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We are all discoverers... travelling the world, learning its truths, its people and its meanings every single day. Grab your backpacks and let's embark on this journey of mine, one that holds a lot of meaning to me... Lilypie Kids birthday Ticker

Saturday, October 06, 2007

 

Learning Points on CISM & Training

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It has been some time since I last blogged on discoveries and things that I have learnt. After all, this is the "Chronicles of a Discoverer" right :)

Training Delivery
I have mentioned in previous posts that I have thoroughly enjoyed my in-camp training so far partly because it has kept me mentally engaged the past few days. I have also come to realise that one of my "hobbies" is also to observe trainers during training and to learn from their delivery style as well as from their mistakes and I have been able to do that with a whole team of trainers. It seems that to have a successful training session:


Setting the Atmosphere (V.I.P.)
  1. (V) Setting up the training venue / climate e.g. background music etc
  2. (I) Breaking the ice
  3. (P) Understanding the participants' profile
Setting Ground Rules & Agenda (R.I.P.E.R.)
  1. (I) Introdocuing self
  2. (E) Objectives & Expectations of Participants (Buy-In aka highlighting whats the big deal about this training and how does it help me?)
  3. (R) Role of Participants (Experts & Sharing)
  4. (R) Setting the Rules (e.g. handphones, confidentiality, asking questions etc)
  5. (P) Explaining the Process (Overview & Break)
Structuring the Learning Experience
  1. Putting up learning posters
  2. Involving the participants
  3. Using stories and parables
  4. Using demonstration & practice
  5. Using quizzes
  6. Encourage incremental learning in exercises
  7. Use Games
  8. Encourage Discussions
  9. Use Role Plays (Skills-based training)
  10. Summarising Learning Points
Rounding Up (S.C.A.C)
  1. (S) Summarising
  2. (C) Checking expectations
  3. (A) Action-oriented
  4. (C) Contact details
Critical Incidence Stress Managemet (CISM)
I have also learnt about critical incidence stress management, in summary:

  1. Identify - Using the circle of vulnerability (COV), identify victims (including NOK and resuce workers) and their needs in immediate, inner, outer and peripheral zones
  2. Brief - Conduct the Crisis Management Brief to
    • (i) communicate and manage information (what happened, what is happening and what is going to happen?) and
    • (ii) allow for entry of psychological intervention team,
    • (iii) set the stage to seek help if necessary
    • (iv) educate on stress and stress management
    • (v) identify further those who may need help
  3. Defuse - Conduct defusing to mediate impact of the crisis and further identify those who may need psychological follow-up through 2 stages:
    • Introduction
      • Introduce Facilitators
      • Purpose (e.g. not fault-finding)
      • Rules (share as comfortable, confidentiality, respect etc)
      • Process & Duaration
      • Questions
    • Exploration (Facts, Thoughts, Feelings, Symptoms)
      • Encourage mutual support
      • Look for common themes
      • Reppraisal of meaning
    • Information
      • Normalise
      • Mutual teaching
      • Facilitator teaching
      • How to seek help
      • Questions
  4. Provide & Support - Provide practical assistance (safety, food, water, rest, shelter, information) and supportive listening
  5. Debrief - Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing (CISD) - Similar to Defusing
    • Introduction (Cognitive)
    • Fact (Cognitive)
    • Thought (Cognitive)
    • Reaction (Affective)
    • Symptoms (Affective)
    • Teaching (Cognitive)
    • Re-entry (Cognitive)
  6. Follow-up & Referral - Refer those who need further assistance to relevant parties e.g. social workers, counsellors etc

 

When God Uses NS

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Early Riser, For Once
Good morning! I have always not been a morning person (which explains why I am always late for work, 95% of the time). But interestingly, I found myself waking up automatically at 7.30am this morning :) Maybe I have gotten used to waking up early, maybe I have gotten enough mental rest from work the whole week or maybe I am just excited to come online to just blog about my day yesterday or maybe it is a combination of all 3 factors.

