GCP Update: Happy Christmas!

I can't believe it is already almost the end of 2010. It seems that each year, as I watch the calendar, I still can't seem to believe my eyes when that "December" rolls around. Strange isn't it, how we seem to protest the passage of time? Or maybe it's just me.

In any event, I hope this update finds all of you well and happy for some time with family and friends. I know it has been a while since I've written an update but honestly, I haven't known what to write. Since my last update I've sort of plunged myself into other things - dissertation proposal, mainly - and also into wondering where GCP needs to go from here.

We are a different organization, and we are a very small start-up one. The very thing that makes us different makes it harder to get us off the ground. And thus, this difference has made me wonder if GCP can even become a useful team of people that brings its vision to others at a given point in time. I was hopeful, and sometimes I still am, but in the midst of trying to work on my dissertation and find an income, GCP has not had much attention from me.

So as I look back on a somewhat stalled year for GCP, I also look forward to a new year of changes perhaps, whatever those changes may be. And I thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.

I also wanted to mention, as I didn't get a chance to update you on this, that Pastor Joseph, one of the pastors I met while on my trip to Malawi in 2008, passed away this September. This was very sad news as I absolutely enjoyed meeting him and listening to his stories. I marvel at the fact that although little time was spent with him, the impression he made was quite great. And it inspires me to want to be such a person, despite my shortcomings. Please pray for Reverend Phyllis Labrentz (the missionary with whom I stayed while doing the workshop at Kings Victory Academy), as she worked with him very closely as well as all those who are feeling his loss. Thanks.

Safe travels for those of you visiting family in different places. I will be spending Christmas in New York but will be in Southern California for New Year's. I wish you all a beautiful Christmas and a blessed New Year!

GCP News Update

It has been high time since there has been an update, so here goes! We had our regularly scheduled Board Meeting in April, and we are progressing on a new project in Malawi. We have some time before seeing how things will work out, but the beginnings look good! Please continue praying for us as we formulate this new project! We are working with someone in Malawi to bring this project up to speed -- something we're temporarily going to call Growing Malawi. It's our aim to facilitate a sustainable project that can be run by Malawians, not us. I will share the specifics in a subsequent update once we've got things more solidified!

On the technology side, we now have GCP email addresses for our staff and our Advisory Board President, Dr. Daniel Newman. All of our email links can be found on our website. For general information, email can be sent to: info@globalcommunitypartners.org.

We also have a page on Facebook -- just do a search for "Global Community Partners" and you will find it; please make sure you "Like" it if you support our work! :) And of course, we are also on Twitter, so follow us if you're on Twitter!

Our next scheduled Board Meeting will be in August and we hope to have more news for you in the near future regarding Growing Malawi. In the meantime, my classes are over and I have a dissertation proposal to work on! Happy summer!!

Still here, but thinking

It has been a while since I've posted, but I'm still around, as is GCP. Being that we are a start-up and are still trying to figure out things, it has been a difficult past year and a half since my return from Malawi. I'm also enrolled in a Ph.D. program and have been caught up with comprehensives and now, a dissertation proposal. My goal is to finish by the end of next year at the latest. And my other two staff members are also juggling work and different transitions.

So we are here, juggling things, and thinking about what direction we want to go with GCP that will align with our vision while enabling us to juggle the rest of our work. Honestly, I can't wait till I'm done with my Ph.D. There's just too much going on in my head -- more than I can handle sometimes. :D But it's all learning - learning experiences that I can put to use for future GCP projects, I know.

As we do our thinking, please support us with your praying. And we will be back with more. I promise.