Choose Your Own Adventure in the Life of a Service Adventurer

Because I am asked, "So what do you actually do..?" so often by family and friends, I've decided to publish a rough schedule of what I do these days. I wanted it to be interesting though and decided to format it like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. If you haven't read these books (you're missing out), they're written to allow the reader to choose the direction of the plot. After every couple of pages you're offered a choice which directs you to a different section of the book. After I finish one adventure, I always go back and try to figure out how to get to all of the other endings.

I've written my daily occupations sort of in the same way. You get some choice in what I do, you are me. I hope you enjoy your adventure in the life of this Service Adventurer!

First off, what day is it? Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri (1) Wed (15) Sat (35) Sun (38)

(1) Your alarm goes off at 6:40. It's not even light outside...

Choose: Snooze for 5 mins (2)  or get up now (3)

(2) You get up after a totally worth it 5 minutes.
Proceed to (4)

(3) Actually this never happens, it's not a real choice. Joke's on you.
Proceed to (2)

(4) Get dressed in the usual work attire - work pants, long underwear, double pair of socks, a t shirt and a jacket. Fix your severe bedhead, find something to eat downstairs, pull on your heavy work coat and boots, then head out the door. 

You drive up Frankstown Hill Road. There might be frost on the windshield or fog hanging in the valley. Cold air blows out of the vents. Eva might teach you some German on the way; she makes you repeat it back even though you have awful pronunciation. You arrive at the farm around 7:30 with enough time to sit around the kitchen table before your work starts at 8. 

Choose: A mug of Earl Grey tea with milk (5) or Coffee (6)

(5) You brew your tea and sit around the big, cluttered kitchen table. The rest of the family is also getting their caffeine fixes and going over the plans for the day. You mostly sit and listen. They may end up telling some story for the last night or from many years ago. By now it's 8 and you should get up and get to work. You pull on gloves and maybe some ear muffs.

Choose: Feed up on the hill first (7) or feed the ducklings first (8)

(6) You fool. Coffee is never better than good black tea.
Get out, or proceed to (5)

(7) (For the record, I almost always do ducklings first but I have to give you some choices....) After filling up with water, you ride the Steiner tractor up the hill where the transportable "chicken tractors" are filled with guineas and ducks (all the chickens actually got moved to the Egg-Mobile). You get feed out of the metal bins and fill up the water buckets. You have a whole view of the valley below now faded into grays and browns now that the leaves have fallen. You sing as you work, mostly hymns but sometimes vocal exercises just to remember your solfege. Your voice soars out into the big sky. "I Owe The Lord a Morning Song" seems very fitting.

You move on to the Egg-Mobile, first scattering feed, emptying the compost can, then checking for eggs in the laying boxes. Some of the hens like to escape which means having to catch them...

Choose: Is it worth your time today? yes (9), no (10)

(8) The ducklings are in the barn close by the house. They need food and water which they happily start feeding on once you give it to them. They're so cute, if only they weren't so scared of you, you could hold them. 

Choose: Are you going to the hill now or to the goats and dogs? hill (7) goats and dogs (11) 

(9) Alright, you grab the net and start trying to corner the rebel birds or hope you get lucky by actually catching then with the net as you chase them. You chase them all over the hill, you might have caught 1 or 2. Good work. 

Choose: Do you want to do the ducklings now or go feed the laying ducks? ducklings (8) ducks (12) 

(10) Eh. I'll do it tomorrow, the hawk can only eat them so fast... 

Choose: Do you want to do the ducklings now or go feed the laying ducks? ducklings (8) ducks (12)

(11) The hungry goats need 2 bales of hay from the barn which you load up on the deck of the tractor. You reward Snowflake and Reagan, the Great Pyrenees guard dogs, with a treat so that they're sure to like you and fill the hay feeders. Fill the water bucket. Give the dogs their food too. 

Choose: Go to the laying ducks (12) or go to the calves (13)

(12) Unlike the chickens, the ducks are shy and won't even come into the coop when you go to collect and feed. The ducks like to hide their eggs in the sawdust so you make sure to check every corner. 

