This is part of a series on FURLOUGH. To unpack the details of Furlough, for us specifically, this will be a series of 3 posts (though not immediately within the 30 day challenge). We plan to address the following:
Length of Time
Projected Date
Furlough vs. Vacation
Funding Furlough
Purpose of Furlough
Location of Furlough
In our last post on furlough, we talked about the PURPOSE, and there are many. In today's post I'll cover Length of Time, Projected Dates and Location.
Planning and executing a successful furlough currently occupies a large chunk of mental space. And we expect it to get worse before it gets better! In order to maximize our time on the mainland, we are becoming scheduling maniacs. It may seem like we're getting ahead of ourselves, but we're not. We are learning the importance of planning and early communication.
PROJECTED DATE: July, 2015
We do not have plane tickets, so the exact dates are flexible. But we're working with a team of missionaries here on the Big Island who are also planning similar trips, so our dates are semi-firm. We plan to be on the mainland ALL of July, 2015.
LENGTH OF TIME: Uhh... 1 month
This is a little redundant, I get it. Let me answer a few questions I know are out there.
What? You get a month off? No, friends. This is not a month off. Furlough is a very necessary and literally life giving part of our ministry. Our day-to-day activities depend on the prayer, generosity and sacrificial giving of others. It is necessary for us to connect with, report to, and be held accountable by our supporters. We look forward to connecting in person with hundreds of people we haven't seen in 2 years, we anticipate challenging conversations, and we pray for renewal.
What happens to your ministry in Hawaii while you're gone for a month? Good question, thank you for asking. First, we're on a team. We are part of a local church (Kona Coast Naz) and have fellow missionaries and staff here with us. Second, thanks to the internet, a decent amount of communication can be done from the mainland. It's certainly not the same as being here in person and working with local leaders, but it can suffice for a short time.
LOCATION: Everywhere, USA
As we said, we're planning these things right now. If your church wants to host us (or small group, or Sunday school class, or YOU want to host us in your home), let us know! We know our schedule will be packed and it's likely we won't get to everyone on our list. Right now, we know we'll visit Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia and California.
Coming up next... Funding Furlough.
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