Design for Life

In a few hours we will be going to Skangal for our Design for Life Weekend. We have 13 delegates who will be spending time listening, sharing and meditating on God's design for them. I'm part of the leadership team, which includes Sarah, Dace, Linda, Guna (Riga 2 corps leader), Ilona (R2 corps leadership team) and a translator. This is the first time we have joined together as a team and the first time we have done this program on our own. I'm feeling a little pressured because I haven't had adequate preparation time for my part. Last year this retreat resulted in several people making decisions for officership and other significant life choices. If you think of us anytime this weekend, would you pray for us?

And it's been a long time since I've had any comments here, I wouldn't mind hearing from you!

Field training in Seda, Drusti and Liepa

Last weekend was our first extended field training experience. 4 cadets, Solveiga and I drove through horrible Riga Friday afternoon traffic (with someone giving me directions for the quick, back route in Latvian - it wasn't quick and while I do know left and right - pa kresi, pa labi - I don't know many more Latvian driving words!) Finally, we were on our way to Skangal, where we were staying for this weekend of meetings in Liepa and it's two outposts, Seda and Drusti. Lieutenants Inga and Janis are the corps leaders and have been asking me since the day I met them, to come to their outposts. First, a bit about the trip. The cadets wanted to practice singing the worship songs they would use for the various meetings - 3 in Latvian and 2 in Russian. Singing wouldn't be at the top of their giftedness - yet! Solveiga and I listened and smiled, I pounded rhythms on the steering wheel until I finally had to stop the CD and give them a little voice lesson. The great thing is they listened and immediately improved! Wish that had worked for me at CMI. They really want to be able to sing well and to lead congregational singing. They try so hard. Here they are practicing that evening at Skangal (they practiced for hours until I told them 'enough!') We laughed and had a really nice bonding experience.

Saturday morning we were up for united breakfast. They don't understand those of us who aren't morning people and would rather be alone for the first hour of the day - so I had to pray for a joyful morning spirit! And again, we did have good fellowship. We set off for Seda on very bumpy back roads. I followed Inga and would never be able to return on my own. As we drove into Seda, it felt like a movie lot. All of the apartment buildings looked the same. Not the big Russian style, but 3-4 story yellow stone buildings. And the town felt empty. I felt darkness and sadness there. We went to one of those buildings and into a first floor flat which Pestisanas Armija uses for soup kitchen and weekly services. Anna (picture below) lives there and cares for the program. Inga and Janis do the services. There were about 20 people seated around 2 long tables. One mom with 3-4 teenage children and the rest mostly older people or people who looked old because of alcohol and a very hard life. But, they wanted to be there and not just for food. When the cadets sang the Russian songs, many of them tried to sing along and several were weeping. I wished I could have talked with them and prayed with them. Most of the people in this town came from Russia hoping for work, but there is no work in this village. So, they are stuck there with no hope and no future. The cadets are still very disturbed about what they saw and heard. Hopefully, they will get a vision for what can be done to provide hope and salvation in that town and the many, many more like it in Latvia.

After a hard 2 hour drive we arrived in Drusti. These outposts are not in suburbs of Liepa, the corps leaders make a real sacrifice to keep these going. Drusti is a much more hopeful place. The Army has an old building, which has possibilities if money could be found for repairs. And when we have more officer/leaders in Latvia, this could be come a full-time corps. The people are lively, bright and there are some who are committed to help. They just need a leader. Saturday was a long day and on the way back to Skangal, it was quiet. That morning I had read from Psalm 143 "Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning" and we had been singing all day in Latvian about God's mercy and love which is new every morning. It wasn't morning, but evening and God didn't speak audibly but he spoke visible through the most beautiful sunset and surrounding sky - the colors were bright and awesome. I could only thank God for the visible evidence of His love and faithfulness through his creation. An 'aha' moment for me. When we got to Skangal, all we could do was sit around a table and eat junk food. I brought Uno Attack hoping we could play, but that required too much energy! And the time was changing, so we had to get up an hour earlier. Fortunately, Sunday's drive was only 15 minutes. We had such a nice time with the Liepa corps people. The cadets led a great meeting and at the end many people came and prayed, some asking us to pray with them. After the morning service, the kids arrived for Sunday School. Since the cadets haven't had much experience with children, I took that assignment. We had fun acting out the story of David being chosen by Samuel and then meeting Goliath. Then we were on the road, after a quick lunch in Cesis, home for a quiet evening before classes on Monday! Thank God for His presence and His blessing!