Choose: Do whatever you haven't finished yet - the hill (7), goats and dogs (11), or ducklings (8), calves (13), or if you're finished for the morning feeding rounds proceed to (14)

(13) Your job is to train the little cows to like you so you offer food out of your hand, rub their necks, talk to them, sing to them, and tug on their halter so that they're used to you. Your job is ideal.

My Sweet William and Edith Ann

Choose: Do whatever you haven't finished yet - the hill (7), goats and dogs (11), or ducklings (8), laying ducks(12), or if you're finished for the morning feeding rounds proceed to (14)

(14) You find Rachel (your supervisor, fool) and get an assignment from her. If it's a nice day you might be out in the garden clearing the beds as the cold rolls in or setting up fence for the goats. If it's rainy or just cold you might end up preparing food in the kitchen or putting books on the newly constructed book shelves. Your job is to do anything that needs done. You watch the clock as the time nears noon, it's time to go home.

Someone finds time to drive you down to the house where you fix a lunch of leftovers, journal a bit, get distracted on Facebook/Snapchat, and change out of your chicken poop covered farm clothes. By 2 it's time for New Day.

Proceed to (16) unless it is Friday in which case proceed to (34)

(15) Your alarm goes off at 7:15 and you remember that it's Wednesday, you get to sleep in....

Get up and get dressed in the usual work attire - work pants, long underwear, double pair of socks, a t shirt and a jacket. Fix your severe bedhead, find something to eat downstairs, pull on your heavy work coat and boots, then head out the door. 

Eva drives to Johnstown Christian School, where she works with the preschool. Rachel is there to pick you up because she drops off her four kids at the school on Wednesday because of scheduling. She then drives you back to the farm through the twisting back roads, conversing tiredly about the past night or about any number of things. You don't arrive at the farm until 8:30 which means to fulfill your 4 hours, you have to stay a little later past noon, less break for you. 

Proceed to (5) (and sorta ignore the exact times that would apply to other weekdays, it's Wednesday after all)

(16) Though New Day work begins at 2, we usually get headed out the door around 2:02 to walk the short distance past the neighboring house and then across the street. From 2 to 2:30 you take time to review your lesson plans with Eva, get something together for the activities today, maybe make a trip or 2 upstairs to get something from the craft room. 

At 2:30, the staff, which really means Service Adventure, Trista (former SA and your supervisor), Wanick, and maybe Dan or Tara, meet in the big room for devotions. Of course devotions don't begin until 2:45 or so. You all joke around, update everyone on announcements, talk about the kids that are about to arrive etc. I'm not sure why this is considered work.... After Wanick's devotion and prayer, it's time to go pick up the elementary kids in the vans. 

Choose: Do you want to go on a van run today? yes (17) no (18)  

(17) You ride to the school with one of the adults driving and wait for the New Day kids to emerge from the dominating, concrete school building. They hop in happily and you ask them about their days then listen to their replies. You remind them to buckle their seat belts. Then you remind them again, then again, then you demand it of them until they comply. You try  to think of things to keep them occupied talking about until you get back to the building. 

Proceed to (22)

(18) (This is what you normally do - let the other SAs ride the vans since they actually enjoy it.) It's now 3 and the hour that lies ahead has earned a reputation for being the "Evil Hour". The middle and high school students are already coming in loudly through the front doors, mostly headed to the gym. The little kids won't be here until close to 4, and there is little program until then. Your success engaging with the big kids and being helpful, hinges on your outgoingness.

Choose: Pretend you're an extrovert and go watch the big kids that are goofing off in the lounge room (19), find something that needs to be done that doesn't involve people (20) or go play basketball in the gym (21)

Good Luck.

(19) Things go more or less well. You get some boys to put away the phones they know they are not supposed to have, you engage in conversation, help start a few games going. You're awkward as ever but at least the big kids don't hate you.

Proceed to (22)

(20) You might find some wayward craft supplies that needs to go up to the craft room (where it's quiet...) or wash some dishes in the kitchen. If it's Thursday you can prepare for the Kitchen Club that you lead by setting out materials. The Evil Hour passes slowly but eventually you hear the little kids shouting in the hallways and you know it'd safe to emerge.

Proceed to (22)

(21) Did you really think you were going to play basketball with these high school boys? You walk into the gym, stand there for a few seconds and then turn around and walk out. 

