I’m about 1 1/2 days through Urbana. Three more days to go. So far things have been going well. I’m having a really good time. The thing that has been the most interesting though is just that people here are a little different than most conferences or retreats or whatever I’ve been to–even Salvation Army only events. This obviously isn’t just Salvation Army. In fact, there are over 22,250 people here in St. Louis this week for the event. I think the Army only makes up about 245 of those. The people are different in that they actually talk to you. Not just hi, how are you, but actually engage in conversations with you. I’ve talked to all kinds of random people this week. On the bus, on the metro, in the hotel lobby, waiting in lines.
I met a guy named Lance on the bus this morning who works at a summer camp for kids whose parents are incarcerated. I met a guy named Ben who works with homeless street kids in Toronto. Then there is Colin who is heading to Brazil for 7 months on a mission trip, and Mike, a relatively new Christian who just isn’t sure what his calling is, but wants to find out. One of my roommates is living in Mexico and is preparing to enter Training College next fall. Every single person I’ve talked to has some story to share about something they are doing, or planning to do, or just have an awesome story about how God is working on them.
Otherwise today, I went to two seminars that were both really good. The first was Overcoming Obstacles in doing Mission Trips. It was really eye opening. I mean, I had thought about things like financial stuff, but not much more. It really got me to thinking about the other things, about getting my own issues straight before doing something like that because they will only be about 40 times worse in a different culture and country where I don’t know anyone or have anything I’m familiar with. It talked about being single and a missionary and having kids (not that it applies to me, but is something to think about). The second seminar was my guilty pleasure seminar. I felt guilty going to it because I felt like I should be going to something deeper and more focused on missions, etc…. This seminar was about Media and Ministry and how to use videos to tell your ministry story, or someone else’s. It was very good as well. For me, it just showed me how for me, its not bad that I have these hobbies that I like, and that I like doing those kind of things, so long as I use it to glorify God.
Anyway, I’ll write more tomorrow. St. Louis is a cool town. I got some great video of the Arch and the Capital Building today.
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