Trying to solve the issues in communication that a de-centralized global organization has is not something that I thought could be tackled in a week. From internal issues that every YWAM base faces, to regional and cultural issues, to international communication challenges. Of course we didn't touch on every problem this organization of roughly 30,000 people face, but we did come up with some solid solutions and form ways to achieve these goals. I definitely learned a lot about how to take on huge projects and brainstorm answers with a group of people. Just those logistics alone will be a huge benefit.

On Thursday night I taught an hour-long workshop on building websites. This is something I would like to do more - train other people up in professional web development. There are too many non-profits and ministries with sub-par websites and under-valued web presences. This hinders them from achieving their goals and garnering support from the uninitiated. The workshop went fine. I happily realized that it takes a lot longer to explain all of this than I thought, even though I wasn't going in-depth, which means that I could easily teach on the subject for several days (which I have been asked about now!). Since I only had an hour and a lot of ground to cover, the workshop was by necessity wide, but not very deep. Hopefully I sparked interest in those who participated and gave them the push to pursue more skills on their own.

That afternoon a group of us also went to visit other YWAM ministries in the area, including an HIV/AIDS clinic. The hardest or weirdest thing about that trip? Feeling like I was an observer at an aquarium. Not cool. Being there just to hear what they were doing with a group, many of whom were white, and not be dedicated to working there or to learn their story to take it to others was difficult. Would you want a bunch of people from around the world looking at you and taking your photo because you have a disease? There's more to this than I can write here, so I'll move on...

So for the next few days I am visiting my friend here. At church today we were both asked to give a greeting to the congregation and then teach the Sunday school class. I was prepared for the first, but not the second! I need to learn to be better prepared to give a basic teaching off the cuff! It was fun though.

Monday and Tuesday we will go to the street boys shelter she works with and be with the boys. Her boss has asked me prepare another teaching for the boys. I guess I have some homework for tonight!

(I'm now at the Internet cafe and was going to attach a photo to the post, but I think that will have to wait until I'm back in a place with a fast connetion, aka not Africa!)