PC(USA) - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)


	Together We Triumph: Youth Response to Disaster Student Fellowship Activity Guide

	Module One

	All in the same boat Instructions for playing Scenario: There was a terrible flood in our town and you all are waiting on the roof of a garage to be rescued. The rescue boat can hold only four people including the rescuers. The others will have to wait for another boat or heiicopter. The water is rising rapidly, and it's getting dark. It is estimated that the water will rise above roof level in approximately 10 minutes. The electricity has been cut off by the flood. The only light is from the flashlight.

	The questions for you: How did your group decide who would be rescued first? How did it feel to be one of those being rescued? How did it feel to stay behind? How did it feel to be "lost" or to lose a member of your group?		Step 1. The two rescuers will get into the boat (the piece of paper in the center of the room). The people waiting to be rescued must stay on the roof (behind the white line). Step 2. The leader will set the timer for 10 minutes. When the leader says "GO" the group to be rescued must decide quickly who will get into the boat first and who will stay behind. The group must make this decision collectively and be in agreement. Step 3. The group will place armbands on the people to be rescued. Then the group and the rescuers will assist those persons into the "boat" without losing anyone in the "water". If anyone falls of gets both feet into the "water" (space between the roof and the boat), that person is considered "lost." "Lost" persons must sit quietly on the sidelines. When the first boat load is rescued (everyone is in the boat), the time is announced, and those rescued go quietly to another part of the room. The process of decision-making, arm-banding, and rescue is continued until all are rescued or the time runs out. Step 4. When all are rescued or the timer rings, bring the "lost" souls back to life, and everyone goes back to the big circle for discussion using the questions below.



	What is a Disaster? A Disaster is a devastating, catastrophis event that can be life-threatening of injury producing, and which may create the following distressing experiences... Potential experiences and reactions Sense of fear and worry Disruption of home and routine Witnessing of injuries, death, pain being out of control of things that threaten one's basic survival: food, shelter, clothing, family members, comfort and even life itself Having flashbacks to other catastrophes Being separated from loved ones Having a sense of mortality Feeling "survivor guilt" In addition, children may feel that they need to become "parents" to adults who are scared or worried. This creates inappropriate stress and responsibility for the children.



	Bible Study Luke 10:29-37 If I were the person who had been robbed and beaten, I would feel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...and I would do -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I were the priest going by, I would feel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...and I would do -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I were the Samaritan, I would feel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...and I would do -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I were the innkeeper, I would feel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...and I would do -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



	Some Hard Questions About Disasters Disaster sometimes causes us to ask some difficult questions about God and about our faith. Listed below are some of those questions. What others can you think of?

	Closing Prayer We praise you, "Our God and Creator, for your awesome power to create form and life and to change and even destroy form and life. Help us to grow in our understanding of your purpose in your univese. May we always appreciate the great mystery even as we learn how to survive and recover from painful an devastating events in our lives and in our world. Teach us to respect your ways and to be quiet and know that you alone are God. Guide us as we study and learn toghether about how we can be part of your responding to disaster. In the name of "Jesus the Christ. Amen.		Some people think that God causes disasters to punish people for their sins. What is your reacton to that idea? How should Christians respond to "Act of God"? Why would God allow natursl disastersd to kill little children? Couldn't God stop the disasters from happening? My Questions ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------



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