November 2018
WHERE THE WILLIAMS ARE
I know you haven’t heard much from us for some time. We have had a great summer transitioning to the States this year. We moved into a Church parsonage, and have had wonderful opportunities to catch up with longtime friends and supporters. Katrina and I also attended a ten-day training on Conflict Transformation at the Buttry Center in Kansas City.
While at the Buttry Center, we had a wonderful time developing new relationships with many other global workers and local pastors. One goal of the training was to teach us how to teach others using experiential learning techniques. For instance, instead of lectures, which only engage the auditory senses, you might play a game that demonstrates how corporate interests sometimes take advantage of vulnerable people. In experiential learning, using multiple senses increases retention, but maybe even more importantly, instead of being told something, the participants are able to discover new revelations on their own. Dan and Sharon Buttry are masters of their craft. We were deeply honored to have had the chance to learn from them.
CATCHING UP WITH QUESTIONS
We don’t want to miss this opportunity to catch everyone up on what's next for us. Here are some of the questions that we are frequently getting:
Are you still working with International Ministries? YES! Of course. IM has been a great support since the beginning in 2012. We currently have no plans that don’t involve IM. We are excited about our continued work with them. What maybe has been a little confusing is simply that we are changing locations, but not our sending agency.
How long are you back in the States?
We are back until June 31st of next year, as long as our Personal Support Goal (PSG) is back at 100%. This means that we need regular support pledges: weekly, monthly, annually, etc. Currently, we are around 75% to 80% of our goal.
What happens after that?
Well, if our PSG is back at 100%, we will transition to our new place of ministry. The kids will begin a new school. Ian will be in high school, which just seems bizarre. We will begin language training and engagement with our partners.
Where will that be?
Oh, wouldn’t you like to know…and we would love to tell you…but for now we can’t publicize our expectations. We are in a process. We can assure you that we are walking along with IM and that there is a plan in place. Before we are able to publicly talk about where we are going there are a few things that need to happen. An avenue for visas must be found; a partnership agreement must be written and signed by all parties; and our senior mission team must vote to confirm the assignment.
Why is it taking so long?
Well, because it is a process that no one wants to rush. We trust this process and we are glad that it is being done with precision, prayer, and thoughtfulness.
From the beginning, we chose to go with International Ministries because of its emphasis on partnerships. We believe that this is vital to bringing about the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven. I mentioned the partnership agreement above. We don’t go into the world bringing others something that we have and that they don’t have. Instead, we work together, building trust so that we can challenge and be challenged by our new environment, and growing the Kingdom on Earth as it is above. A key to partnership is a shared vision and an understanding of purpose. We believe we have found such a partner, but again we must wait a bit until we announce where and what this may be.
The Williams with their friends Luc and his Family