Global COP

Hello again,

I posted on my Parent and Family Support Facebook Page about this. I learned so much at the Trauma Healing Institute’s (THI) annual event: Global Community of Practice. I was grateful we as students of Global Trauma Recovery Institute (GTRI) were allowed to attend as part of our immersion trauma training.  Our professors Dr. Diane Langberg and Dr. Phil Monroe are leaders in TRI and support its mission:

“The Trauma Healing Institute at American Bible Society is equipping people, churches, and NGOs around the world to care for the more than one in seven people worldwide who suffer severe wounds of the heart and spirit in the aftermath of conflict, disaster or abuse.”

American Bible Society: 7 Lessons from the Global Community of Practice National Reports

These and many more tips I learned from attendees who reported updates and trauma healing testimonies from almost every continent.

National representative shared how they implemented the Healing the Wounds of Trauma: How the Church Can Help (HWT) curriculum for adults and children which has been translated in 173 languages for recovery training workshops in 68 countries for lay and professional caregivers as well as support interventions to aid refugees and others who have suffered trauma from war, immigration, conflict, natural disasters, extreme poverty, violence, domestic abuse, rape and other losses.

  1. It can be done! There are many unsung heroes in the world who work with God to bring drastic or even subtle reform in people’s lives. They may work with groups but its often done helping one hurting person at a time.

  2. Culturally relevant interventions help heal invisible and sometimes secret emotional trauma wounds for survivors and victims… (HWT) is a great example.

  3. To be effective in trauma support: it is critical to listen to their perspective first. Listen. Listen and then listen some more before offering suggestions or opinions.

  4. Many wounds are helped by encouraging and allowing trauma survivors and children in crisis to tell their story and receive compassionate listening and validation. WOW!

  5. Multiplication with God is effective for ministry: The THI organization tries to not only help individuals but also utilize training weeks to equip new support providers who will then work to become facilitators.

  6. Some national reports (including the US)  left you weeping and were difficult to even listen to let alone imagine how the survivors endure. So many in our are suffering horribly in complex situations and we do not have clear answers. We each need to help trauma survivors and victims in any way we can with long-term effort.  

  7. Testimonies were inspiring and reminded us that it is worth persevering to heal trauma wounds. The integration of the Bible and Psychology is effective medicine.

     

It was a room full of heroes as far as I am concerned. Many pictures I still cannot share.  It was a blessing to hear God’s work through Healing the Wounds of Trauma curriculum which has been adopted in numerous cultures and languages around the globe.

Hearing worship in various languages at the same time was perhaps the most delicious part of the event. I cannot express in words how fabulous it was. I saw some friends wiping their eyes afterwards too so I get the impression I was not the only one touched.

Now, I am wondering how HWT has been used to help trauma and crisis victims and survivors who are Children and Youth in the US? Mmmmm….

If you know PLEASE share your wealth of knowledge =) You can use the comments or the contact form below for my inbox.

 

Blessings to you today,

Heloise

 

 

Many of the most significant life lessons I have learned through serving young people. It has been very humbling to watch and learn.

God is teaching and training… It is He who builds up our children and youth.

He promises to teach our children!

It is Jesus who empowers and equips…

“The Closet” Youth Ministry surprise thank you. Made me cry and fall apart at the end of the video…DURING a presentation!! CILLA! =(

Even in our weaknesses when we may feel, sad, tired, depressed, angry, enraged, scared, disgusted or overwhelmed… God cares how we feel. Even if it’s God Himself that you are mad at.

I think I did most of those emotions at some point in just the last week!! LOL

“Ok, so what do I do?” 

Well it depends on what rocks your boat… and how badly it hurts inside.

I may talk/cry to God about something that bugs me as I buzz around doing my  routine.

However, if it’s horrible and  involves a hospitalization of a loved one, a final, an expense we need a miracle for, a kid that is way out of line or something similar…

I need to pause to pray/weep/grieve over the situation with God.

Then I usually need to find specific Bible Verses that remind me of God’s promises to help me stand in faith. Like the one below.

Since my goal today is to also help you teach your children what to do with their negative emotions, find self-control and emotional intelligence… I will add the next picture verse: 

 It may be important to teach them to NOT do naughty things (sin) even if they are furious or sad. I don’t focus on sin but God does want them safe.

If this concept hard for you to implement with your littles let me know. It can be tricky! 

I have 6yo twins and a 10yr old still at home so I realize it’s a process to train children in self-control.

I will add the tactile things I also need to do if I’m overwhelmed with negative emotions. 

I may also journal/beef on paper about a struggle,

blast Kirk Franklin or Andi Mineo music, sing badly and loudly,

go for a walk,

dance with a baby,

or draw something about it. (My drawings look more like flowcharts but that’s ok you get the point.)

Do something with God and pour out those feelings. Getting them out is part of the healing process. Going close to God and talking to Him about how we feel is a part of the process. Then His grace and help are available!!

It’s a good deal. A trade. He takes our yuck and gives us His love.


Verse and link below:

“For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; 

but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, 

yet without sin. 

Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, 

that we may receive mercy, 

and may find grace to help us in time of need.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:15-16‬ ‭ASV‬‬ http://bible.com/12/heb.4.15-16.asv


If you know someone who is struggling please share this post with them and let me know. We all really need each other.

Blessings,

Lois


We had a day of basketball and baseball. I may have cheated because I definitely prayed they would win. Selfish mom did not want to see tears all night! I automatically prayed because the close score surely stressed me out at 8 to 9 points in last 3 minutes of the game.

As you can see below coach Rod got a little tense too 🙂

They were 1 basket apart for much of the half. Too much for mom to watch! I was so grateful when our team got another basket down with 2 minutes to go. Then I relaxed a bit. Then to top it off they got another score and won 8-12.

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The twins of course brought they are sketch pads to the game in homeschool fashion. Ode to Biddles who drew a basketball hoop. His sports commentary. Not sure if he watched at all but that lines up with his strategy at his own peewee games. Still trying to get him to look at the basketball during the game while he’s playing. LOL.

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Biddle’s huddle below with his team and coaches. The are so cute. I mostly enjoyed seeing all the Dads there each week grooming and training their kids for the sport.

An involved Dad leads to a happy kid. Except…the little one I saw crying because he didn’t want to improve his game no matter how hard his Dad tried to gently encourage him. Oh well. Haha

 

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This verse explains how to help our children gain emotional intelligence and resilience. It is not easy in today’s world for our kids to navigate through social media, bullying and peer pressure. By introducing them to the One and teaching them His ways we help them understand who they really are. Not what others tell them. Our kids gain identity and emotional intelligence.

I added the framing verses in Deuteronomy those in the image above to give context. Our prevailing goal is to tightly bond our children to God and his unconditional love and encourage them to focus on his design for their lives.

Then hopefully the world cannot tell them who they are and what they should want. This of course is not a foolproof formula. It’s a relationship.

Children once they get older make choices that are good, bad, horrible and sometimes dangerous.

But….  if they know Him and His ways they may choose to seek to God to help them find their way out of trouble, depression and challenge.

If we as parents teach them… we empower them.

Blessings!

Lois

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 

Impress them on your children. 

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:5-7, 9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/deu.6.5-7,9.niv