The Faces of Liepa and Drusti

Sunday School in Liepa - telling the story of Samuel and David - these are 'David's brothers'
'David' and boys acting like sheep
Boys, boys, boys
Love this face!
Solveiga with Inga, corps leader
Anna runs the soup kitchen in Seda
Cadets with Janis, corps leader
Another face in Seda
This is a classic face (lady with scarf)
Solveiga with Davids, corps leaders' son

Turn your eyes to Jesus

We (the cadets and I) had a very eventful and fun weekend which I will tell you about later. But, of course, after we returned some crises came up which could easily overwhelm me. I was praying very emotionally as I got ready and on the way in to work today. Ilona, one of the Riga 2 corps leaders, led prayers this morning. She was right on and exactly what I needed. From Galations 3:5 - does God want us to work for Him or simply to believe in Him and He will do the work? (a simplified version based on limited understanding of Latvian) Then we sang this chorus:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace.

That's it! What I need to do today - simply look to Jesus and let Him work out the crisis in His way. I was then inspired to listen to the Hallelujah Prayer Chorus CD. I could listen to Pete McBride play the piano all day. But, today it wasn't the music, it was the simplicity and truth of these timeless songs. Especially this one:

He knows, he knows
The storms that would my way oppose;
He knows, he knows
And tempers every wind that blows.

Today I simply want to look into Jesus' face and trust Him.

Where's Aivis

Last week I went with Sarah and family to see Aivis dance. It was really fun. Here a few pictures, unfortunately nearly every time I snapped the camera someone danced in front of Aivis. But, you can see a bit of him and what the event was like - very Latvian!

www.theotherjournal.com

An amazing website which I've just started to explore. Be sure to look through the Creation section. And read this: http://www.theotherjournal.com/article.php?id=98

Words for today

Here are words from Philippians 3 for me today:

...the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...I want to know Christ...I press on to make it (the goal) my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

www.thinkchristian.net

Here's an excellent discussion forum described as "Blogging about the intersection of faith and culture." It's the replacement for my once favorite magazine, 'regeneration quarterly'. The blog has just started up so not a lot of discussion yet, but the topics and subsequent articles are thought-provoking. Check out 'Can we save culture' - take the link to the full article.

Frightening words

As I have been reading Jeremiah, two phrases leapt out at me as the most frightening warnings given by the Lord.  War, disease, poverty, even death do not seem as terrible as these to me.  “I have taken away my peace from this people, says the Lord, my steadfast love and mercy.” (16:5b NRSV) and “I will show them my back, not my face…” (18:17b) God is removing His character from His people.  He is still there, an obvious Presence, but they cannot see or even feel His nature.  I can’t understand why anyone would choose to go their own way, when this is the end result.  God’s presence in my life, at work in and around me, is the most precious place to be.  So the question for me today is, “How can I make that truth clear to those who don’t know and how can I teach others to proclaim this powerful message?”

Thank God, it is not left to me but in fact, He continues to be at work in the world.  Chapter 18 is the vivid picture of the potter at work.  “The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him…Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” (18:4, 6)  ‘God is busy molding, forming, pushing and pulling Israel into shape, just as a potter shapes clay.  God is not passive, but actively forming the community in unseen and unacknowledged but powerful ways.  Jeremiah’s words to the faithless but potentially faithful community are themselves an example of a creative, resourceful God at work.’ (The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible)  The answer is to join God in His work.  

Praise note:  The McDowells have a healthy grandson!  They will be home in June and get to see him.  And, I will be home in June (for a few weeks) and get to see him, too!

Saturday's Photos

Leadership Training



Happy Birthday Darta!

