I was asked to write a reflection of our week at colour conference-- answering specific questions throughout. Maybe this will give you a little slice of what I do with my time at Hillsong College.
Grace & Peace
Sarah
Colour Conference was unique to Carson Stobbe and I, as we saw the beauty of womanhood through spongy eyes and lips. Our body was roofed in thick layers of fleece and a bright poly cotton blend. The 5 pound smile permanently displayed on ‘our’ faces welcomed cuddles from child and woman, Fijian, African, Dutch, American, Kiwi, Ozzie, German, and the like. Our focus was fun although our vision was lacking, not because we’d perished from the smell of our sweaty descendents, but because of the concave plastic shielding our eyes from the sites of stairs, narrow hallways, and hurried delegates.
Max and Melody is truly a world of its own. It is a kind of cartoon land, and it is easy to become spellbound by its repetitive cuddles, high fives, and giggles. Body language is the only form of communication in M&M land, and although it is worth 55% of all communication for humankind, it makes conversation a bit dull…unless of course, I’m interpretive dancing—then it’s legitimately the best conversation of the day.
I’ll admit it, 2 people dressed up as mascots can be a little creepy.
No one knows who we really are, and when women ask my helpers if the unusually tall Melody is actually a girl, it doesn’t help when their response is, “Of course Melody is a girl!” The women immediately assume that vague response is code for, “I can’t tell you because it is really a boy inside those pigtails and princess waves.” Some women create an awkward wall between the unknown (me) and the target (themselves). But since my job is to bring fun, I actually hide from them before they can even express their fear verbally. When they see how silly it looks for a 6 foot cartoon character to hide behind a pillar, they come out of their shell and laugh a little. Mission accomplished. I can move on knowing that I haven’t scared anyone. It’s all in keeping character. If an 8 year old were told she was feared, she would probably run and hide as will. It puts things into perspective.
Those inside Max and Melody are sweaty, tired, and sometimes dehydrated. Within 10 minutes my entire back was laced with sweat. It doesn’t matter how little you wear underneath, or how often you take a break, sweat is inevitable. During the first week of Colour the sweat didn’t bother me so much; but by the beginning of the second week I was tired of smelling like a hockey locker room. I didn’t want to be high energy anymore, and I certainly didn’t want to cuddle kids who would test my balance all day by hanging on the nearest appendage. I was done with 4 layers. There were times when my attitude was less than willing to be the face of Hillsong Kids; and then God would remind me that it is my turn now to be the change, and even if I didn’t get to be in all the sessions, because of what we’re doing, a women feels comfortable leaving their child with us so she can spend time with God; it’s all worth it when God reminds you of your importance. Every piece has a place.
Max and Melody have a sparkle in their eye for bit of mischief and a lot of love. The blend is fiercely appropriate for the atmosphere of Hillsong Kids and I feel that as the heart and soul of Melody, it was my privilege to bring this personality to life. I wanted to be seen, but I only wanted the best kind of attention—the kind of attention an 8-year-old girl longs for. The kind of attention that reminds a little girl she is princess, a marvel who is fearfully and wonderfully made. I wanted to remind women of the innocence of their youth, and I wanted to give them a moment of childhood if their young life had been somehow robbed.
