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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. 

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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.

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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.  

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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.

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Planning and Preparing

photo credit: Tim Barnes – IAFR

Today was one of those days that focused mostly on planning and preparing.  A couple of major events are on the horizon which require work ahead of time.  In just a couple of weeks, the Board of IAFR will be meeting in Minneapolis for our annual face to face.  We normally meet each month by video conference call, but we always look forward to our time together in person…sharing meals, hearing how God has been moving through IAFR, spending time praying over the needs and people of IAFR, and looking ahead to how God might be moving in the future. The weekend together is always a rich time of community and encouragement.  But….it requires preparation, which will be the focus of the next few days.

Also coming up is my next trip to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi.  I will be traveling with our East Africa ministry leader, Jake Tornga.  We will be sharing more as the trip gets closer, but today was buying plane tickets and putting information together for the Malawian visa application.  There is a lot of pre-work but it is always worth it.  

And finally, we are adding another teammate to our IAFR US Service team.  April will be joining us in a couple of weeks to assist the Executive Team, so today also included preparing for her arrival.  We are very excited and know that she will have a positive impact.

So my desk reflects a lot of moving parts happening in IAFR.  Glad you all are along for the ride!!

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Meetings

Starbucks, Elgin, IL – photo credit: Tim Barnes – IAFR

One of the things I appreciate about my role at IAFR, is that I can work from nearly anywhere.  Today was a road trip to Wheaton IL, to meet with our finance team at Cedarstone Partners.  As IAFR continues to grow in team members and opportunities, we need a good infrastructure that makes it possible for our organization and teammates to flourish.  Cedarstone is helping us with that.

Next on the agenda is connecting with a former colleague to catch up and share what is happening around the globe.  In the meantime, the picture shows my afternoon office.  I appreciate being fully caffeinated!!

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Post Conference

IAFR Staff 2018 – photo credit: Tom Albinson – IAFR

So much of my time these past few weeks has been in preparation for the 2018 IAFR Conference, the annual gathering of our global staff.  Despite a hiccup or two, the week went well.  Conversations, worship and devotional teaching, training and discussion sessions, times of prayer, plus fun activities led to a week of refreshment, challenge, and encouragement.  Our growing team was represented by people from the U.S., Canada, Iraq, Philippines, Somalia, Scotland, and South Africa.  What an exciting, diverse team.  

The challenges remain large but I believe we left encouraged and ready to press on.  Now back to the daily grind of living the Kingdom of God among those who have been displaced.

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Soul

Laughter even in challenging places – photo credit: IAFR

In his book called Soul Keeping, John Ortberg writes, “ In the book of Exodus, God says to his people, ‘You shall not a oppress a stranger; you know the soul of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.’ “  He goes on to write, “Everybody has a soul.  We demean people when we forget they have the depth and dignity of a soul.”

Powerful words for a divisive and rhetoric filled world.  I believe that it is easy to demean and vilify when we see people as “other” than us…when we forget they have a soul like us.  Part of our role at IAFR is to help re-humanize those who have been forcibly displaced, to help people see the “soul” of the individuals.  May we see people as God sees them!

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Going, Going, Gone

Wow, where did July go? 

And I cannot believe that I have not blogged since early July. 

Here are some things from this month:

– Came home sick from our meetings in Geneva, Switzerland.  Feels like I have been working the whole month to get back to full health.

– Spoke at two churches in Peoria

– Shared at a gathering in Milwaukee

– Networked with a couple of new organizational connections, that might lead to further involvement together in the refugee space

– On a personal note, celebrated my father-in-law’s 80th birthday with lots of family including my son who was visiting from the San Francisco area

What’s ahead…

– I am speaking at another church this weekend in Peoria (Second Chance Church)

– The annual IAFR conference is less than two weeks away.  We will be gathering just south of Minneapolis/St. Paul for a few days of refreshment, worship, sharing, and learning.  It will be the largest IAFR gathering to date, with nearly 25 staff plus children.  We are really looking forward to this time.  Keep praying for us as final preparations are being made.

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What Day Is It?

What a whirlwind of a week.  After arriving home last Sunday from our meetings in Geneva, I was anticipating a day of rest and recovery.  Instead, I woke up the next morning with a congested chest, a fever, and a foggy head.  There may have been some jet lag in there as well.  And that was most of my week.  Not really knowing what day it was.  

In the middle of it all,  I knew I was scheduled to speak 3 times in the upcoming weekend.  So, I worked hard to get better, prepare to speak, and try not to give my illness to the rest of the family.   I made it through the weekend with a very scratchy and funny sounding voice….and am thankful that we had some great services at Richwoods Christian Church in Peoria Saturday and Sunday.  My topic was what I have learned about Hope from working with Refugees.  It also provided an opportunity to share the work of IAFR.

My wife and I are off to Milwaukee later this morning, where we will be sharing with a house group this evening.  We are looking forward to it.  By the way, it’s Monday, right?