By Kourtney Vier, SALT Ministry Leader
We had our final training for our 44 (80 total with network churches) students going overseas. We invited our students plus the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, and Des Moines students to join us for a final training a couple weekends ago. The purpose of this training is to try to put our students in situations that we think they will find they themselves in this summer. First we do an “airport and visa” simulation and essentially try to stress them out as they go through.
We want the scenarios to be somewhat real, but also want to make it more challenging. This way they lean on the other people in their teams and helps to make a more cohesive team. Plus it will bring out some issues together. Following the simulation we had our Salt Director from Iowa City speak on 10 ways to destroy your team. These were helpful tips on what you SHOULDN’T do.
The next day the students woke up and we put on a campus life simulation. Staff from the schools plus student volunteers, do a little acting and pretend to be a national student in an Asian country. The point of this is so that the students practice meeting people, leading an English corner (practicing English with students), and a seeker study (leading a Bible study). All of this is to somewhat simulate what will happen on an average day overseas. Other Salt directors spoke to the students to cast vision and to prepare them spiritually for their trip. With the students going, staff, and volunteers there were 152 people there.
We have sent all 14 teams to their cities. Be praying for our students that they would have great influence, but also learn to abide in Christ amidst an uncomfortable situation!
