SIM

So Jamie and I spent the past 4+ days in Charlotte at SIM USA's headquarters.  I posted a link yesterday that has some pictures of some of the buildings (and people, although I seemed to just catch people with their eyes closed or food in their mouth).  SIM USA has about 800 missionaries, which is about half of the missionaries with SIM International (there are 8 other sending offices throughout the world). 

It was a great weekend to learn more about SIM's core values and more about missions in general.  We met a number of great people, both SIM staff and other missionary "candidates" attending the orientation with us.  So to make a long story short, we will be heading back in July for 2 more weeks of training, then heading out in the first quarter of 2009 for Liberia!  Everyone there was very excited that we were interested in helping out with the construction needs in Liberia.  It has been an area of need for some time.  The SIM/ELWA compound was severely damaged and looted twice during the civil war.  They have been slowly rebuilding the past 4 years but have many more projects they'd like to complete.

The training in July will also include a full program for MK's (Missionary Kids).  SIM has a new facility on the campus that the kids take classes and are able to meet other MK's.  We met a number of other families that will be back in July with kids around our boys' ages.  The boys are excited for the trip, and hopefully SIM will be able to keep up with them.

Another highlight of the weekend was to be able to talk to a number of SIM staff that have spent significant time in Liberia.  It was great to be able to talk about the SIM compound, past and present.  We're also excited that another family decided to pick Liberia as their mission field.  They'll be focusing on administration and hope to leave next spring after the husband finishes seminary.  They also have 5 teenage kids that will be going, 3 adopted from Ethiopia and 2 from Bolivia. 

So we're excited that we're one step closer!  Only 6 books and more medical to do in the next 7 weeks to prep for the training!