God Uses my NS Training
Anyway, have rounded up my training at the army camp yesterday and we got to learn skills for conducting a defuse and debrief during critical incidents. It really wasn't easy but then managed to get by somehow and the role play did make things interesting. Now that the psychological training is over, on hindsight, I realised how I have learnt many things. I thank God for the training which has helped me to:
  • refresh my social work skills
  • learn about military psychology and how to handle critical incidence, in theory
  • get some rest from work
  • learn some valuable skills in facilitation through the various role plays as well as observing others; picking up so many things that I can do better
  • regain some confidence in facilitation as I realise, during the role plays, that I do have some skills
  • see the power of common purpose (of booking out early) and how it unites people
  • learn about training delivery (I always like to go to workshops to not only learn but observe the trainers and how they deliver their training)
  • experience being in an army camp
  • remind me that I had experience and have been through and survived some incidents too
  • observe leadership at work in SAF
And I chose to believe that this training is somewhat not incidental. As I made my way to cell yesterday, I realised I was not that jittery about leading cell yesterday. There was just this peace and confidence that "if I can do it during the training why not now?" kind of feeling. I believe and thank God for interjecting this training at this point in time, to affirm me and help me pick up the skills for leading cell through the role plays and skills training during my in-camp training. Who would have thought that God can even use a national service training to teach me about cell leadership?

God Blesses Cell Meeting
Yesterday's cell group meeting went superbly well. I have came only prepared with 2 questions (as compared to a whole list of questions and references in the past) and I remember praying to God for Him to take over the session. In the end, I thank God that the discussion took off and went on to a deeper level, with people participating :)

The Path was Paved...
I was even more pleasantly surprised when I found that the topic (which was on volunteering your service for God) even somewhat, surprisingly opened up the opportunity for the 5 of us to talk about the situation our cell is in, towards the end of the session. However, it wasn't as emotional charged as the last time we had a frank chat about it. And I thank God for the opportunity to also share my struggles openly with them. Yesterday, I openly shared about (i) my struggles with cell leadership and how I had made the decision to step down 4 times so far, (ii) my struggles with caring for members and my personality of being an introvert, (iii) the pain and burden I feel each time I see someone not walking close to God and (iv) that I needed help from them to make this work.

All these, including the "timeliness" of the NS training and also my forgetting to call up a visitor to visit our cell this week (so in the end, our cell can talk openly about cell developments) just goes to show me how much God is in control sometimes. I have realised that every single step of the way so far has been guided by God and just as He guided me in my work ministry and so, at this point in time, I believe He will guide me through this season of cell leadership.

I thank God that my members seem to understand and agree to help me out in reaching out to the people who are seldom coming to cell, to talk to them. I thank God that I was interacting with my members well yesterday and we were even laughing along happily during supper :)

Thank you Lord!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

 

It's All Coming Back To Me Now

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How's Our Young Doing Now?
I really can't believe the things I am hearing from the young ones nowadays. I was on my way to camp on the bus when I heard this boy, no older than eleven years old, with his two friends and he kept exclaiming "Motherf**cker" repeatedly. Where did he learnt it? I really hope this is not representative of the state that our young is in now... I really can't imagine how much worse it can be a few years later.


Direct or Indirect?
Anyway, I really enjoyed today's training at my in-camp. It was mainly covering topics to do with counselling skills, post-traumatic stress disorder, critical incidence stress management etc. As the speakers spoke, the things that I have learnt in my social work education were all slowly coming back to me and so did my passion to help people in emotional pain. It has been some time since I last felt this passion, ever since I gave up direct social work. Well, once in a while I will still ponder whether I will one day return to direct social work or will I stay with volunteer management?

The speakers shared with us how they were deployed to work in incidents such as the F5 crash in Taiwan, Asian Tsunami Crisis Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR), RSN Courageous collision etc and the thought of working alongside with the psychologists during such events both thrills me as well as worries me. It indeed is an opportunity for me to practice the skills I have learnt in social work (which I have had little chance to hone in the past few years), but of course I question my readiness to be deployed in such incidents, since these are human lives we are talking about.