My friends need your prayer support

1. Tim and Evelyn Clark are US East officers living in Tartu, Estonia. They have experienced some very difficult days, due to a robbery in their home, probably done by some of their own youth group. You can imagine the difficulties that come with that - police reports, heart break over these kids and loss of some very special things.
2. Jim and Val McDowell are US Central officers in Kenya. They are dealing with horrible drought and famine in their country and trying to find ways to help relieve those needs. In the midst of that crisis, their oldest daughter, Chris, is right now in labor in the States with their first grandchild. It must be so hard for them to be on the other side of the world for this special event.

I read in Jeremiah today: Therefore thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.
And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord.
I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. Jeremiah 15:19-21 (NRSV)

The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible comments: Though the going is hard for the prophet, God continues to demand great things from his servant of the word. Discipleship is not easy, not filled with rewards. People will fight against the truth. Yet the promise is reiterated; God shall not desert those who are faithful and love God's truth more than public praise.

an unordinary day

I hope this doesn’t become an ordinary day.  It wasn’t a bad one, just well…here’s what happened.  I got a call from the car dealer yesterday saying the missing part was in (what missing part, I think).  So, I brought my car in at 9:00 this morning.  Across from the dealer is the Spice mall and usually I would go over there for the time it takes to attend to the car. But they said it would be 2 hours, so I decided to take the bus/tram home and then have someone from the office take me back when the car was ready.  At 9:40 I was one stop from home and my phone rang.  “Your car is ready.”  Should I go to the office and see if someone can drive me back.  No, it will be easier to hop back on the tram to the bus stop and back out to the dealer (which is on the way to the airport –important later.)  Sounds easy, but I have never taken this bus out that way, only back into town.  I usually take the express bus.  It stops right in front of the car dealer.  So I realize I have no idea where to get on the bus.  It should be easy – on the other side of the road from where I got off.  Nope.  I walked around for 20 minutes (it’s now after 10:00) and finally found it, one minute after it left that stop.  The next one would be 30 minutes later.  So, I found a coffee shop and had a real cup of coffee, with caffeine and a sweet roll!   I got on the bus, heading the right way even and felt pretty good about knowing the right bus, etc.  It’s now 10:40.  I left the dealer at 9:00 and still haven’t accomplished anything but walking and riding.  I relaxed in the bus and thought it was all over.  This is not the express bus however and it takes some back roads.  I wasn’t sure where we were but I was sure that we would suddenly come out at the right place, until we came to one vaguely familiar stop.  In the distance I could see flags from a car dealer and thought, ‘maybe this bus doesn’t stop there.  I better get out and walk from the next stop.’  At that moment we turned on to the highway and headed to the airport exit – no bus stops for a very long time.  Still, I wasn’t panicked.  In fact, I was amused!  I thought I was so smart.  There is one stop halfway between the highway and the airport.  It’s in the middle of nowhere but across the road is the stop for the other direction.  I got out, once again pleased with myself for figuring this out.  Except, the bus stop was disserted.  I didn’t want to stand there and watch buses pass me by, so decided to walk.  It wasn’t that far to the dealer.  Well, first the road to the dealer is a highway.  You can’t walk on it!  Second, it is far!  I took a back road heading in the right direction and hoped that it would come out in some familiar place before it dead-ended.  My only other choice would be to walk all the way to the airport and get a bus headed in the right direction.  Oh, and yesterday I left my boots at the office so was walking on snowy, slushy, slippery roads in street shoes.  Eventually I did come out near the highway and saw another bus stop with the right bus number on it.  I had to wait 15 minutes, but it did come and I eventually (11:45) arrived at the dealer.  Quickly picked up my keys and headed to the office.  I never did find out what they replaced and at that point I didn’t care.  The thing I kept thinking was ‘this has nothing to do with Latvia.  It could happen anywhere in the world – especially to me!’  My friend Linda said, ‘you have never had a normal life had you?!’  It’s true.