Choose: Watch the kids in the lounge (19) or find something to do somewhere else (20)

(22) The little kids swarm into the gym which is impressive since there really are only about 10 of them. They usually demand to play jump rope then argue over whose turn it is. You only have to keep them occupied until the meal though.

Everybody eats in the tables in the gym. You sit with them, and sometimes you eat some fruit or drink chocolate milk with them, but you're going to eat in another 3 hours anyways so don't eat the whole meal. The kids' table conversation can range from weekend activities to elementary school politics. It really is very entertaining. The timer rang! Time for the next thing.

Choose: if it's Thursday (23), if it's Monday (26), or if you help clean up after the meal (24)

(23) It's Kitchen Club Day. The same kids always choose to be part of it. You guide them through reading your instructions, helping them know the difference between a TABLEspoon and a TEAspoon, reminding them, "No, you can't taste that yet", and then again "No, not yet" until the time is up. They have made cookies, pancakes, tea (not their favorite...), and pudding popsicles. You scramble to clean up after their messes before Homework Time begins.

Proceed to (25)

(24) Wash the dishes. Wipe tables. It's quieter in the cramped kitchen anyways. 

Proceed to (25)

(25) It's Homework Time, though most of the kids waste their short time either a) complaining about homework or b) being distracted from homework so how much homework actually gets done is hard to tell. The class has been focusing on math skills this month so you've been helping one fourth grade boy get his multiplication down. You've promised him a small pack of Gobstoppers for every 6 flashcards he finishes. He always requests that it be every 5 today. You tell him "no, every 6" everyday. He's a smart kid, though not motivated in the slightest (except for the Gobstoppers I guess). You watch him figure out the hard questions as he converts *6 problems into *12 problems and adds and subtracts to find the quotient he doesn't know (though he totally did the exact same one yesterday). 

The time ends and it's time for Bible class. You teach a class with Eva, and you have 6 kids. If they don't behave, you send them on a "Break" so they can think about their actions. Commonly you have to send out at least 1 if not 2 kids on breaks for complaining, talking, yelling or any form of disrespect. 

You stumble through teaching memory verses, reading Bible stories, explaining lessons that apply to them, making crafts, acting out stories, every day remembering how you actually have no teaching experience and you're only 18. 

Last in the day, you dim the lights and lead a check in with any kids that haven't been picked up early or who aren't on breaks.... You ask them to sit in stillness just for a bit (a challenge for sure) while you play a Voces8 song (yes, you read that right). You ask about their days and hope they feel loved.
Proceed to (27)

(26) The whole group now has Bible time. Mondays don't have scheduled Bible classes or Homework time. The whole group plays a game or gets to go tear around the play ground down the street. You like to run around with them, playing tag in the cool fall air.
Proceed to (27)

(27) After 5:40, it's all over, the kids get rounded up ans headed home, you and your gang leave too.
Where are you off to?
Choose: Mon (28) Tues (29) Wed (30) Thur (28)

(28) Hooray for some more free time! Until 7:30, you're as free as bird. You journal, do some laundry maybe even call a friend, that is, if you're not on cooking duty.....
Proceed to (31)

(29) It's host family night! You get picked up by Rachel (not the same Rachel from the farm.... it's confusing I know) or John to spend the evening in their home. You show up as they're preparing supper, you might help set the table, get asked about your week or any number of things. Supper is always something appreciated - salad with good toppings, soup, fried tofu, lentils and rice or something of the like. The meal over, you move to the living room to watch funny, often political YouTube videos or to talk about something stimulating. The chill evening with little responsibility is very welcome.
You get home by 9:30 and spend your evening however you want to.
Choose: Go to bed (45) or stay up late talking with someone in the unit (44)

(30) Off to Bible Study at church. There's unit discussion to be had on the dark van ride over. What are the week plans? Is it ok to schedule this here? Should we eat together on Saturday? Is the cook ok with that? What are the plans for the weekend? These kinds of conversations never end and are critical for the community.
You arrive and find a place at the table among the church. Yay socializing.
You later will sit at the big table for a discussion on one of the Parables. Ideas and interpretations are bounced around. You mostly listen, take notes, and mess with the pens.

