The interpersonal training session went really well. I experienced a lot of interesting insights on how to better relate to and understand people, and i also learned a few things about myself through self assessment. It also helped me to better connect with some of my friends here, and through that i have been blessed.

Over the weekend I drove up with a few friends from the organization to Detroit for the big auto show there. I am not really into cars but i had a really good time and saw quite a few interesting things. The first snow storm quickly melted a day or so later. And than over the weekend it snowed 2+ inches, and we have had snow flurries off and on for the past week.

OMS has a magazine they publish three times a year called Outreach Magazine. I will be writing an article for the next issue, on my department Global Youth Ministries, and probably a testimonial for the following issue.

Last night I had dinner with a missionary couple from Ireland who are continuing the next two weeks of missionary training. My house mate cooked the typical intern dinner, hamburger helper. We had a good time and as my mother would agree, it is a blessing to spend any time with someone from Ireland. They are ministering to homeless kids on the streets of Mexico city.

Our travel schedule is always up in the air. For sure we will be flying out to California on March 27 to do training for Alma Heights' Mexico Missions Trip, that would depart right after Easter. There is current talk for us to go to England, Hungary and Spain for a week to prepare for the summer missions trips, and i may go to Indonesia for a month in between May and June. There has been talk of that program being canceled though. So i will find out in a few weeks.

Walking in a Winter Wonder Land

Today it snowed for the first time that i have been in Indiana. Fellow intern, Richard, and i were so excited we frolicked (Yes, you are right to think that frolic is an odd word choice, but what else do u do in snow?) and made snow angels. Only an hour earlier we had been romanticizing about the ocean, and by our actions i felt we were betraying our true love.

This week we have started training in interpersonal relationships, how to be better listeners and managing conflict with others and things of that sort. It lasts one week for about 8 hours a day and is a section of the three week training that new full time missionaries receive. They are about 15 in the class and they come from, besides America, Mexico, Ireland, and England.

To back up a bit, i went down to Hudson, Florida (which is just north of Tampa) for a South East Regional Conference with OMS. I flew into West Palm Beach and met up with a previous high school classmate and we drove across the state to Hudson. At the conference i helped run a program for special needs jr highers. Besides teaching on Missions we joined them in rock climbing and paint ball. I was also quite blessed by the main assemblies, and was able to talk with the director of a program called eXtreme Walk, and get info on spending a full year in another country working with church planting teams there.

It was the first time i had been in florida, and i was able to admire its humidity, warmth, swamps, long moss clumps on the edge of trees, fishing on the Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. It was also the first time i had been to North Carolina because by flight connection was in Charlotte. The picture to the left was taken of the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Tampa, Fl.

Fun in the Sun

In a few hours i will be leaving the San Francisco Bay Area for Hudson, Florida. OMS is having a regional missions conference there and i will be helping to run a program for a small group of High Schoolers. Than i will flying back home to Indianapolis for a Interpersonal Training Course at the Headquarters. The conference, it seems is being held at a summer camp like place and paintball is going to be available. :-D

The holidays have been absolutely great, catching up with friends and family. I have also started writing a science fiction short story, and I put my first college application of the year out to a school in Los Angeles called Biola. I also am greatly look forward to seeing everyone at the headquarters since its been a month and a half.