Quick Update

Tomorrow I head out for Nicaragua.  It promises to be an exciting time.  Please pray for me, the team I will be serving with, and those in Nicaragua that we will be interacting with.  Internet access may be limited during my time there so I hope to send updates once I return stateside.

Orientation - The Second Time Around

I've just completed my second Intern Orientation.  Orientation is always a special time because of the relationships that are formed.  Each Orientation that happens every January and August has 26+ interns from all over the world come to Colorado Springs and spend a week at a retreat center.  While there we learn about world missions, the inner workings of EMI, and we learn about how God has created us for a specific purpose and how we can use our gifts and talents to most glorify Him.  Along with all of this learning there is some time for fun in the form of hikes and games and hang out times.  We spend nearly every waking moment together which means that we grow close in a hurry.  I also believe that since everyone is removed from familiar surroundings that everyone is more transparent with one another.  I've often been asked "If you went through Orientation last August, why are you going through it again?"  With a little smile I say "Yes I'll hear the same things again but it's the people that are most important.  There are life-long friendships that are going to be formed during this week and I don't want to miss out on it."  Here is a picture of all the interns along with a few staff members.

The end of this Orientation was a bit different for me as compared to Orientation last August.  The end of Orientation last August was really tough watching people leave and knowing that I would most likely never see them again.  I guess that hits at the point that people are important to me.  This Orientation was a bit easier on the emotions not because people are less important but because I more fully understand that traveling to distant lands is where these interns need to be.  It is true that I may never see the interns again but I smile to the fact that I was able to share a week with them.  I am excited to see how they are used in the next few months and for the rest of their lives.

Colorado Springs

Often times I have been asked "so what are you doing now?"  It's an excellent question and also a question that the answer did not come to quickly.  For a the last few months I have been facing the question of what to do next.  As I have been thinking and praying about it, I kept getting the feeling that my time with EMI was not over.  I often times try to look down various paths to see what the future may hold.  As I would look down the path of continuing my time with EMI, I would see times of excitement and uncertainty.  Excitement seems to always accompany those within the EMI family.  The interns are always excited about seeing various parts of the world and seeing how they can do tangible things to help the physically and spiritually poor.  The volunteers on project trips get a taste of using their talents to help those less fortunate than themselves.  The project leaders get to see so many different personalities come together and all work side by side towards a common goal.  Project trips are always exciting.  But then comes the uncertainty.  Project leaders typically go on three projects per year.  They normally don't know more than one semester ahead of time where they will be going next.  There is always a sense of uncertainty in the office.  If I did another internship with EMI, I wouldn't know what is next.  I wouldn't know immediately where I would be going.  And on top of that, I would just be delaying the decision of the inevitable: what will I do after EMI?  I don't have a good answer for that question.  But in any case, I have decided to serve with EMI for another internship this time in the Colorado Springs office.  I am really looking forward to my time there.  It will be full of so many new faces but also with plenty of familiar ones as well.  Also I have been extremely blessed with financial support.  Nearly all the funds needed for a second internship have already been pledged.  I take that as further confirmation that this is the direction that I should be heading.