Out of site and out of mind … that is what happens when you get out of the habit of updating on a semi-regular basis. Then you look at the date of your last post, and the time seems to stretch further and further away! Anyways, this last while has been a fun rollercoaster.
When last I wrote I was on my way to Calgary for Christmas, and a wonderful Christmassy time was had by all. It was good to reconnect with family and friends, Supriya and I were grateful that the Delport’s invited us to stay at there place while they hung out at their BC cabin (IE country property). Most of the O’Keefe clan was in Calgary, and we travelled back and forth between the ‘Ranch’ (or Pop’s place) and Supriya’s sisters home.
Soon after we were on our way for a vacation, we first flew to Amsterdam, then after a day or two in Den Haag (where we did not check out any war crimes tribunals) we found a good deal with a travel agent and flew over to North Africa. We stayed on a beach, relaxing and also wandering around the communities, meeting people, bargaining in the souk, and eating great food. On one day we rented a car and headed into the hills for a gorgeous drive, we stopped in a village and mimed that we were hungry and soon a kind older gentleman had us seated in a small dirty tea shop, where we were served one of the best meals of the trip. All-in-all, it was a very low-key, completely relaxing time.
On my way home I dropped into Toronto for some meetings with Matt at the STM Network, I recently became the western coordinator of the Network, where we help people as they attempt short term missions to do it better! The STM Network is a fantastic training resource if you want to do international work well. After a couple of days of strategic meetings, I was able to finally get home in Mid January.
By the end of January, the flowers in the garden were just beginning to emerge when I drove over to Vancouver for a couple of days. I met up with my sister and some friends and new colleagues at MissionFest Vancouver. It was great to see Desi, Christie and Dan as they promoted Hands At Work (one of my favourite places to suggest everyone to go!)
A week later I was in Edmonton to teach at Vanguard. I had two days to look at the issues of Partnership as well as how the kingdom is not an either-or proposition when it comes to our engagement and relationship with issues of Justice. I had a great time, and according to the review I just received from student evaluations … the class also seemed to enjoy our time together.
Once I made it home again, Supriya had a surprise for me! Our fourth year anniversary was February 20th, but she had us on a flight on Tuesday for a surprise destination. It was only at the airport that I discovered that we were headed to Quebec, where that night we spent the evening in the Ice Hotel (Hotel de Glace)! Incredible and beautiful, I should have some photos up on my facebook account soonish if you want to check them out (you should know I always say yes to ‘friend’ requests – it’s an ego thing). The next day we did some dog-sledding, and snow-shoeing and then spent that night in a B&B in Quebec city.
As Supriya headed home, I once more stopped into Toronto where I met Matt at the STM Network and we worked with a church as they prepared about 50 people for four trips that the group was taking this year. The training was great fun, very interactive as always.
While I was in Toronto I also spent a couple of days this week finalizing a connection with Kelvin at ERDO. i am stepping in to assist in some new international relief and development projects around the globe. Kelvin suggested that ERDO is a well-kept secret, I am hoping to help change that!
Anyways if you don not know me all that well, you probably checked out already, who wants to read a list of reasons why I have not been blogging much? But if you were wondering about my silence, hopefully I have filled you in a bit.
Perhaps I will get to this blog and post again before too long, it is about time I told you about some of the specifics regarding the team training I am doing with Andy at Glad Tidings right here at home, or my pending application for Native status, or my upcoming trip into the Congo next month … always something going on.
Mark Crocker
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