(Downsized my life to 2 bags and still getting rid of stuff)
I mentioned briefly already about “feedback�, but now that I’ve been on the race for a bit I want to explain in more depth what this has actually looked like so far. Every night, our team gathers together to talk about the day: highlights and lowlights, pros and cons, encouragement, praises, issues that someone may have, and ways we can challenge each other and our team to grow, and to look and act more like Christ. We are really just giving an opportunity to bring our “stuff� into the open. We hope to create an environment where people feel comfortable to actually “talk about� the things that we’d otherwise secretly think and let irritate us, causing dissension.
(After attending the local Baptist church, with the pastors.)
This has been very challenging for me. Anyone who has spent time with me will probably know that I am not the most confrontational person. I tend to let little things annoy me and fester inside of me rather than let people know what’s on my mind. I’ve been learning that this is not the most healthy way to communicate and by staying quiet I may be robbing someone else of an opportunity to grow. We all have our own “stuff� and unless someone else lovingly and boldly points it out, we may never know and be given a chance to correct it.
(Taking our siesta during the heat of the day from construction of a church.)
Our daily meetings, which we now call “The Habibi Huddle� because of the negative connotation with the word “feedback�, have become a vital time for our team to grow and to stay unified. Team unity is something we are learning we must fight for, especially if we are going to live in such close parameters for the next 11 months. While we don’t always agree with someone’s feedback and there have been some tears, we are learning to humbly say “thank you� and look at this as an opportunity to grow rather than take offense.
We are learning to put others first as Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.�
Joyfully from the Philippines,
Andrew
