Reflections on BlueSky Adventures

The work of BlueSky Adventures is a huge part of our ministry in Kenya.  We love seeing organizations change as they learn to implement principles of trust, teamwork, and communication.  Each day that our team of facilitators work on the course, they have the opportunity to begin friendships with a class of Kenyans or Internationals that are often overlooked by more traditional missional approaches.  We also love the opportunity that we have to develop our staff, equipping them to lead the next generation of Kenyans.  We believe a generation of leaders who love Jesus is imperative for bringing an end to the poverty, corruption, and injustice that plague Kenya.

As the interim director of BlueSky Adventures, Emily has been focusing much of her work on developing our staff to take on leadership roles.  Here is what she has to say about her work over the past several months.  "There is a lot going of with BlueSky Adventures  as we implement new programs, hire new staff, and gear up for the summer.  We held a low training at the beginning of this month and hired 6 new facilitators from that group.  Those new staff will attend a high training next weekend and start shadowing (observing other facilitators during programs) and Staff Mentor and Development Training.  We are excited that Njoki, one of our lead facilitators, will be coming on full time as Programming Manager and Sandhia, another lead facilitator, will be working part time as our Training Coordinator starting May 1.  I have been busy spending time with Njoki and Sandhia to make sure they are ready for their new positions (they are going to be great!), training current staff, writing a training manuel that Sandhia and Njoki will be able to implement in their training sessions, running a lot of meetings, and writing proposals for potential clients.  Kim, Tom, and I have also been interviewing people to hire a client relations position.  Somehow I've also found time to climb Mount Kenya and go on Safari while I've been here as well (as you can see from the pictures).

As much as I like being in the office, and love the staff that I work with, my favorite part of work is being out at the challenge course with participants.  I love the scene that surrounds me, the blue sky above me, and the sun shinning down on me (even if it is ridiculously hot sometimes).  When I work with groups, I am reminded of why I am here.  I am reminded of how influential this experience can be for an individual.  I am reminded that we are making a difference.  I see that difference in the face of a high school student who is called upon to be a leader for the first time and earns the trust of his peers.  I see that difference in the smile of a business woman who never thought she would have the courage to jump off a 10-meter pole and grab a trapeze bar.  I see that difference in the hand that stretches out to help a teammate reach their goal.  Experience Changes.  That’s BlueSky Adventures’ motto.  This experience is changing me.  And I can only hope, in some small way, that my experience is changing others as well."