Tag: IAFR

Posted on

New Office

For the past four-plus years, my day to day IAFR work has been performed in my home office. It went from the corner of our living room to taking over my son’s bedroom when he moved out.

Over the past few weeks, I determined it was time for another move. I appreciate working remotely but having human contact is also good. My two large dogs are not the best conversationalists.

Photo credit: Tim Barnes , IAFR

As of March 11, I now have an office space in the Warehouse District in downtown Peoria, Illinois. A couple of people from my church, have offices there and my wife runs her business from the same building. I am enjoying the “community” aspect and the ability to have separate spaces between work and home.

Posted on

Distracted – Focused

Have you gone through a time where you find yourself distracted by challenges you are facing and then you move from distraction to focus mode, putting energy into trying to solve the challenges.  This seems to be characteristic of my life over the past several weeks..toggling between distraction and focus.  In the meantime, other things are pushed aside…like this blog.

Leading a workshop at the RHP gathering in Sarajevo. Photo credit – RHP Europe

During this period of time, I was able to participate in the Europe Refugee Highway Partnership Roundtable in Sarajevo.  Doug Marshall (IAFR Malta) and I received very positive feedback on our presentation of Best Practices for Refugee Ministry.

I am working the first part of next week from the IAFR Minneapolis office.  I look forward to working with our team there and catching up with some friends as well.  A big focus will be on planning and processes.

The final big news….Spring is showing itself in Peoria…for which I am grateful!

Posted on

Sarajevo

As we move into the unprecedented so-called “Polar Vortex “ here in the Midwest USA, I am in preparation mode.  Next Sunday, I head to Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina to participate in the Europe Refugee Highway Partnership Roundtable. 

Besides spending time with IAFR team members working in Europe, Doug Marshall (IAFR Malta Ministry Leader) and I will be facilitating a workshop.  The Roundtable draws missionaries, church leaders, humanitarian workers and others, who are specifically working with refugees throughout Europe.  They come to learn, to share their experiences and to find encouragement.

But between now and then, there is much to clear from my desk… so back at it.

Posted on

Smile…the Video is Rolling

Some days I spend a lot of time on video chat with various IAFR team members.  Today was one of those days.  Tom Albinson, IAFR President, and I had our twice weekly video call, touching base on our priority lists, items that need our attention, and always keeping our eyes looking forward.  We are amazed at all that is happening in the IAFR world.

I am excited about a new project that Shanna, our leader in Colorado, is putting together.  The project is an apprenticeship program, mainly focused on those who have experienced forced displacement or those who may have difficulty raising financial support to be part of faith-based nonprofit.  The goal is to give them the experience of working with Shanna and IAFR for a year.  We had the chance to work through some of the details and a few of the challenges we will need to address.  The opportunity is very exciting!

Also spent some time meeting with Paul, our IAFR Europe Ministry Leader.  I will be with him and other IAFR ministry team members in Sarajevo in about 10 days.  We will all be participating in the Europe Refugee Highway Partnership gathering, where some of us will also be facilitating workshops.  At the end of the gathering, the IAFR members will be spending an extra day to catch up, encourage each other, and pray for each other.  I am looking forward to being with them.  It was good to hear how things are falling in place for the gathering.

Everyday is a little different.  But I enjoy my connections with our IAFR team, distributed in many places around the world.

So how was your day?

Posted on

The Mundane

photo credit: dreamtime photos

I feel like the picture is a good representation of my day.  There are more mundane but important tasks that need to happen so that our IAFR missionaries can keep helping people survive and recover from forced displacement. 

So today I have been focused on finances, banking, budgets, and insurance.  Lots of fun, I am sure you are saying….but areas that are needed to keep going forward.  And as I was working with our finances, I am reminded of all those who sacrificially contribute to make IAFR and its work possible!  

And I am grateful!!

