Replacing Yourself

 As leaders and as cross-cultural workers, we are always looking to replace ourselves. That is not to say that we are looking to leave where we are, but just that it is a healthy for us and the work if we are actively training others to do what we do. This can apply to our teammates that we train, as well as islanders that we hope will continue a lot of what we do. 

On ward awaiting surgery

The hospital where I had surgery is a teaching hospital. So some of the doctors that were treating me had ‘RESIDENT’ on their badges and some of the nurses had ‘STUDENT’ on theirs. The thing about teaching and training is that the new people usually aren’t going to do it as well as the experienced ones. They will make mistakes. One of the residents had trouble placing my IV before surgery— ultimately the senior doctor stepped in and put it in while the resident watched. One of the brand new student nurses didn’t tape the gauze over my removed IV with appropriate pressure and I ended up dripping blood on the ground when I stood up. The senior nurse came and redid it with lots of tape and pressure for the student to see! We tell our English students all the time not to fear mistakes, that they help them learn!  As trainers and teachers, we have to avoid the tendency of hovering too much or taking over too quickly, while still modeling, supporting and setting people up to thrive. 

 

Tom is helping to teach a brand new curriculum that one of the English centers purchased. Even though he has trained many teachers in that center and they are comfortable with the old curriculum, they wanted him to teach the new curriculum. He made sure that there were two island teachers doing it with him, and after watching him teach the first handful of classes, one of them realized that he could do it, so he volunteered to teach the next unit and the other teacher said he’d do the one after that. A little modeling empowered these teachers. 
 

Sometimes we’re challenged with the question— is there anything that you do that no one else can do? If there is, how are you going to train someone else to do it? 

Tom teaching new curriculum

The idea is that even if you left suddenly, things would be able to survive fine without you. My being suddenly gone for an extra week revealed that Tom and our son can handle most of the household and homeschool things. The women’s gathering happened without me. I still did some of the admin from mainland Africa (maybe I should be training someone else to know how to do that), but generally there wasn’t much that absolutely needed me. Not to say that it isn’t easier for people if I am around to do these things, but they get by fine on their own. 

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are very thankful that Megan’s surgery was successful with no complications. She was given the all clear to travel back to the islands and arrived home yesterday. We are very thankful for people that helped her at the hospital and for strangers who helped her lift bags at the airport. Our kids at boarding school had a good first week of school and seem to be settling back in well. Tom and our youngest did well on their own. We are thankful that the women’s gathering happened even without Megan helping to organize. The boat business is up and running— it was a long first week with some unexpected hurdles but they got to rescue two small boats that were overloaded and struggling in open ocean. We just heard about a new person joining our island familyon the big island.  She is the actual (biological) sister of a brother here on Clove Island— he is rejoicing and praying for the rest of his family. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Continue to pray for Megan’s rest and recovery from surgery. Continue to pray for the boat business as they are pestered by different officials on the different islands and continue to work out the kinks in how they operate. Pray for energy and stamina for them. Pray for the second monthly men’s gathering that should happen this week— may it help build momentum towards it becoming a regular habit for the month. Both Muki and Mtsa have been sick— pray for their healing and for their continued growth.