the Glocal Trekker Blog

Long term + relationships + specific projects(wholistic engagement) + personal sharing and living = impact

For the past 2 years, everytime I show up, it's as if things ramped up a notch or two. It seems as if it happens without us - it just keeps evolving with all our work. The same is true of NorthWood and has been true of Glocalnet. Been thinking math lately - though we have a lot to accomplish - we have come a long way. It hasn't happened over night. It's as if, the ramp up time is so slow, and then once it begins to roll - it goes so fast. Sounds like that Tipping Point stuff. Let me break down the formula:

Long term - most of us want to do dine and dash, that really doesn't work if you want change. You have to be there - really be there. Something Len Sweet taught me about Bono once - he's always in the moment. Because we want the big and the bad and we are impatient - because we don't live in light of eternity - we totally miss the greatest opportunities God is putting in front of us.

Relationships - you don't do anything if you don't know anyone. Who has God put in front of you. I was asked on this trip - "How did you get to know all these people?" My answer, "It was all flukes." We were being faithful in something small and led to something else.

Specific projects(wholistic engagement) = the rubber has to meet the road. Put the book down, instead of going to another conference, get a shovel and find a barn - you'll learn more in that barn than you will at a conference with incredible speakers, thinkers, and writers. If those projects are tied to wholistic engagement of society - domains, etc,. - then you'll gain credibility. If it's just a project - then you don't get anything sustainable.

Personal sharing and living - it's got to be real in you and when people ask - and they always do - you have to be ready to give an answer. They see it, and hear it.

Impact - you make a difference.

It's my last morning in Hanoi - I'll do everything super slow to relish it a lot. Had my coffee, read my Bible, about to go our and take one last early morning run around lake Hoan Kiem. It's been a good trip - and I'm ready to get back. There has been a whole lot accomplished!!!

For NorthWood - we now have two staffers on the ground - an office we are about to open for Glocal Ventures - a guest house we are going to rent in an incredible compound rigt behind the Birla Orphanage - strengthenned ties with PACCOM (the org. in Vietnam that oversees NGO's) and we are putting together an action plan for the next few years.

For our interns - seeing the looks on their faces when they see this place for the first time and seeing the projects in action - it all comes together for them.

For Nikki, she worked with the National University on her project of teaching for special education for this summer.

For me personally - I got half my new book written - my other notes are home - the other half is stuff I just have to organize and pull from tons of other places so won't be as hard.

For our friends here - we got to see Mimi, and our Vietnmaese exchange student Ti - as well as other friends - we are so grateful for all of them.

Crazy stuff I will remember a long time - eating dog that tasted like roast beef, I now bark when I see cats and run over to trees! Watching Donnie Featherstone dance - dude, you had to practice on that whole lot, I want to see you style on like that more in the future. David Rush, you should be a chocolate evangelist - you're a health nut that got incredible deals from street people - I just hope they won't starve! Matt - you got the Bhudda treatment like me and handled it with all smiles - way to go dude.

Life is fun - yep, lots of crap, but it you're from East Texas like me - you just learn to step around it and try to laugh when it gets on your boots! Next stop - St. Louy!