Thursday, March 24, 2011

Here I go again...

Not quite sure what is happening, but for the 4th year in a row, I am being presented with the opportunity to go to Africa.  The last 3 trips have been to Tanzania.  This trip will take me to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya.  With short layovers in South Africa and Kenya, we will be spending a few days in Zimbabwe, and about a week in Uganda.
This trip will be a scouting trip for Crossroads Community Church.  Our mission outreach strategy as a church is about strategic partnerships.  For us these relationships are all about mutual redemption.  As we partner with local bodies of believers abroad, it is our hope that we provide opportunities to give return on investment not only in this lifetime, but for all of eternity.
Ever since my first trip with other leaders from Crossroads to Mwanza, Tanzania in 2008, God has been doing something in my heart for the people of Africa, specifically up to this point for East Africa.  In 2008 I took part in a Leadership Conference for over 1000 church leaders, pastors, and bishops from over 74 denominations, both in Mwanza as well as a remote conference in Shinyanga, TZ.
Late in 2009 I was given the opportunity to do a solo scouting trip to Tanzania, spending time in Mwanza as well as in southern Tanzania in the mountains of the Iringa District, having opportunity to spend time with Cheetah Development, an economic development organization that is creating businesses in local villages.
Last year I again was privileged to be a part of another Leadership Conference in Mwanza and a remote conference in Musoma, TZ.
This year I will be traveling with another elder from Crossroads.  We will leave the States on July 1st and return on July 13th.  I will be using this blog to record my thoughts and observations leading up to, during, as well as for verbal processing after I return.
Stay tuned as the journey continues...