Bamboo Blessings!: Business Trip

The last couple days I got to go on my first ever business trip. The best part was hanging out with my coworkers. We have the best department ever. Not all could attend but here are pics of most of us. After conference hours we went bowling, out to eat, and hung out in the hot tub.
The conference itself was interesting. Some of the speakers were relevant to my job, but a few were strange. They actually brought in "famous" motivational speakers who had written how to books with titles like Coping with Change and Finding the Power Inside You. They were very enthusiastic godless "preachers", preaching a gospel for those who need a lift. They sounded just like preachers, I kid you not.. but instead of glorifying God it was all about glorifying yourself. It was very interesting to note the comparisons with preaching and gospel... and how many real preachers that I've heard recently sound just like a motivational speaker with a little dash of God talk... all trying to get a reaction out of the crowd... all using feel-good methods. There is very little difference in the delivery. Very interesting. Oh how people crave the truth and they are seeking... why else would these motivational speakers be so successful. People want to hear a gospel. I thought I'd come away from the conference with more ideas of how to do my job better... I may have gotten a little bit of that. But mostly I came away more aware of the world's need for Truth, Gospel, Motivation, and a Positive Uplifting, all of which can only truly come from knowing Jesus.

The CAREER Staff

Back Row: Diane(Sandstonian), Dagim(Oromo-Ethiopian), Norberto(Peurtorican), Amy(Karen-Burmese). Front Row: Sia(Hmong), Erin(Canadian-American), and some pale creature with a freakishly long neck. Missing: Awil(Somali) and Shuaib(Somali)