It is amazing how busy Nick and I have been lately. My last training camp for AIM was three weeks ago, but things have not really slowed down. I wanted to update you a bit on what I’ve been, and will continue doing for the Ambassador Program.
Right after our last training camp, I took a few days off of “AIM stuff” in order to catch back up on life here in Kentucky. I loved going down to the camps in Georgia, but leaving Nick back at home was not ideal. Plus, with the camps so close together, it was difficult to keep up with the house, relationships, and everything in between for those few weeks.
So after a few days “off,” I started back into the swing of things. We put the new 2011 trips up that following week, and the inquiries have been incredible. I’ve had hundreds of e-mails from prospective participants come in since that point. And it is a bit daunting at points to open the inbox and see 70 new e-mails in bold print. On the plus side, we are now offering two spring break trips, and an even wider variety of trips all around the world during the summer. It is exciting to be at the start of this.
Last year, if you recall, I joined in late February or March, so I missed a lot of the initial inquiries and participants. Additionally, because I started in the middle of everything, I felt like I was always playing catch-up. I hope to stay ahead of the game this year, and help participants get through the application process, and into the support-raising process sooner. Maybe that will alleviate some of the support phone calls closer to the trip that I dread making. 
More importantly, though, I am hoping this gives me the chance to get to know each participant. I missed a huge chunk this year because they were already through the application process (which is what I primarily help with), and I never had to follow up on their support. So, unfortunately, at the training camps, I was talking to many of them for the first time.
So among my normal duties of e-mailing and calling participants, I am also going to be doing a bit of recruiting. There aren’t too many benefits to me not living near the base in Georgia, but one lies in the fact that I have a whole community people unfamiliar with AIM. I am hoping to speak with the leaders of the youth group at my church, that has a regular weekly attendance of over 300 high school students. I was able to talk to one of the leaders a few weeks ago, and she seemed eager to get me involved since they do not already have their own mission trips set up. That could be an incredible blessing to have participants from right here in my backyard. Please be in prayer regarding all of that.
Thanks for your many prayers and support year-round. You guys are my family and my support system, and without you this would not be possible.
