Wild Gooses Are Go!

Let me introduce you to the wonderful Catie Raikes, Mandy Williams and Emma Nicholson... 24-7's Wild Goose interns for the next few months. YAY!!

(if you're reading this on facebook, you might want to click across to my ToggieTales blogsite - it looks nicer on there than on here...)

A long time ago, 24-7's first year-out learning opportunity was also called Wild Goose. Back then, it was a very flexible thing, with students mainly based around Reading's Boiler Room. After a couple of years of adaptation, this became Transit (go HERE for more information).

Recently, we've created a few other learning environments. 24-7 Virtual is a podcast based series for local communities who are looking to develop rhythms of prayer and life together. 24-7 Springboard is more for those feeling a longer-term call into mission and community-formation with 24-7. 24-7 Intensives are short intense (surprise surprise) themed courses. And then there's the new Wild Goose.

Wild Goose is more of a pilgrimage, a journey than a course. It has no pre-set classroom content - the 'teaching' is mostly wrapped up in other ways. (After all, we learn very little from spoken-words... and furthermore, we're probably all fairly full of 'undigested spoken-words teaching' already?)

Essentially, Wild Goose is an opportunity to intern with one of 24-7's nationally recognised leaders, to shadow them and live/walk with them, to join in with whatever they do, go where they go, to serve and learn as they go. So... it requires a love for 24-7, and a fairly well-developed sense of adventure!

It also requires interns to have some part-time work, and to be responsible for their own accommodation and basic 'living' stuff, which can be a bit of a challenge (and it's also why interns probably need to live fairly close to their 'coach'). And it requires about 2-3 available days each week... with more space set aside for reflection.

In fact, reflection is a centrepiece of the Wild Goose year. In his book, 'Mile In My Shoes', Trevor Hudson points out that we do not automatically learn from our experiences, but from a process of reflection on these experiences (conversations, talks, encounters with nature, dreams, *anything* really), which then leads to transformation. We had a good time on Tuesday morning exploring all this. :o)

Catie, Mandy and Emma began their year with 24-7 at the 'Home' gathering, and then came back to stay in our community house for a few days, to really get things started. Catie's 'coach', Lindy Morgan (from Aberystwyth), and Mandy's 'coach', Tom Jamieson (from Gateshead) were also with us, which was fun. :o)

We talked a lot and prayed for one another, we walked in the park together, we collected random debris and turned it into some kind of collage, we considered the differences between tourists and travellers, and we ate and drank and laughed and cried together... I think it was special for all of us.

Having said that, in spite of hours of reflection, I have been unable to draw anything useful from our final evening... which we spent trying to pick up an ever-reduced cereal box in our teeth, with only our feet on the floor? I failed miserably and dropped out during an early round. And Ian nearly ripped his jeans. I think it was Catie or Emma that won?

Emma, by the way, will be working and travelling and learning with me. Emma, I can't wait.

Comments

[Colin White]

yay! there are three wild geese! I had a dream that there were three 'interns' hanging out with Lindy, i'll fish that one out again=)

[phil togwell]

hey colin, there's only one with lindy. one's with tom, and one's with me. maybe next year? ;o)
phil.x

[Mandy Williams]

well we did all HANG out with Lindy... technically :oP (I'd love some more hanging out with Lindy time!!) xxx

[Catie Eliza Raikes]

HAHA! can you not see what me might have got from the cereal box game??!! Hey colin, not spoken to u in a while. Everyone!! Phil was just being a total baby about the game, i wish i could show u all the video its HILARIOUS! It was a REALLY special time, Thank you all. and phil, for use of dissallowed photos you shall have 30 points taken from your team.

[Lauren Newman]

Hey wild geese, Phil and other coaches,
Have a great year!!! I can't wait to hear about more of your *wild* adventures :)
Mucho blessings,
Lauren (ex-trannie) xo

[AJ]

Wild Goose is a fantasic idea which I wholly concure would be helpful for all who are passionate for God and desire to see 24-7 grow massively. I'm totally up for working alongside the Welsh dept. if needed.

Phil, I think this may go globally BIG!!!

Take care mate
From The One and Only, AJ!!!!

[miranda]

this sounds really cool

[Moo]

:o) just looking back over this - reflecting over the past 9 months... haha. WOW! xxx

[Catie Eliza Raikes]

Hah! I came back to reflect too.... It has been so wonderful. I'm not really sad. I expected to be moping right about now... but I'm just joyful at that has been. :] I Love you all VERY much and I FOREVER will.
xxxxxx