Our 2016 Global Outreach Policy & Planning Summit opened early Wednesday morning with a cross-cultural dining experience at Stavro's Grill as each of us ordered a plate of "pork brains and eggs." It just seemed the right thing to do before spending the next two days buried in editing, revising, and updating Global's missionary policy manual. Greg is Global's VP of Personnel and works out of our Canadian headquarters while Tom, our Member Care Coordinator, serves in association with our US headquarters.
Me, Greg, and Tom: Three brains and eggs.
Our waitress said it was the first time in 15 years the cook could remember that many orders of brains on one ticket. We're trend-setters, folks. They said they might even put our picture up on the wall.
Once we'd eaten the pork brains in Burlington, we needed to put our brains to work so it was off to our GOMEX Office in Graham to get started.
Official GOMEX mailbox outside the office
Greg (my boss), immediately launched into filling the 20 foot long dry-erase wall with colorful scribbles, shapes, words, arrows and underlines while Tom and I grunted, made comments, and chimed in as invited.
Greg (from Canada) writing in Canadian.
We then spent the next ten hours or so like this:
"Making sausage"
Summit Closing Day
After such a productive first day we started Day 2 a little slower by first stopping at Daily Donuts for Apple Fritters and custom-filled donut holes.
Greg and the filling selections at Daily Donuts.
Then we stopped at Graham's new coffee & crepe shop: Press. Press features hand-brewed coffee (six different methods) and both savory and sweet crepes. It's your choice...brains and eggs or custom crepes with specialty coffee? It is something of a cultural contrast.
Here I am inside Press learning about siphons, V-60's, air presses, french presses, ice drip, some kind of "wave" and more than one could ever imagine about science, physics, caffeine, bean drying methods, and exotic locations. Their hardware comes from Italy, Japan, and Germany.
Greg & Tom gear up for ten more hours of policy review and revision.
Back at GOMEX, when I wasn't yelling and waiving my arms to make a point, I looked like this...as I waited for a my next chance to yell and wave my arms to make a point.
This ten hour session was broken up by having lunch with the Mayor of Graham, Jerry Peterman, at MEX-AM Restaurant across the parking lot from GOMEX. Jerry welcomed Tom and Greg to town and shared the advantages of living and working in Graham as well as its bright future as various economic factors come together creating new opportunities in this wonderful little town.
Me, Jerry, Tom, Greg. THANKS, JERRY!
All in all the summit was a success. Thank you for your prayers over these two intense days. We worked hard, we worked long, we kept our brains about us, and ultimately completed revision of our policy manual. WooHoo.
Special thanks to Karen who was ready at moments notice to run errands, deliver food, grab supplies during the day, and feed us and dessert us every evening. Yay, KAREN!
The Crew
So as Greg and Tom roll six hours northeast for another meeting, and then seven hours northwest on their way back to HQ, Karen and I are cleaning up, straightening up, and setting up for another week of working with you to expand God's Kingdom through helping other missionaries make it to the mission field. Peace, Love, & Jesus!
BONUS PHOTO:
Available here at Food Lion.
