Day 11 - Parent's Prayer

Day 11.

The Jamboree is done.

They don't say "Good Bye" to their new friends around the globe, but rather "See Ya Later" or "Till We Meet Again". There is some last minute frantic exchange of contacts, patches and gifts, hug, kisses and tears.

We pray that they've had a dry night. We thank God above for our fantastic crew leaders and international service team volunteers who have toiled and sweated for our youth . We give thanks for this wonderful experience that helps to shape our young adult's minds and souls.

The flight home will be long and they'll arrive late at night. They'll be sad to leave the Jamboree, be happy to sleep in their own beds soon , and be full of the scouting spirit to bring back to their home units and inspire those that follow.

We pray for safe travels and give thanks for the skilled pilots, cabin crew, drivers, and who bring our children and loved ones safely home. Amen

Here is asking God's blessing for safe travel mercies for all scouts traveling home to their destinations! We are sooo looking forward to seeing our kids. God Bless... Safe travels!
Submitted by Lori G.

Day 10 - Parent's Prayer

Today is the last day of the Jamboree.

Our youth will be rushing to take in everything they can, wishing it would last just a few days more, but also wishing for a warm dry bed at home and a long hot shower, perhaps even a hug from Mom & Dad.

Solidarity
The final show and the final day, this will be a tribute to solidarity and friendship all over the world. We will aslo pass the torch to Japan for the 23rd World Scout Jamboree. Great artists will entertain you. When the show is over the night has just begun. Disco tunes will fill the field and obviously there’s only one thing left to do :

Dance!

We pray for dry weather. Amen.

Day 9 - Parent's Prayer

Its Day 9 at the Jamboree and the sunset is near.  Our scouts will be busy spending time with new friends made, exchanging contacts, and planning visits in the future.  There is a new understanding of the world, whether it be about its nature, world economics, the people and cultures, or their own physical abilities and spirituality. They are forever changed.

The story is told that Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the world scouting
movement, closed the first World Scouting Jamboree with the following charge:
(cited here from “A Scout’s Own Service from the Pine Tree Camp”)

Brother Scouts, I ask you to make a solemn choice. Differences exist between the
peoples of the world in thought and sentiment, just as they do in language and
physique. The war has taught us that if one nation tries to impose its particular will
upon others, cruel reaction is bound to follow. The Jamboree has taught us that if we
exercise mutual forbearance and give-and-take, then there is sympathy and harmony.
If it be your will, let us go forth from here determined that we will develop among
ourselves and our boys that comradeship, through the world-wide spirit of the Scout
brotherhood, so that we may help to develop peace and happiness in the world and
good will among men. Brother Scouts, answer me -- will you join in this endeavor?

Native American Prayer for Peace

O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, I raise my pipe to you.
To your messengers the four winds,
and to Mother Earth who provides for your children.
Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect,
and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind.
Let us learn to share all the good things you provide for us on this Earth.

Day 8 - Parent's Prayer

As we head into Day 8, our youth will be participating in a Cultural Festival Day where they can witness traditional song, dance, food, and customs from around the globe. As they explore their differences and common interests we offer this wisdom from the wall of Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta:

The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

Day 7 - Parent's Prayer

Welcome to Day 7 of the Jamboree. Has your scout been Thrifty? Perhaps they've been thrifty with water in the showers and less thrifty on the bank account. Or is it visa-versa?  Being thrifty also extends to how they  spends the most scare resource of all: their time. Was it spent solely in pursuit of elusive patch collections? Did they make friends along the way? Were they able to get out and see even 20% of what the Jamboree has to offer (it's really really big so actually seeing 20% and doing 5% would be good).

A Scout is Thrifty.  A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.

Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character.
--Calvin Coolidge

 

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.
- Woody Allen

"Shall I . . . gather wealth and breed it —

For my children jealously conserve it?

Should my sons surpass me, they won't need it;

Should they not, why then, they won't deserve it."

Chinese Proverb - from Chips of Jade

With money in your pocket, you are wise and you are handsome and you sing well, too.

-Yiddish proverb

Proverbs 10:4-5 (NIV)

Lazy hands make a man poor, 

but diligent hands bring wealth.

He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,        

but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. 

 

Day 6 - Parent's Prayer

It's Day 6 of the Jamboree. The word via texts and emails from our scouts is that their scouting spirit is ON FIRE! I think we can expect to see some great things from our youth as a direct result of this transformative life experience that is a World Jamboree. Today we pray that our scouts can take that scouting spirit and redirect it from helping oneself to helping others.

A Scout is Helpful. A Scout cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.

“Teach Scouts not how to get a living, but how to live.”
Robert Baden-Powell

Father, I thank you for the opportunity to help others. You have sent many people my way throughout the years and I pray that I have made a difference.  Amen.