This afternoon, Linda and I went to Iecava for their Home and Family meeting.  Linda to translate, me to do the program.  I decided to do a little presentation on my travels to Bible lands – Israel, Greece and Turkey.  It was really fun to look back at pictures and notes from those trips. God has really blessed me with incredible opportunities.  And I thank God for The Salvation Army who made them possible.  My program was pretty random but they seemed to enjoy it and even smile at my little ‘funny’ comments.  They are a group of mostly elderly ladies who are very sweet and make me feel special.  Linda and I had wonderful conversation on the way home.  Since training started I haven’t had a chance to talk with some of the young women from RHQ/Riga 1 much.  So, I was glad to have an hour or so with her.  We ended the evening with pizza.  Not an ordinary day at all, but a good story!

An ordinary weekend

Saturday was one of our quarterly Regional Leadership Development Days.  Early that day I was in the car headed to the training center.  I found myself singing “I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter His courts with praise.”  I couldn’t figure out why and then remembered that BBC Radio has been running over and over again a piece about Burma, which included a report on the Christian church.  This is the song they played as they started that report.  My first reaction was “Oh no, another embarrassing Christian church story”.  But, it was not that at all and in a country where it is not easy to be a Christian, I had to think about how much those words must mean to them.  It led me to think about when this song was a big part of my life.  I was soldiering at the Chicago Temple corps, an urban, multicultural congregation and I loved it.  We sang this song often, with special emphasis on “OHHHHHH – He has made me glad, He has made me glad.”  For some reason that sent my mind to all the corps I’ve soldiered at while an officer – Oakbrook Terrace, Temple, Grand Rapids Fulton Heights and now, Riga 1.  Each has been such a blessing to me and the right place at the right time.  I have never been able to be an observer, even though not the corps officer.  I’ve always tried to be as supportive as possible and fill in where the need is and where I can, depending on my appointment and schedule.  But what I’ve given has never equaled what I’ve received.  During hard times, those corps became my family.  When I felt alone, they provided community.  When I needed to be challenged and held accountable, there was someone there to do it.  And most of all, when I needed love, it was given.  What an amazing blessing God has given me.  

After that rather long thought process, I was at the training center!  The seminar was taught by a guest and my role was food provider.  I hesitate to say cook because I wimped out with frozen pizzas and salad.  Unfortunately, that kept me from hearing the teaching most of the day.  The topic was ‘ministry in the work place’ and while there were only 9 people there, they were eager to learn and had good reasons for being there (except the cadets who were required!)  All of them seemed to enjoy the teaching and the fellowship.  I had been home for just a few minutes when my phone rang.  ‘Aren’t you coming to Darta’s birthday party’?  One of my small group (past) had her 18th party at the corps.  So, off I went for cake.  I only stayed a few minutes but it was fun.  I always enjoy being with those girls.  As I was leaving they were dressing Darta up and sending her out to the street to give candy to the passersby.  I hope she survived!  

Sunday was the first real field training day for the cadets.  They were entirely responsible for planning, leading and preaching.  We went to a little corps about 45 minutes outside Riga, Iecava.  They did a great job.  It is hard to believe that they have only been cadets for 2 months.  They were confident, sensitive and said good things.  I didn’t understand everything as I had no translator.  But, I understood a bit and I could read their expressions and motions.  (That’s something you could pray about – how to I effectively evaluate these experiences?) I was proud of them and thankful that these are the first cadets the Lord sent us.  It could be much harder!

I have a new addiction (no, not decaf coffee!)  My friend, Peggy Thomas, sent me the West Wing DVDs. All 5 seasons!  I have to keep myself from putting the DVD in the computer because once I start I can’t stop!  I love them.  They are definitely American and I guess I enjoy a little retreat to home once in a while.  I’m in the midst of the reelection campaign (for those of you who know exactly what I mean) and there is a lot of discussion about expectations.  Do you set the expectation high and then chance that you might miss it?  Or do you set it low and guarantee a win, but with little real satisfaction?  I’m battling that a bit here.  Are my expectations for this training program and myself too high or is it better to keep them high and take a bit of a risk?  It would be easy to lower the expectation and meet it, but will that train effective leaders for the future?  I’m just started on this thought so won’t write more now, but any reflection will be appreciated.  