When Crisis Strikes...
I then began to roughly understand the complexities of working at such critical incidents when we tried our hand with a case study involving a fictitious accident and explosion in a camp. There was indeed a lot of information to process and very soon, we found that many teams, including mine, were entrenched with the maths; trying to work out how many were killed in action, how many were wounded in action etc. Then, soon after, we were reminded that our focus should be on identifying people who might need intervention rather than on the maths. Duh! Could have seen that coming. But even as my team worked together, I can see team members having difference of opinion and mind you, this is just a simulation, I can't imagine in a real crisis, emotions will be running high and there might be greater tension in trying to manage within the crisis.

Carnage
As part of the training, we were also showed a video on some carnage after terrorist bombing of a bus in Jerusalem. It wasn't a pretty sight as we saw pieces of human meat and skin lying about. There was even a picture of a parts of a leg left hanging over the chair... it was rather traumatising. Of course, we were warned about it before the video and have been told to speak to the psychologist should we be experiencing secondary traumatisation after watching the video. Frankly, yes the video was disturbing but I guess it wasn't as disturbing as the photos of suicide victims I saw during my social work attachment to SOS, as we were compiling statistics at the coroner's court, looking through files of deaths. Then, curiosity got the better of me and my friend and we went to see the photos la. Smart alecks, hahaha, both me and my friend ended up having no appetite for two days.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

 

The Story of Jesus

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Came across this nice clay animation on the story of Jesus from Godtube.com:

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6


Part 7


Part 8


Part 9

 

I'm Hating It, I'm Loving It!

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It's day 3 of my in-camp training and I am starting to like in-camp training a little bit. Before this, I was kind of dreading going back for in-camp and after a rather unpleasant experience in camp on Monday morning, I kinda dragged myself back to camp on Tuesday. This is really the first time I am admist so many army personnel.

Nerve-Wrecking Just Thinking about It

I was kind of jittery because this is the first time I am serving my in-camp training in an army camp and also my first time donning the army uniform. I used to serve my full-time national service in Navy and the culture in a naval base is just so different from an army camp. I am just afraid that I do not know all the army protocols and decorum. Do I have to march when in camp? Do I have to salute when I see a higher-ranking personnel? Then, a few months ago, I received news that I needed to report in my uniform. It has been some time since I last donned my uniform. And even then, it was the Navy no.3 uniform but it has been some time. Now, I was being told that I am tagged under "Army" so I cannot obtain the navy uniform, which mean that I needed to get a whole new set of army uniform. So, I spent the last 2 weeks running about to get my uniform, get my rank sewed, my pants altered and my name tag made.

Then, there were other questions going through my mind: Where do I put the name tag, above the left or right pocket? Do I wear the gold or silver buckle belt? It was really nerve-wrecking having all these questions running through my mind and facing the uncertainty of going to a new and unfamiliar place, where people might be potentially more "on the ball" and stricter. On the other hand, work also worried me because I remember the last time I went for in-camp training for 2 weeks, I had to slogged for 2 months subsequently to clear the work that has piled up during that time.


Unpleasant In-Pro

OK, made an effort to wake up real early on Monday morning so I won't be late reporting to camp (no joke reporting late in army camp, don't wanna take chances). But in the end, still ended up taking a cab to camp. The moment I entered the gate, I went up to the duty personnel to ask where do I change pass. He pointed me to the guard house. The next thing I know, there was this burly garang-looking encik who started to look at me (think my heart skipped a little). Then he shouted to the duty personnel "Have you checked properly?! Have you checked his handphone and stuff?!" The guard stared at me and I stared at him, both at a loss as to what to do.


Then, the encik started walking towards me and with a deep deep voice, he started to question me: "where is your head gear?" He wasn't really shouting but then his stern voice just made my heart beat faster. I did not know how to respond to him because I am just so blur about all these. Back in the navy camp, I did not have to wear a headgear whenever I was walking about the camp. Anyway, he asked the guard to take down my name and told me that he wanted to see me with my headgear the next day. I was thinking, cham la! I don't have headgear and also do not know what colour to get since this is the first time I am in an army camp. I don't even know whether I have been posted to army or am still in navy. And throughout all this while, I kept addressing him "Sir" (the same stupid mistake I made when I was "ganjiong" when I was first enlisted into my unit; calling a SSG "Sir"). Anyway, thank God he seemed a little bit friendlier later on as I explained that I used to be from the navy and he pointed me to the block I am supposed to report to. As I walked down the road, there was fear and I didn't even know whether I can cross the road or what if I meet another officer? All the while, I am keeping my ears pricked up in case another officer calls out to me again.
Anyway, you would have guess how much I feared going back through the gate, in case I see that encik again. I even wildly entertained the thought that maybe I just stay in so I don't have to go through that gate and see him. But thank God, the past 2 days, I made an effort to report earlier and so far I did not see him.

