My blog is once again inspired by my boss. Not because I am sucking up but because that’s his job: to inspire. He inspires people to work, he inspires people to dream and to invest and he has once again inspired people to lead.
Graham Vermooten (the boss) has just come back from a three week trip which took him from the southern most tip of Africa, Cape Town, to the centre of Africa, Kenya, Mambasa and then up to Scotland where he spoke at the Visual Story Network Conference. Travelling with him to Kenya were 20 excited students on their way to do their YWAM – DTS outreach. For the last three months these students have been getting to know each other and for the next three months they will be getting to know the community they are called to serve.
Graham selected three students to be group leaders. They would be the ones who would take responsibility for the rest, liase back to Media Village, check on logistics and work on team unity. They are the “go-to-guys”. I wondered how he had chosen three out of all 20 of them, all just as bubbly as the next – all which potential for leadership. I wondered if this had caused any conflict.
As the meeting continued Graham describe how Talita, a bright young ambitious girl who had not been chosen as an official “leader”, had approached one of the warm-hearted leaders, Mercia. In a bold moment Talita told Mercia that for the rest of the outreach she would be doing her laundry for her.
She would serve Mercia so that Mercia could lead them.
Serving through leading and Leading through serving.
Graham is always encouraging us to aspire to leadership. Being in a leadership position, I know that this is not as glamorous as it may seem. It’s scary to call the shots and it’s not nice to be seen as ” not nice.” But I have realized is that there is a fine line between leading and serving.
Talita has lead the way in serving Mercia. Mercia has humbly taken the difficult role of leading the others. The Media Village staff have been encouraged to look at each other and to ask the simple question :”Can I do your ‘washing’” – so that together we can lead and serve.
The entire group is currently serving in the Simba Hills of Kenya. Below is an insert from report written by Talitha:
Jambo!
This week half of our team went to Happy Rock Orphanage. We painted the school and the boy’s dorm, fixed the cupboards, windows and a fan. It was hard work, but seeing the improvement was rewarding…
The other half of the team joined the Compassion holiday program where
they helped the teachers by teaching and presenting games. They taught the learners First Aid and gave tips on how to understand a text…
We thank God for how He has strengthened us this week. We can also
testify of a great unity in the group.
God bless!
MediaVillage@Kenya
