What is an Outtatown Leader?
Ha, I laughed when you asked me what to describe what I do for my work… because that is a hard thing to do. I’ll do my best…
The other day we (my 3 co-leaders and I) laughed as we were driving home in our rental car along the ocean… because this is our job. Not to paint a purely glamorized picture, because along with seeing some of the best parts of Canada and some beautiful other countries, meeting phenomenal people, and learning and growing yourself, it is a lot of work. One of the core components is mentoring, whereby each leader is assigned to meet with students of the same gender on a one-on-one basis over coffee or while hiking or sitting in the classroom after class. There are also assignments to be marked, contact information to be arranged for future travel plans, interpersonal conflicts to manage, card games to play, late night conversations to be had, and adventures of many shapes and sizes. It’s really hard to describe concretely what it is we do, which is actually part of the beauty of the job.
I love the program! I love the opportunities to learn and grow that traveling seem to create. I love working with young people who are excited about life. I love seeing God work and move in the hearts and lives of people, changing them for the rest of their life. After all, it is God who changes people… not Outtatown itself!
Another key component is that the program takes on a different flavour/shape depending on the people involved. Leaders have the opportunity to bring their gifts and share them with the community however possible, which means it ends up looking distinctly unique from one group to the next, one year to the next. Then of course each group of students shape and colour their own community experience as well.
My cautions would be that there are no concrete “work hours”. As a leader I find myself “on call” most of the time, which can be difficult but also just a reality of the job. This commitment also means a sort of “homeless”/transient feeling for two years with no fixed address, which can cause some identity crises, but is also liberating not having to pay rent, shop for groceries and all the other things “grown ups” have to take care of. If the thought of packing up a backpack and moving every week makes your skin crawl, then think about how that will work for you because it is a reality of this position. Flexibility is something that will be about as essential as daily vitamins, as things are constantly changing.
All in all my time as an Outtatown leader (so far) has been an opportunity to refine my gifts, my leadership abilities and even in many ways has served to be a refining of who I am as a person and follower of Jesus. I continue to be honoured to meet the quality of people that I am brushing elbows with, many of whom I consider life long friends! My experiences have been some of the best moments of my life, and some of the most challenging… and lots in between!
by Dana Honderich (former site leader)
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