Training Update

Thanks for thinking of me during my training on Saturday.  Although I was exhausted by the end of the evening, I had a great time.  The group that I was training was so much fun.  There were two different delegations, one consisting of youth and the other consisting of adults.  About 2/3rds of them had previously been to Kazakhstan, so I had the challenge of trying to make it interesting enough for those that had already been, without totally overwhelming those that had not been before.  It was also challenging trying to break things up enough that it didn't cause people to tune out due to it being four hours in length.  Periodic breaks to play in the gym or ingest caffeine helped.  Also, a stockpile of candy on each table and random snacks seemed to do the trick.

The most enjoyable parts of the training for me were the times when the delegates were divided into groups and they were able to discuss different aspects of the trips.  It was fun to hear those that have been before answering questions and giving advice to those that are preparing for their first trip.  It was fun to listen to the wisdom that was being passed on at each table.  They did such a great job preparing each other as they built relationships with people they might not have met before.

I am very encouraged by the individuals that we have going to Kazakhstan this year.  It will be fun to be in Kazakhstan and watch them touch the lives of the Kazakh people while their lives are also significantly touched by the Kazakh people.

Quick update on Grandma Coggins:  She is no longer in ICU.  They found out that she has pneumonia which was causing her difficulty breathing.  Once things are under control they will transfer her back to the nursing home under hospice care.  Thanks for all the encouraging notes.

Training

Hi everyone!  I have a few updates that you can be thinking about as this weekend begins.  First, my grandma has been in the hospital for several days.  She was having trouble breathing yesterday, but that seems to have gotten much better.  My parents drove out last night and are there with them, which is good. Thanks for lifting her up.  I have been trying to keep Facebook updated for those of you that know her and want to keep updated.

Second, we have a training scheduled tomorrow for the delegates here in Muncie that will be going to Kazakhstan this summer.  This includes about 20 people.  The training will be four hours of information, including some time for team building.  I am excited, but kind of nervous since it is the first time I will be presenting all of this information at one time.  I am looking forward to the discussions we will have.  About 2/3rds of those going on delegations this year have been before, which is exciting.

Third, I am realizing that my departure for Kazakhstan is only 1 1/2 months away.  I have several things to finish up before I leave, including an English curriculum for our summer camps.  I am excited about how it is starting to come together, but have started to realize the amount of time that it will take in order to complete this.  Thanks for keeping up with me.  I continue to be amazed at the ways that I sense God's blessing on my life.

Reflection

Hi everyone.  This blog is going to be several unrelated paragraphs that each share different aspects of life for me at this time.  I am starting to get pretty busy.  I just sent out an email update related to my trip in April, so if you have not received that and would like to ... please let me know.  

I am starting preparations for my return to Kazakhstan in April.  I will be there for four months as many of you already know.  I am getting near the point of purchasing tickets and starting to apply for my visa.  Between this and delegation planning I am keeping pretty busy at work.  I am working on helping to develop a curriculum that we can use in our English classes at our orphanage camps that encourages life skills and problem solving.  We are wanting to have different material for each grade that can build as the children get older.  I'm excited to see how this comes together.

This has been a week of reflection for me.  Last week a friend of mine passed away and I have been in this state of processing it this week.  The memorial service is scheduled for tomorrow and I look forward to being able to celebrate her life with her friends and family.  It brings back memories of others that I have lost in my life and reminds me to cherish those that are currently in my life.

The weather here has been frigid, as it has been in much of the country.  Thankfully, we missed a lot of the bad weather that other States experienced.   Our storm was much better than expected because we were expecting a lot of ice which would have caused power outages.  Instead we received mostly sleet and a few inches of snow.   I worked at home for two days last week due to poor road conditions, but otherwise things were pretty uneventful.

Tug of War

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  Mine was great!  I was able to spend it with my parents and my sister and brother-in-law.  We relaxed and played games for several days.  We didn't have much of an agenda and just enjoyed visiting with each other.  We were even able to get out to PA to see my grandparents.  I feel so blessed that my time with my family was such a refreshing and encouraging time.

At this time of year I sometimes feel caught in a tug of war between what was and what is to come.  2010 was a great year.  I have enjoyed being in Muncie and have found a place to call home here.  I am thankful that I have been given a way to contribute to the work in Kazakhstan while in the States.  It seems like my experience and my giftings have fit well with the current need here.   I am also extremely thankful for the friends that surround me.

Although I look back at 2010 full of thankfulness and good memories, I am even more excited to see what 2011 will bring.  I know that it will bring the chance to not only train delegates and interns here in the States, but also help care for them while they are in Kazakhstan.  I am excited about the four months I will be able to spend in Taraz (April-July) supporting the work Interlink is doing and the staff there.  I am also excited to see how my place in the community here in Muncie will continue to grow during this coming year.

Although I sometimes feel drawn by both the longings of the past and the anticipation of the future, I have been focusing more on the joy of today.  I am enjoying the moments that each day brings me and trying not to live in anything except the present.  Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

Christmas Letter

I just emailed my Christmas letter.  If you didn't receive one, and would like to, let me know and I will add you to my list.  I am guessing that as I compiled my list from past lists there were some people that I accidentally left off.

These last few weeks have been busy, but good.  Yesterday I turned in my final assignment for my class this semester.  I have one final left, but that is all.  I have enjoyed the class as it has given me an overview of different types of diseases that cause a wide range of disabilities.

Work has been going very well.  We are in the midst of beginning delegation planning for 2011.  Team meetings have already begun for the youth delegation and the Savva delegation.  We are still accepting applications and are moving towards forming complete teams.  I thoroughly enjoy this part of my job.  It will be especially fun for me as I will have the opportunity not only to prepare them, but also to see them in Kazakhstan during their delegations.

Another project I have been working on is our yearly Christmas project.  This year we are raising funds to purchase 250 wheelchairs for the people of Kazakhstan.  It has been fun to work on the promotional materials for this and set up Christmas trees to make donation locations Christmassy.

Thanks to all of you that continue to support my work financially and through prayer.  I am very thankful for your partnership in the work continuing in Kazakhstan.