Thank God for my NS Posting

Well, call me weak or whatever but then being in unfamiliar places and especially in an army camp just scares me. As I walked on, I just can't help but reflect and thank God for sending me to Navy and for giving me my current PES status. I always think that, had I been posted to Basic Military Training, how different will I be today and whether I would have survived the training? Have heard of cases of people who could not take the scolding and training and committed suicide. Don't even know if I would have become part of the statistics if I had been posted otherwise. But still I thank God for my posting to navy and for sending nice people around me during NS.

I'm Loving It
I find it funny to say but then I find that I am kind of starting to love this in-camp training. Firstly, it is a good break from work (although I know that work may be piling as I speak but this year, God has also sent me a colleague to cover me in my absence). Secondly, I was starting to get real excited about my new role in NS, assisting in providing military psychology support to troops during peacetime and as and when needed. This was definitely more exciting than what I have been doing for In-Camp the last two times. But then, being posted to an army camp really made me wonder whether I am now officially under army. Then later, the LTC spoke about IPPT which again almost made my heart skipped a beat. It is only later that I found out that I am still posted to navy but am tagging on to the army training and I do not have to take IPPT. Thank God! In fact, today they were even talking about the possibility of deploying us on board a ship maybe during one of the operation to provide military psychological support. This thrilled me but also worries me because I have never been on board a ship for extended length of time as yet.

Thirdly, I would say that it is kind of refreshing experience to be in an army camp. Having been there for three days and having observed and also been briefed about how we should conduct ourselves in the camp, I was more confident about making my way around camp. For example, I have learnt that I needed to put my headgear on when walking about in camp. Fourthly, I find it enjoyable just talking to my fellow NS-mates. Someone has ever wondered how we have been chosen for this role and noticed that everyone around seemed to be of a certain profile; not having any tattoos, English-speaking etc. Anyway, it was great hanging out with these guys who hold various portfolio outside. There is a pastor, a journalist, a few teachers, another social worker, banker etc. Started to get warmed up to people and even some of them are officers, I just realised they are not as garang as I thought they will be. In fact, there seems to be this bond because all of us wanted the same thing: to have a smooth in-camp training. Hahaha, in fact, some even advocated for early release and I thank God that so far, we had been granted early release twice. Today, I even went out with a few of my NS mates to a nearby place for kopi and chit-chat.

Fifthly, I enjoy the training so far because I feel that I was learning some stuff (even though I have already learnt some of the stuff like listening skills, research skills in my uni days). Tomorrow, we will be covering critical incident stress management. Sixthly, you may find it funny that I am saying this, but then I am feeling somewhat relieved to find that everyone I have encountered so far, excluding the encik who initially gave me the scare, are all very nice people. I had expected to face officers and personnel who would be very stern but then to the contrary, the regular major, LTC, CPTs and SGTs we met these few days are all very nice people.

Will God Change Me Too?
Anyway, was somewhat encouraged by what I heard from my NS mate who is a pastor. We were walking back and I happen to hear him telling another person how before accepting Christ he was this introverted and shy person. But frankly, I would not have imagined it because he is so different now. Anyway that's all I heard but I do hope that I can be like him and overcome my introvertedness. Or maybe God has His plans to use me with my introvertedness?

