The Weekly Wrap-Up: June 26-30, 2023

Friends!

You probably heard Greenwood mentioned in the news this week. And indeed, my town had a slight tornado situation on Sunday. I actually spent the duration of it in the office working on other things. We were fine. Actually, HQ grounds had more damage from the storm on Thursday than the one on Sunday. It did cut into the work wee a bit, but we all hung out together in the hall away from the windows. 

When we weren't dodging the wind, we were trying not to breathe in smoke. That stuff was pervasive, and I have had an off and on headache all week. I did end up taking one morning off because I just could not be outside anymore. 

For the rest of the week, I continued my work on English. I was also asked to sing at the intern chapel, so I did that on Wednesday. We did a couple of new songs that made me feel like a Boomer. They were really nice to sing and harmonize with, though. 

I'm trying to think of anything else to talk about. It was a pretty standard week, weird weather notwithstanding. I have doggos next week, so I'm going to do some packing and sleeping this weekend to prepare. I hope your holiday is fulfilling.

Bye!

The Weekly Wrap-Up: June 19-23, 2023

The Big Reveal!

People keep asking me how I feel about the reno, and it's really hard to separate it from the chaos of the last two months. I do think it looks good, but you know how I feel about change. 

It was more English this week along with some side projects. One big thing that ate into our time is that we had three (3!) chapels. On Tuesday, we heard from Michelle Ule. She has written a book about Lettie Cowman. I am working my way through it, but I am already sure it's a great read. You can order yours by calling OMS and asking for Lydia or by following the link to Amazon. 

Our third chapel, on Thursday, was for the benefit of the Board. (Yep. Board meetings this week. I want no part of those.) There was a short devotional and then a service about Stanley and Juanita Tam and their contributions to OMS. Then everyone moved to my hallway to check out the new digs. I hosted the Zoom meeting and then hid in my office. 

It's the second chapel, on Wednesday, where I want to focus. We do a prayer chapel every month that centers on a different ministry or region each time. Since we had the Board in (technically two Board, both Global and U.S.), we were praying for the top opportunities and challenges in each region. We split the world into four: Latin America/Caribbean, Asia/Pacific, Europe/Middle East, and Africa. I wanted to share some of those prayer requests with you (without disclosing any security concerns) so that you can pray more specifically for OMS ministries around the world. 

Latin America/Caribbean

• The Circle of Silence in Mexico has become an area of focus in the last year. There are many historical and social reasons for this moniker, but it has remained a largely un-reached region of Mexico.
• Ivonne is a missionary from Colombia that is being sent to Mexico. This is such a cool partnership, and it's so encouraging to see mission fields send their own missionaries.
• The resident missionaries need personnel who can focus on coordinating teams to the area. 

Asia/Pacific 

• The Japan Holiness Church is aging. In fact, the whole population is aging. What young people there are tend not to be interested in spiritual things.
• There are 10 missionary units who have applied to work in Japan. Pray for funding, visas, approvals, and welcome.
• There are amazing opportunities for church multiplication in so many countries - we just need people. 
• Central Asia is reopening its seminary; this is HUGE. 
• With opportunity comes obstacles - it has become nearly impossible to get people or funds into several countries. 

Europe/Middle East

• Opportunities abound amidst new fears that have arisen in the last few years. 
• We have business as mission needs in Spain and Hungary. 
• In some cases, the growth has happened so quickly that it has become difficult to define a united goal and purpose. Pray for more deliberate action versus the spaghetti model.

Africa

• Do you speak Portuguese? Do you want to learn? We need people for our Bible school in Mozambique. 
• Approximately 70 new training centers are opening this month and in July. These centers train evangelists and church planters. 
• Poverty is a huge challenge. We need people who can provide skills training. 

That's what I've got for you this week. I hope your weekend is amazing.

Bye!

The Weekly Wrap-Up: June 12-16, 2023

Yes, I was hearing this all week. Thanks for asking. 

It's fine. It will be done next week. It'll be fine after that. 

Right?

Anyway, I'm still working on English. It is progressing fairly well. I'm ready to be done with it, though. 

I don't have much else to talk about this week. We had a ton of missionaries here from around the world for meetings. I don't have much to do with it, but you're always going to be effected in some way or other. It's nice to see people you only hear about every so often. 

I think that's it. Take care of yourselves. 

Bye!

The Weekly Wrap-Up: June 5-9, 2023

Well, there are fewer boxes outside my office. Some of the walls are painted. I think the table in the conference room has been put together, but I haven't actually checked. Apparently, some of the countertops came warped. Did I mention all of this is supposed to be done by June 22?

Yep.

Whatever. It will get done when it gets done. I'll post pictures when that happens. 

In the meantime, no one but those of us who actually work in this hallway are allowed to enter. Not that it's enforceable, but the effort is appreciated. My suggestion that this be the status quo for the hallway was not. Worth a try.

I'm still publishing English booklets. I have uncovered a few more systemic issues, so we're working on clearing those up. 

Summer is typically the month when we have lots of work coming in. Conversely, my team tends to be doing summery things and isn't available as much. It reverses in Winter. There are probably many reasons for this. But it does make life interesting since I'm the only one in the office every day. Juggling priorities becomes ... difficult.

But we persevere. All the people are coming in this weekend for Missionary Council next week. I am minimally involved, which is fantastic. But it still throws off the groove.

Name that movie!

Okay, that's it.

Bye!

The Weekly Wrap-Up: May 20 - June 2, 2023

Hidey ho, neighbors! How was your Memorial Day? I made a somewhat last-minute decision to go up to my parent's place for the weekend. I'm glad I did. We had a lovely time. 

Of course, this was a shorter week. But that by no means stopped people from adding projects to my list. My now incredibly long list. And everything is a priority. Shocker. 

But the best way out is always through. I do a little bit here, a bit there, and eventually, I'll be able to cross something off my list. Is that the best way to get things done? No idea. But it's how I'm doing things. It certainly keeps life interesting. And probably feeds my ADD. 

Anyway, I'm working on publishing English C and Tamil booklets. The work outside my door is still ongoing, though it seems to be moving at a slower pace. But there's only so much time because the Board arrives at the end of June, and missionary council is the week before that. 

I'm sure it will be fine. 

Don't forget to thank those who sacrificed for our freedom - whether they be human or divine. 

Bye!