K's blog: May 16-23, 2008 Kansas

People frequently ask us, "What were you doing in Kansas?" The fact that we go every year also seems strange to people- I guess Kansas isn't exactly a tourist hot spot. :) We go to Kansas every year to assist with a training week that Focus International sponsors each year for the teams of students which are going overseas to do language study, language teaching, and cultural exchange. If they have the opportunity, they also share about their fth with their new friends. I went overseas with Focus 3 summers, and those summers impacted the rest of my life. We're happy to serve Focus by assisting with their training week.

Besides training students, the week we spend in Kansas is a refreshing and grounding week for us. Others who are there are also interested in living overseas are a part of the training week, and maybe 30 of our friends are regularly there. Many of them are living in Wichita, KS, where there is a Training Center for people in their 20s and 30s who are preparing to go overseas longer term. Many of them are interested in starting businesses like we are, so we enjoy having the week to chat with them, pick their brains, hear their stories, encourage them, and be encouraged. We're also reminded that we still have a lot to learn, and a few years to go before we can be successfully placed overseas- starting businesses is no small thing, and there are a number of competencies that we need work on. That's why we are still intending to move to Wichita as soon as the Ld allows it. We make new friends during the week as well- many of the students become friends as the week ends, and we track with their summer team's progress throughout the summer.

I thought you might be interested to see some photos of Kansas- it's a very interesting place, and people there are so nice and friendly that it always catches me off guard. :)

A grain silo, with a train in front of it. We saw lots of these, some up close, some on the horizon.

The teeny village of Morill. This silo and a brick building were just about all there was. :) But it seemed like a peaceful little town, and it reminded me of some of the benefits of living in a small town.