Corps 393

A visit to this corps was one of the significant highlights during my time in Sweden last month. It was part of the training conference schedule and I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much. But, as soon as I walked into the building I knew something special happened there. I can't fully explain it. There was a sense of God at work and the Holy Spirit being very present, even though nothing was happening at the time. Mattias Nordenberg, the corps officer, gave us a presentation of the corps vision and mission and I was getting more and more excited about the incarnational ministry and passion for the community and the lost, especially youth, that is the heart of this corps. We took a tour and at every turn I sensed they had it right - a modern 'primative' Salvation Army corps. My friend, Lennart, who is on the Swedish training college staff, is also a very active part of the corps. Most of the time I was walking around in silence, not sure what I was feeling except something holy and special. But once in a while he would share a story or answer a question and my sense was confirmed that God is at work in that place. At the end of the evening I had a few moments of conversation with Mattias and Lennart which ended with an amazing time of prayer.

The website can't really explain what I experienced, especially since it is in Swedish. But, take a look at the pictures and please pray for this corps. Where God is so powerfully at work, pray for protection for the leaders and their families and strength for the challenges. As for what this means to me, I'm not sure. It's definitely the kind of urban ministry that I would love to be involved in, but that's for another time and another place. For now, I know my role is to pray for Mattias and the rest of the corps team.

http://kar393.se/news.php

In celebration of International Women's Day

Paintings by Sergejs. Flowers from men cadets.

Lunch

For those of you who like to pray for practical things – we need a cook or a good solution for providing lunches at the training center.  Last week we lost our cook.  This week we’ve been improvising.  One of the cadets, Velta, made a very nice lunch on Monday.  Wednesday was my turn and I purchased right from the excellent deli at the nearby grocery store – salads, meat, cheese and good Latvian bread.  I called it “Slinko Pusdienas” “Lazy Lunch”! (not guaranteeing I wrote that correctly) For today and tomorrow I gave them a few lats (Latvian currency) and said do what you want.  Next week we have to have a more permanent solution.  One of the options suggested by the cadets is to go to the little cafeteria across the road, which is actually for the tram depot employees but also open to the public.  It’s simple and cheap, and I think there is some good food and some maybe not so.  I don’t want to go, as I’d much rather have something light and then have a nice dinner.  That isn’t the Latvian way and I have to respect culture.  They have a hot meal, with salad and most often dessert and then a small supper.  So, today they wanted to try this little diner.  I was feeling kind of stubborn and at first said I wouldn’t go, but then thought “This is part of the adventure and you might be pleasantly surprised.”  I went.  It was OK.  Definitely cheap and hot, with several choices.  So, what’s my problem?  I’m not sure.  Here’s what I’m thinking: 1. Eating in a restaurant every day (no matter what kind) is not a good habit to get into. 2. The corps and institutions have all cut their budgets to support us.  It gives the appearance of extravagance, even though it might be cheaper than having our own cook.  3. The great fun and fellowship we have at lunch will be missed in this diner.   Not sure how to resolve this but it’s one of those pesky little things that seems to be weighing on me and making me very frustrated.  

What brings God joy?

So, this week I’ve been thinking as I drive to work, “What will bring joy to the Lord today?”  It was a moment of inspiration on Monday, as I was praying that I might be filled with joy.  It’s a fun exercise – you should try it!

Today I was sure the Lord would be joyful because 6 of His students would be digging into the Word, in the book of Hebrews.  And then I was stuck, so the Lord filled in the rest when I got to the training school.  I walked into prayers and was handed a card which said ‘Congratulations on this being International Women’s Day’! signed by the three men cadets.  And there was a big box of chocolates on the table – Latvian Laime chocolate.  (You need to come to Latvia to try it – mmmmm!)  I was sure that must have brought a smile to God’s face.  We sang in prayers and while we aren’t very good, we are enthusiastic.  One of the cadets got especially inspired today with his singing and made all of us smile.  Again, I think God probably laughed with joy!  After prayers each of us got a long-stemmed carnation and were told we had to go to the kitchen for coffee and chocolates, before class started.  A great way to start the day (no, I didn’t drink the coffee but I did get a bit of a caffeine fix from the chocolate!)  Do I think the Lord was happy about the coffee and chocolate?  No, but I’m sure there was joy in heaven because 9 of His servants, speaking 3 different languages were fellowshipping and laughing together.

