Burkina Faso 2009

This past weekend had a lot going on especially as it relates to Student Ministry and missions at Salem Alliance. We had our second annual reach and was so thrilled on a variety of levels to see the dream of a 'new normal' become a reality as we take seriously our role in discipling students towards worldwide kingdom impact. It also marked the day of the first team meeting for our Student Ministry's second trip to Burkina Faso, Africa, in the last year. I was asked to lead this team and I couldn't be more excited, save one significant piece of disappointment. The excitement? Leading my first international team with two phenomenal other team leaders and nine ridiculously cool kids. Fifteen kids who all could have gone and done great applied which allowed me the brutal chance to crush/postpone six student's dreams for a bit. Not fun. But, March 19-April 1 will be another step forward for our Student Ministry, these particular student's lives and the work God is doing in West Africa. The significant piece of disappointment? There's some conspicuously absent from the team picture below...yuppers, my wife is not going to be able to join me. Which means two sad things, I take two of her small group girls on a trip that is right up her heart's alley, and I spend the longest time I've ever been away from her. The powers that be thought this first trip I lead would be best done with a seasoned short-term trip leader and a construction stud who volunteers for our high school ministry, two amazing individuals but not my favorite person in the world. The show must go on but it breaks my heart to go this one alone. Here's our good-looking team!

Reach 2008