Posted on

Keeping Me Alive

When we were at the UN gathering in Geneva last June, Tom Albinson and I had the opportunity to attend a discussion/working group on Faith Sensitivity in Humanitarian Spaces.  The session began with a panel member sharing the story of talking with a woman in a refugee camp.  She pulled out her Bible and said, “This has kept me alive”.

Many of us recognize the power of the Word of God.  Unfortunately, many people who have been displaced left their Bible behind in the midst of the circumstances that caused them to flee.  On visits to refugee camps, we are often asked if we can help find Bibles for the people.  And we have made it one of our priorities, with churches and individuals helping to make it possible through their financial support.

Recently, we were able to provide more Bibles for two churches in the Dzaleka Refugee camp with whom we work.  We are also thankful for our partner There Is Hope Malawi, who was able to deliver them to the churches.  May many more be encouraged and strengthened through these gifts of the Word of God.

Posted on

Maximum Flexibility

Beads of sweat were on his forehead and his complexion was pale.  Sitting across from my colleague, it was clear that he was not well.  We were sitting in the Atlanta airport, just hours away from boarding our flight to Johannesburg and onto Malawi.  As we wrestled through next steps, it was clear he could not make the trip and, despite those on the other end waiting to receive us, the best course of action was to postpone and reschedule.  Luckily, Delta was gracious and was able to book us on flights back to our respective hometowns.  After arriving home we found that he was, indeed, quite sick.   Right decision made.

We talk a lot about Maximum Flexibility in the work we do with IAFR and try to approach every situation with that mindset.  We also believe in an active God who directs and guides our steps.  With that in mind, I am thinking there are other items that need to be focused on during this two week period I had set aside for the trip to Malawi.  So today, I am looking over schedules and trying to discern what that might look like. 

Posted on

Holidays (Vacation)

Bus station in Galway City, Ireland – photo credit: Tim Barnes

It’s been quiet here on my blog for the past couple of weeks.  I have just returned from taking a holiday with my wife, Lizz.  The summer into the fall was a busy season, full of challenges.  Having the opportunity to get away and catch our breath was a blessing!  

But next week I will be headed to visit our brothers and sisters in the Dzaleka Refugee camp in Malawi, Africa.  Several of our refugee friends have been in touch and are looking forward to our visit.  I plan to post here and on the Malawi blog during our visit…dependent on access to the internet.  Stay tuned.

Posted on

Raising Money

Okay, I bet you could hardly stop yourself from diving into this post.  If you are like me, you consistently receive solicitations for donations in the mail, on social media, and in person.  And most are really good causes.  It can feel overwhelming.

Well, guess what I worked on today?  Yep, communicating to a group of people who are interested in what I do with IAFR….and asking them to consider financially supporting the work.  I admit it’s not the easiest thing for me to do….especially asking for personal ministry support.  I have a friend who wakes up every day, excited to go ask people for money for good causes.  Yikes…that’s not me.

But we are doing good work.  Impactful work.  And not everyone can show up in refugee contexts, to try to make a difference, to bring God’s kingdom to bear in some very difficult circumstances.  And that takes resources.  And God typically uses people, churches, other organizations to make it happen.

So today, I gave people a chance to jump in…with their resources, prayer, and influence.  So we can continue to help people survive and recover from forced displacement.  

Posted on

Project Proposals – Malawi

Woodworking in the Vocation Skills Training – photo credit: There Is Hope, Malawi

My colleague, Jake Tornga, and I have been working on two new project proposals.  Both are focused on the Dzaleka Refugee Center in Malawi and are working in conjunction with our partner, There Is Hope Malawi. 

One of the ways to help people survive and recover from their forced displacement is to help them develop new capacities.  There Is Hope has created two programs…a Vocational Skills training program and Small Scale Business grants program.  Both are bringing hope and opportunity to refugees and the host community.

We will be presenting these projects to the IAFR US Board next weekend, proposing that IAFR commit to supporting these projects financially and with our presence.  You can pray for wisdom, as the Board considers these proposals.