2000 June 1.... Personal News

Dear Friends and colleagues,
...   A few words from Paul

   I am writing from a Starbucks coffee place in a Chicago "burb" (suburb for those of you outside the USA).
   This chain of coffee stores is my favorite place to hang out at ("hanging out" is an art I used to know well--as a former hippie--but seem to have lost over the years... I am trying re-learn it, and relax more in my otherwise usually hectic "work life").
   Am here attending an annual event called InTent (Christian business ventures in the context of foreign missions)... I am selling books (making sure they get exposed to good missions resources!!!), networking, etc. I drove in yesterday from Colorado (a two day trip).

... off to India and New Zealand
   Later in June I hope to take off to India for two to three weeks and take Sean along. This may be the last chance that he might want to travel with his dad... he is almost 18 and is currently your typical aggravating teenager (Mary called me yesterday in tears after a confrontation with him)....
   YWAM is changing presidents in September (from an American in Brazil to a Samoan/Maori guy...) when we will have our 40th anniversary celebration and international staff conference in New Zealand (the last one was in 1989 in Manila).
    On July 16 I will turn 50!!!! Mary wants to organize a party... are you coming?? A day later I probably head off to Dallas to the national conference (for church missions committees), from there to Phoenix, Arizona (Antioch meetings).

... playing YWAM knowledge broker
   This year I am traveling a bit more than usually (before New Zealand I should be in Indonesia). But usually, I am much more busy "traveling" the internet (and maintaining ywam.org), connecting YWAM (now about 11,000 volunteer staff in over 700 locations), consulting, helping people get into missions and YWAM, and of course directing our international YWAM Communications team (the most wonderful YWAM team I have ever been with).
   Again, please forgive the lack of "personal" communications from us; the constant backlog of ministry-related communications tasks, leaves little time for personal communication as well as (unfortunately) other personal reflections and recreation (I am sure you understand).
   Well, thank you for allowing me to chat a little with you.... Stay in touch, be encouraged, be well, write or call and, yes, ALSO remember me in any budgetary consideration... if there is capacity, please consider a regular underwriting of this "strategic" YWAM knowledge broker.

with much love, and in His Service,

Paul Filidis (director)
Youth With A Mission International Communications

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