Sunday, September 30, 2007

 

God Drives Home a Point

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When God Speaks Deep into your Heart
I have not felt this way for a real long time; it has been some time since I last felt excitement how God speaks through circumstances and through the pulpit. I remember when I first came back to Christ after having backslided for many years, the initial few months was a lot of healing work done through the pulpit. God spoke to me and nursed some of my hurts and weariness through the pulpit. But then the last time I felt this way was real real ago. Don't get me wrong, it does not mean that I am not ministered to by God every week during service but then I still learn wonderful new things about God, just that it has been some time since the sermon tugs at your heart and ministers to you at a deeper level. Today is one such time and as you reflect upon how God sometimes tries to make a point in your life, it is just amazing. There is just something that makes you know it is God speaking.


Thank God for my Sister
Actually, I was kind of disappointed again yesterday about cell and somehow my sister sensed it. I really appreciate my sister a lot because I can tell that she cares. Although she sometimes is at a loss for words; not knowing what to say or what to do to make me feel better, but then I can always sense her care and concern for me. Just like this morning, she left for church early because she was serving in the children's ministry and she sent me a sms with the lyrics from "God will make a way" and reminded me that God will somehow help me find a way out my current situation with cell leadership. That's all it takes sometimes, no need for much comforting words but then knowing that someone cares for you is enough to make me feel better.

No-Show
It was fellowship week for cell this week and so there was no cell group gathering. I decided to just plan something simple maybe cycling at East Coast Park yesterday. But then, I did not really receive much responses up to the very day. I proceeded to East Coast Park Mac at about 2pm and sat there, hoping that some will turn up but then, as expected, only my sister turned up. I do not know what came over me but then somehow I did not want to give up. I kind of expected that people won't turn up but then in the end, ended up being a bit upset about it. Well, in the end, it was still a wonderful time of catching up with my sister, as we cycled and later adjourned to Settler's Cafe Katong to play some games, just the two of us. Maybe I should make this gathering with her more regular :) But still, I felt upset and to make it worse, I came down with asthma attack halfway through cycling. This morning, I met a cell group member from another friend's group and she shared with me how they had fun at their gathering on Friday. Ooooo, that hurted even more... felt so much a failure again.

Lessons from Elisha
Anyway, I thank God that He encouraged me on this week and like I mentioned, He did it again through sermon today. Today's topic was on Elisha and his reception of spiritual legacy and taking over from Elijah. It was a lesson on offering one's life to the service of God. Elisha seemed so ready to go with Elijah when he was called upon. His readiness to serve and his desire for double portion of Elijah's spirit just goes to show how he offered his life to the service of God. Then, the speaker spoke about timing and how it must have been a real long time between the time Elijah was called to anoint Elisha as his replacement as prophet and the time Elisah took over. The point being that sometimes it takes some time between the time God calls and anoints a leader to a time his/her ministry takes off because it may take a time of preparation.

I do not know what God is saying; whether I am to endure difficulty in cell leadership for a real long time, in preparation of His plans for me, I do not know. It sure is a scary thought. The speaker reminds us that God has a plan for each of us in His scheme of things and how spiritual legacy given to God's people is for the generations, not just the here and now. Sometimes, we are made to go through certain circumstances so we can in turn minister to others with similar circumstances in the future. Then the speaker prayed for leaders who have been called to position and having difficulties, praying for courage and for our pains to be committed to the Lord. He also reminded all that members should accept the training of these leaders and support them. By the end of the service, I was making my way home and my sister mentioned how this week's sermon is just so relevant to me AGAIN, as with the previous few weeks. God is speaking to my circumstances again and what are the odds for that?


Of 5 Loaves and 2 Fishes
And for a third time this week, the story about how Jesus feeds the five thousand with the five loaves and two fishes came out yet again during sermon; to remind us how is made possible with the people offering themselves to service and working with the Lord, so many others are blessed.

Thanksgiving
Also, as I stood in service during praise and worship time, I cannot help but to realise how God works in individuals and guide them in their walk with Him. The sister who stood beside me came to know Christ through her ex-boyfriend, who is now no longer with the church because of the breakup. But then I am so relieved to see how much she has grown over this one year. I thank God for all the lives He has worked in when they took the step of faith to accept Him. I also thank God for sending people around me to encourage me - my sister, this sister-in-christ, some of my cell group members, a fellow cell group leader and my colleagues and friends.

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