and service projects, in addition to "preaching". She's also received training/education in things like berievement counseling, couples counseling, etc., and provides a lot of one-on-one support.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 14, 2008 19:14:23 GMT -5
Id like to comment on the topic of mentoring. Cant find original thread on euro board? What heading is the thread please? Thank you
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Post by mod1 on Aug 15, 2008 4:41:56 GMT -5
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 15, 2008 5:16:41 GMT -5
Thank you mod1
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