The Hebrews class was taught by a pastor from the International Bible Church.  I sat in on a few minutes of the class.   I love the book of Hebrews and have taught and read it several times.  But, in just the little time I was in the class I learned something that was new (or previously ignored) by me and that brings new light to a familiar passage in chapter 12.  I won’t try to tell about it because it has to do with the poetic form the author used and I couldn’t explain it clearly.  But, it brought me joy!  Later in the day, the cadets were preparing for our Sunday ministry and they were trying to sing together and put some rhythm instruments in the mix.  I heard a tambourine and went flying out of my office (we don’t have those around here.)  It was an amusing sight, with little shakers and a tambourine and then me, trying to show them how to use it.  

One of our cadets is an artist and Solveiga and I have wanted a picture for our office.  Today he brought us three!  He paints beautiful landscapes and he had chosen pictures that matched our office color perfectly.  That gave us joy.  But the real joy moment was when we tried to hang the pictures.  Solveiga and I didn’t agree.  Sergejs, the artist, didn’t want to give his opinion but we could read his expressions and Arturs was walking around with a hammer and threatening to hang them in very strange places.  We were laughing the whole time. We finally hung them and they add such a nice touch which will often bring us joy.

So, what brought God joy today?  I think it was the community of people who live and work in our building, sharing joy with each other and growing in our knowledge of God and His Word.  Wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Here are some words from Jeremiah to me this week:

Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord. 9:23-24 NRSV  What an amazing verse!

The shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the Lord 10:21a NRSV  (Evie’s note – I’ve been placed as a shepherd for the cadets and I do not want to be stupid!)

This looks interesting

Wish I could go to Seattle for this conference. Will someone go for me?!
www.thechurchhasleftthebuilding.org

The answer

Sarah used these verses today in her sermon.  They are the answer to my final question from my last blog entry.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:8-11

caffeine and answers

I decided to give up caffeinated coffee this week.  Not really for Lent, more because I’m middle-aged (ugh!) and wonder if it will make any difference.  Surprisingly, I haven’t had one headache and I’m feeling normal.  The only thing I’ve noticed is I am a little touchy, but there could be any number of reasons for that.  Also, by the end of the day I’m out of energy.  Again, there could be reasons for that.  I should mention that I received a very nice Christmas gift from my friend Marylou in Chicago – a large quantity of Starbucks’ decaf.  That has made this decision much easier!  So, anyone with experiencing in going decaf, does it make any positive difference?  Because once the Starbucks is gone, my choices from Latvia are limited.

Today was the first real test.  I went with Henrik and Misha (translator) to visit our non-residential cadets in Daugavpils.  It’s a four hour drive and a highlight of the trip is the coffee shop about half-way there.  I was doing the driving there and after 2 hours of snowy, slushy roads I was ready for coffee.  I nearly caved, but instead had peppermint tea – not the same!  And to make it worse, we stopped there on the way home too.  Mineral water this time.  But, I survived.

About our visit.  We met with the cadets and their corps leader.  It was a very productive meeting.  These cadets are delightful and determined to do this training well.  It was another one of those moments for me, when I felt inadequate to do all that should be done here.  Not only inadequate because of language, but more because I just can’t do it all on my own.  I should be visiting them once or twice a month, but when I looked at my calendar I didn’t see one Sunday when I could get there before June.  It’s not a problem that I can easily fix and no matter how much harder I might work, I cannot be in two places at once (I know that comes as no surprise to you, but it would really help me.)  There are many other things I should be doing to make their training program the most effective.  Of course, that’s true of the whole program.  Honestly, the more I get into it the more I’m aware of what I should be doing.  I don’t mean to be complaining.  There is plenty to be joyful about and I’m having fun.  It’s just something you can pray about – the solution is beyond me.  Because I do realize that, I’m still feeling peaceful – just seeking some answers.  Anyone have one?