The Concept of a Calling

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of a calling. I believe everyone, yes everyone, has a calling. I believe God put each of us on earth for a purpose - no exception. That doesn't mean discovering or fulfilling your individual calling is easy, in fact it is quite the opposite. I believe callings are revelaed in quite promptings from God (almost whispers), they require obedience even when they don't make sense or are unpopular, they often bring with them a burden. There is a book titled, "Answer Your Call." I read this book in graduate school...one of the few for fun. I picked it up again recently. There was a quote in there that I can relate to. The author says, "Responding to your call means accepting the burden that will set you free." Burden and freedom? Can the two co-exist? They seem paradoxical. When you have heard the call and respond, you understand. It is a burden that brings freedom, it is freedom that comes along with a burden. I feel both simultaneously, but yet, I consider myself one of the lucky ones. So many people spend their lives wondering what their purpose is? I don't wonder. I'm living it. It isn't easy and there are plenty of days that I long for "normal," but at the core of my being I wouldn't have it any other way. I am enjoying living the great adventure of life and I'm still discovering where my calling may lead next...

The Valentine's elf lives on...

I may be in a new community and away from the one I spent nine years in where everything was so familiar. Though I'm still making friends and didn't even know where a flower shop was in my new town until yesterday - I kept my annual Valentine's elf rose delivery tradition. I knew five single ladies at work that I thought would appreciate a rose and being told they are special. Turns out, my hunch was right. Three of the five women got teary-eyed when I gave them their rose. All of them displayed them proudly on their desk and soaked up the attention it got them.

I was only sorry I couldn't deliver roses to the approximately 15 women I had in the past years. I called one of them to say, "Happy Valentine's Day!" She said that the day before V-day she started to get sad because she knew I wouldn't be coming by to deliver a flower to her. I received an email from a friend and former co-worker who knew I delivered flowers every year on this day to single women in her building. She took it on herself to give them a card because she wanted to make sure they were acknowledged on this day - so the Valentine's elf is still alive in KC even though I'm not there. Today, I got an email from one of the ladies. She said she really missed receiving her flower from me yesterday. The day just wasn't the same without it, she didn't even know how much she looked forward to it until it didn't happen. All these stories the good and bad encourage me to keep the Valentine's elf alive. Wherever I am in the world on Feb. 14, you can guarantee that I am acknowledging women and the special beauty they offer the world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tribal Welcome

This was the welcome we received at one of the villages in Papua, Indonesia. This went on for nearly an hour - who has that much energy? I was told they aren't used to getting visitors (we came in by helicopter seen in the background) so it was a pretty big deal to see us. My favorite part is the yelp that sounds like a bird, you can hear it faintly in the background. What an unforgettable experience! What an exciting adventure! I am privileged to live a National Geographic lifestyle!

Last minute change

Well, while I was on the whirlwind tour the violence in Kenya did not cease, instead it escalated. We decided to change the conference location to Uganda. My assistant has been working like mad to get all the details in place. I, however, still need to stop in Nairobi to do annual personnel evaluations. In order to fit that in I have to leave earlier than expected. That means I have even less time at home - a total of 9 days for the entire month of February. Poor Kenyon!

This trip will be a little over two weeks. I won't return to the States until early March. If you'd have asked me a year ago if anyone can travel too much, I'd of said, "too much travel, what's that?!" I didn't think it was possible. I've quickly discovered, it is. I am officially traveling too much. I'm actually looking at ways to lighten my travel load. I pray I am successful in accomplishing this soon.

Whirlwind tour

I just returned from a whirlwind tour of Asia (beginning in Africa). In 21 days, I visited Uganda, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and India. Whew! The longest I stayed in any one hotel was two nights. I took 31 airplanes and was in countless time-zones. Though the trip was absolutely exhausting, it was also completely unforgettable. I can't possibly share all of the stories from the trip, but I just had to share this picture.





















This man greeted us at one of our stops. He lives in a remote village in the interior of Indonesia in the area of Papua (different than Papua New Guinea). There are two options to reach the village; Option One: trek through dense jungle along steep mountain ranges for days, or Option Two: take a helicopter. We chose to ride in a heli (my first helicopter ride). I've only seen men like this on National Geographic specials, never in real life - until now. He's got all the accessories - dreadlocks, face paint, the pig tusk through a giant hole in his nose, beaded necklaces, his spear, and yes, the most important accessory of all, the penis gord. It was described to me as "accentuating his manhood." I imagine it can't be comfortable. The killed a pig in our honor, gutted it and opened it up for cooking in the hot rock oven. What an experience! I can hardly believe I lived it!

I visited this area because these rural people, who were previously so isolated, are dying in mass from AIDS. It is estimated that they will loose an entire generation to this disease. We aim to do something about that and will begin work in these villages this year. I will likely return in October for a scheduled training event. Simply unbelievable