You're happy to go home after a long day.
Choose: Go to bed (45) or stay up late talking with someone in the unit (44)

(31) Supper time! Supper is one of the times the whole unit is just together. You can talk and catch up on the day, talk about plans for the next week, tell stories, and never lack of anything to laugh about. Sometimes you have guests over. 

Supper in the house (though without Krista and Leah) From left: Eva, Me, Trista (a New Day coworker and former SA), Abby, Stephanie (church friend), Wanick (New Day coworker), Jonathan, Evan. 

Choose: Mon (32) or Thurs (33)

(32) Worship Component Night. You'll spend time worshiping as a unit, singing, praying, discussing, anything the person who plans it decides.
Afterwards, it's late in the evening
Choose: Go to bed (45) or stay up late talking with someone in the unit (44)

(33) Leaning Component Night. People in the unit take turns planning what you all learn. You might end up learning about dance, photography, other religions, life skills, anything.  

Afterwards, it's late in the evening
Choose: Go to bed (45) or stay up late talking with someone in the unit (44)

(34) There's no New Day on Fridays so Leah and Krista often plan alternative service for the unit. Often you end up doing chores around the house - gardening, food processing, cleaning, repairing, music preparation for church, prayer. Sometimes you'll end up at someone's house doing chores or in a retirement home visiting with the residents. Compared to the high stress of New Day work, Fridays are a nice way to end the week.
No common meal tonight but there never ceases to be things going on. Bake some bread, watch a movie, journal, chill, go to some event in the community. Don't worry you can sleep in tomorrow. :)
Choose: Go to bed (45) or stay up late talking with someone in the unit (44)

(35) No alarm rings this morning, you wake up naturally around 9. The whole day stretches before you. Saturdays are defined by their lack of program. What will you do?

Choose: Get up and bike to yoga (36) Get up and have a slow morning (37) or sleep in some more (just reread 35)

(36) You suit up in the most athletic wear you own, grab some breakfast, a helmet, some gloves and bike. The mornings are often damp and chilly. Fog hangs over the fall ridges, the sky is gray, the city is quiet. You bike through downtown across the brown, shallow rivers embanked by concrete ramps. 

Your host mom teaches yoga and she greets you warmly at the entrance of the art center. She lets you take her class for free. Actually, you know next to nothing about yoga but you participate in the class, just doing what Rachel instructs. The engagement in your body feels good; the movements are not what you commonly do in everyday life. You feel the many stretches down your legs and back. It's good for you. 

You head home in time for lunch. 

Proceed to (37)

(37) You can do anything! I know you'd like the choice but it's easier to just list it all - make bread, journal, blog, write letters, practice guitar, wash dishes, go shopping with the unit, go hiking, go grocery shopping (if you're on cooking), fold laundry, read, practice music, go to a community event, literally anything you want to. 

The gang at the Christmas tree lighting parade

Before you know it, your Saturday/Sunday is over
Choose: Go to bed (45) or stay up late talking with someone in the unit (44)

(38) You wake up to a late alarm. Time for church. Pick out one of your dresses and fix your hair. Eat breakfast and you're off. You usually get there early to work on music stuff even if you're not helping with the songs. Soon people start arriving.
Choose: Be social and go strike up a conversation with somebody (39) or sit on your pew and avoid people (40)

(39) After the morning greetings, the service begins, proceeds and ends. You head downstairs for snacks.
Choose: Will you eat a donut? yes (41) no (42) 

(40) Ok, I don't actually do this, but I do think about doing it.....
Proceed to (39)

(41) You fatty.
Proceed to (43)

(42) Good for you!
Proceed to (43)

(43) There's a Bible Study and maybe someone will take you out to lunch afterwards, otherwise you're happy to go home too.
Proceed to (37)

(44) You stay up late in the hang out room. You brought your journal so you can convince yourself you're being productive but in reality you're too distracted by conversations of ethics, stories from our homes, debate about politics, discussing cultural differences and so on. You tell yourself it's time for bed soon but end up staying up past 11.
Proceed to (45)

(45) You get into your bed and snuggle under the covers because it's a little cold in the old house. You set your alarm for the next morning, maybe swipe through Snapchat one last time and finally turn out the light knowing that tomorrow will hold another adventure, after all, that is why they call it Service Adventure.