The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.
~Mother Teresa

Day 5 - Parent's Prayer

Today will challenge the crew with the Quest challenge. It isn't sufficient to complete the course as individuals, but as a whole team.Today would also be a good day to remember those who have physical and mental disabilities. How difficult would it be to run the course on one leg, or blindfolded.

“We must change boys from a ‘what can I get’ to a ‘what can I give’ attitude.”
Robert Baden-Powell

FROM THE INSIDE
I live in a body labelled; 'handicapped'
Stunted legs and arms askew
I live in a body I wouldn't have chosen
But then few of us do.

People say I'm brave
As though bravery were a choice
I learned early not to scream
For mine is an unheard of voice.

The world is competitive
And I'm ill equipped to compete
But I'm no less of a person
Because I am not complete.

I live in a body labelled; 'second rate'
Though I feel second to none
When society knows the difference
Then my battle is won.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs250024.pdf

Day 4 - Parent's Prayer for Sunday

Almighty Lord, our Heavenly Creator,

Bless us with your grace as we place our faith in You.

Lead us on a path of peace and away from evil.

Strengthen us with courage when we are vulnerable.

Provide healing and comfort in times of pain and sorrow,

Reassure us that moments of darkness are often the most illuminating.

Grant us the confidence to trust our instincts.

Impassion us in all that we do and, fill our hearts with love.

Transform our God given intelligence and worldly knowledge

into divine wisdom that shall carry us forward the rest of our years.

Watch over us and allow our light to shine forever.

God bless our parents, siblings, extended families, and all people, friend

or foe. And, God bless the greatest country on earth, the United States of

America.

Amen

Written by Jim Sever

Day 3 - Parent's Prayer for Saturday

As a Venturer, I promise to do my duty to God and help strengthen America, to help others, and to seek truth, fairness and adventure in our world.

Scouts have been in camp 3 nights now, experiencing all the joys and wonders of a World Jamboree. Its been a busy 2 days and with just 8 days to go they're having to prioritize their activities to maximize the fun. It bigger than any of them imagined and still they can't grasp exactly how many scouts 39,000 is. Some of them are getting an idea of just how big the jamboree site is - about 4 miles long and a mile+ wide. Its time to get clean, shower, change clothes and tidy up camp a bit to make the world a better place. Besides, you just never know who's coming for dinner.

Psalm 51:7-12 (New Living Translation)
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.

Day 2 - Parent's Prayer for Friday

It's day 2 at the Jamboree and the crew is quickly finding their groove. The fun is cranking up as they discover more of what the Jamboree has to offer. Perhaps they've even had the chance to arrange guest meal swaps with patrols from far away places.

Simple Blessing
May you walk in Peace,
Live with Love,
work with Joy,
and May Your God go with you.

Day 1 - Parent's Prayer for Thursday

Day 1 of the Jamboree will be a day of wonder and excitement. Everyone will be anxious to get out and start meeting their 39,000 closest friends and neighbors. There will still be a lot to do to get camp set up and the youth and adult crew leadership will have to keep everyone focused.  Being as much of the crew has only been Forming together for a just few days, the Storming phase of team development is likely to make an appearance.

Ephesians 6:1-4 (NIV)
Children and Parents
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."[a] Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Prayer for Strength and Patience

Today our scouts arrive at the Jamboree after many hours of flights and travel. Some have already been busy for a day or two gather in San Francisco, meeting and bonding with new friends. Enthusiasm will run high but tempers may run short as there is much work to be done.

For all this we offer up prayer for strength, physical, mental, and spiritual.
Isaiah 40:29
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

And just for good measure, a dash of Patience:

James 1:19-20
This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.

A student asked Soen Nakagawa during a meditation retreat, "I am very discouraged. What should I do?"
Soen replied, "Encourage others."
(Essential Zen)

Traveler's Prayer

May it be Your will, LORD, our God and the God of our ancestors, that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May You
rescue us from the hand of every foe, ambush along the way, and from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to earth. May You send blessing in our handiwork, and grant us grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. May You hear the sound of our humble request because You are God Who hears prayer requests.

Blessed are You, Adonai, Who hears prayer. (A Jewish Travel Prayer)
O God, You called Abraham Your servant out of Ur and kept him safe and
sound in all his wanderings. If it is Your will, protect Your servants.

Be for us a support when setting out, friendship along the way, a little
shade from the sun, a mantle against cold and rain, a crutch on slippery
paths, and a haven in shipwreck. Bear us up in fatigue, and defend us
under attack. Under Your protection, let us fulfill the purpose for our
trip and return safe and sound to our home. Amen. (A Christian Travel
Prayer)