I have nothing...
September as a previous entry, huh? Gosh, this message is long awaited… We do apologize for not keeping up to date. So this may be a little long but… an update.
I visited the office the other day for the first time. Laura, Kelly, Stephanie and I met at the office on January 2nd for an all day meeting. Office? Through the support of people very much like those of you (who may be reading this) the Lord has blessed Latreia with enough funding to open a small office in Dinkytown, a pocket within the Twin Cities next to the University of Minnesota. Latreia shares office space in a building designated to house non-profit organizations. The office is outfitted with a desk, computer, printer, filing cabinet and bookshelves.
I took (on this visit) the final bundle of mail that would come to Latreia through the PO Box in Waverly as mail is now sent to the office. Latreia receives much mail - mostly newsletter updates from the places visited during a year on the road. It’s funny to read through the newsletters and find out what is going on… mostly funny to pick out the names of the people Latreia had the opportunity to serve with and think back on time spent with them. Together again, we reminisce.
People ask what I do… I am a carpenter - I work on a crew that builds houses. Kelly, Laura and Stephanie have jobs as well. I am sure people ask them the same question. I am sure they answer according to their employment track and I am sure they get the same funny thoughts in the back of their head – “Should I tell…?”
The truth is that Latreia as one life-changing year on the road is nowhere close to “one year.” The truth is that Latreia has been the answer to a calling that has changed our lives. The truth is that Latreia continues to reach the lives of others. The truth is that Latreia was never about the year.
The last time we were assembled was in October of 2005 when we held our first Board of Director’s meeting. Board of Directors? Latreia has a B.O.D. consisting of 7 individuals along with the 4 original members of Latreia - 11 in all. Our board is pretty cool… the first meeting lasted a couple hours where we generated immediate and long term goals and then brainstormed how to reach these goals. I wish I had the space to share a little about each board member but you will have to trust me when I say they are great… they have been the answer to our prayers for council.
This last meeting in the office was held to discuss… basically to discuss where Latreia stands. I will skip telling you about the application for insurance coverage. I won’t bother you with the details of constant website and recruiting management. I suppose it would be cumbersome to include figures about budgeting, fundraising and the hiring of our first employee (an office assistant!). It will suffice to say that as of January, 2006 Latreia is still alive and kicking. Just a few weeks ago we invited the first individual to join Latreia for the year-long team leaving in September of 2006. The 4 of us will meet at the office again in 2 weeks and our next Board meeting will be in 3.
Latreia is alive in the newsletters we receive each day. It is alive in the newsletters we send out. Latreia is alive on the World Wide Web where we have had college students tell us they are going to take a trip to a place we have listed. Latreia is alive as we speak at the Youth Encounter conferences we have been invited to. Latreia is alive in the hearts of each member of her Board of Directors and it is alive in a small office in Dinkytown. Latreia is also alive in all of you that are reading this right now. Latreia is alive in you because you have cared enough to check in. Thank you all for your continued support. I sit here finishing this letter listening to Bebo Norman sing “I have nothing without you…” and I think... Latreia is alive because of the grace of God working through so many people who answer the call to give back to the Creator who first gave to us.
Jesse
