The Box

As we enter into the last week of training here at MTI in Colorado Springs, we thought we would update you on some of the events of the last week. It has been a challenging, insightful, and encouraging time and this past week brought about several new training elements.  There is one event that we would like to share with you in particular.  This event is one we will probably remember for years to come.  The exercise was called “The Box.”  This exercise was a simulation in which we were challenged to examine ourselves when put under extreme stress and adversity.  The whole premise of the simulation was completely factious and as participants we were asked to try to be as realistic and honest as possible in order to gain from the experience what was hoped.  The simulation started out by splitting the MTI class into two groups.  No words, or directions were given just a silent command and off we went, lined up in a straight line down to the cellar of the building.   At that point the two groups were directed into two separate small plywood boxes (separated from spouses) with very little ventilation and no light.  (All cell phones, pocket knives etc were left behind.)  The boxes were extremely small and you could barely stand up let alone sit in the space.  In fact I (John) could not stand up straight and was forced to hunch over for the full simulation.  The instructor then informed us that we were aid workers in an African nation and we were caught in the middle of a rebel attack.  We had escaped the immediate danger and fled to a near by school where we had found a small space in the basement to hide out…. No communication, food, or water would be given.  For the next hour of the simulation we were bombarded with loud gun and plane sounds and given specific decisions to make concerning our “simulated” situation.  The activity started off kind of light hearted but soon we became extremely uncomfortable and the decisions we had to make become more and more realistic and more and more emotional.  From deciding as a group which 4 people would have the opportunity to make an escape to safety on an aid helicopter to which 4 individuals would be volunteered into the hands of the rebel soldiers.   Over the course of the hour we were forced to deal with multiple physical discomforts; emotional fears concerning family separation, life decisions, and captivity; and the stress of making split decisions amidst a group of differing opinions.  The simulation was definitely a memorable exercise and it brought out many fears as well as tears concerning the “what if’s” of cross-cultural ministry.  God has certainly blessed this opportunity to learn through “The Box” experience and we look forward to the final week of training coming up.