Activities for Older Youth

Teen/Adult Discussion: Strangers, At Home and in Other Homes (Lesson time: one hour, or more)

Preparation: Review the pastor’s resources found in the Week of Compassion Leader’s Guide prior to this discussion for more information to stimulate discussion.

Part One: Read Matthew 25:38.

Ask for initial reactions about what they think the scripture means by the word “stranger.” Can we feel like strangers in our own homes? Ask for examples of experiences when they felt like strangers and what happened or didn’t happen to help them feel more welcome. Jot down key words from your discussion on newsprint.

Part Two: The Golden Rule of Haiku.

Read the following versions of the Golden Rule or give them to the group as a handout. Talk about the similarities of the focus of the Golden Rule and Matthew 25:38. Then ask them to write a Haiku Golden Rule that includes the word “stranger” and some of the words from your discussion. Haiku is a type of Japanese poetry. Each verse is three lines long, and is limited to precisely 17 syllables, divided in this way: Line one: five syllables; line two: seven syllables; line three: 5 syllables.

Golden Rule Samples:

Christianity: In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the law and the prophets. Gospel of Matthew

Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not do to others. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. The Talmud

Islam: No one of you is a believer until they desire for their  brother or sister that which they desire for themselves. Hadith

Buddhism: Hurt not others with that which pains yourself. Udana-Varga

Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do nothing to others which if done to you would cause you pain. The Mahabharata

Part Three: Change My Destiny.

Read the following reflection to the group, or give it to them as a handout and ask someone else to read it aloud. Talk about the writer. Imagine what his/her life is like. How does the word “stranger” apply to this person?

If I could change my destiny

I wouldn’t be a wanderer in

This harsh world.

As a good kid who worked in

The market, selling lemons

To earn his daily bread

I didn’t repeat the cruelties I

Learned from life.

I can feed myself without

Robbing anyone.

I swear I didn’t belong in those

Infamous orphanages

Where I lived since I was a

Boy.

It’s hard to wake up at dawn to

Sell candy in the train.

If I could change my destiny I

Would be somebody,

But since I wasn’t lucky enough

To get a good education

Today I’m called a punk and no

One gives me moral support.

If I had an option I wouldn’t be

A social problem.

Source: Christian Aid, Brazil; From Harvest for the World, A worship anthology on sharing in the work of creation, compiled by Geoffrey Duncan, The Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, Ohio, 2003.

Part Four: Action.

Share the following facts, either on a handout or write them on newsprint. Talk about what might have caused the situations. In light of the Matthew 25:38 scripture and the plight of so many unseen strangers in the world, what are our responsibilities as Christians? Giving to Week of Compassion provides one way to help. Encourage hands-on projects also, such as assembling Gift of the Heart Kits (find instructions online at www.weekofcompassion.org or contact the Week of Compassion office) or volunteering at local shelters or building projects.

Fact: An estimated 100 million children live and/or work on city streets in the developing world. Approximately 75 percent of the world's street children, according to UNICEF, work on city streets during the day, but return home nearly every night. The other 25 percent, sleep under bridges, in doorways and public plazas, and are often the victims of sexual abuse, violence and exploitation, and lack access to adequate health care, nutrition and hygiene.

Fact:  Brazil has approximately seven million children working and living on the streets of its cities.

Fact:  50,000 Afghan children work on the streets of Kabul alone.

Fact:  62% of young people living in Bosnia-Herzegovina would leave if given an opportunity.