Brigada » Phone

4) Free Conference Calling —

brigtoday — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 03:56:03 +0000

Lynn wrote this past week, reminding us of a service that provides free conference calls in the U.S. and internationally. You can set up a free account, it is easy and it works. The service offers in-country dial-in numbers in multiple countries all connected for free, on one call. Check it out at…

http://www.freeconferencecall.com

(Thanks Lynn!)

11) Mobiles And Mission

brigtoday — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:49:18 +0000

You can now download (in mp4 format) a strategic 5-minute YouTube video about mobiles and missions:

http://www.internetevangelismday.com/mobile-outreach.php

(Thanks Tony!)

7) Mobile Phone Growth In Africa

brigtoday — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:53:17 +0000

Apparently, mobiles are increasingly strategic for Africa. In an article by Ugandan evangelist Kato Miguel,

http://www.yesumulungi.com/index.php/commentaries/400-technology-rising-middle-class-and-the-future-of-evangelism-in-africa.html

There you’ll find two short videos, one by a mission strategist on the challenge for ministry:

http://www.internetevangelismday.com/mobile-outreach.php

Long documentary on the use of mobiles in Africa:

http://vimeo.com/4664795

(Thanks Tony!)

3) iPhone App Makes Your Language Classes Obsolete

brigtoday — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:57:54 +0000

OK… I’m joking in the title, but this iPhone app does look interesting. Here’s an app featured at lifehacker.com that snaps a picture, then does a translation. WinMobile won’t be far behind, I bet. My winMobile phone already scans business cards, imports the picture into a OCR program, scans and lets you make any corrections needed (none usually needed if the light was good and the font was fairly conservative), then imports the address into your contact list, guessing the correct fields for everything most of the time. So Arabic won’t be far behind. OK… maybe it won’t come before Christmas. But once again, you iPhone types beat us to the punch again! :-) (Thanks for the tip, K in N. Africa.)

See the original review at…

http://lifehacker.com/5389461/pictranslator-turns-your-iphones-camera-into-a-language-translator?skyline=true&s=i

2) Get Int’l Roaming For Your Gsm Cell Phone

Editor — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:56:00 +0000

Now you can get cheap international roaming rates for US cell phones. Save lots of money, and have one US phone number that will reach you as you travel in multiple countries. To learn more see this short, helpful page at Dial-Abroad.org:

http://www.dial-abroad.org/international-mobile-roaming.htm

To comment on this item, simply click “Comment” below the item at …

9) E.T. Wishes It Would Have Been This Easy To Phone Home

Editor — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:51:00 +0000

If you’re from the USA and you run on a network that isn’t global (like — Sprint maybe?), you’ll likely need to pick up a different phone for travel. Why buy when you can rent one for just the handful of days you’ll be gone? What’s your favorite vendor? Here’s one such vendor that Brigada participant, Tim, likes…

http://www.globalcellularrental.com/

They pretty much take care of everything, including shipping your phone to you the day before you leave. These are true global phones: they’ll work pretty much everywhere, with roaming rates up to 80% less than your home-based plan would have cost you. They also rent satphones which will work basically anywhere in the world as long as you’re outside.

Another Brigada user, with a great first name (“Doug”), likes
http://www.mobal.com/
They have a worldphone that you buy for $99 on a pay-as-you-go plan. No contracts, no hassles. Just prepay.

If you already own a GSM phone, just ask for a free SIM chip from Mobal. They’ll manage your relationships with virtually every country in the world (170, to be exact), allowing you to talk and recharge with one vendor. They make a strong case for their product at:

http://www.mobal.com/gsm/sim.asp

However, their rates seem higher than the vendor I’ve been using. See their USA landing page at:

http://www.gosim.com/?gosimusa

Got a favorite vendor for communications devices like these? Please recommend them by clicking “Comment” after this item on the web at…

9) Rent Or Buy A "Worldphone"

Editor — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:30:00 +0000

If you need to stay connected, consider renting a cell phone and/or SIM card from the folks at Telestial.

http://www.telestial.com/
If you use a US-based cell network like I do (I like Sprint’s plans), you’ll have to pick up a cheap GSM phone on ebay. Ask Telestial for help. Then ask them for a SIM card that will connect to the cell network in your destination country. Odds are, the cost will be prohibitive for anything but emergencies or a daily 2′ check-in. But having the cell phone option will be a great sense of security.

10) Rent a Satphone

Editor — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:00:00 +0000

If you’re unsure about relying on cell coverage for any reason, for dangerous or “out back” areas, see Telestial. (See link above.) They might not be the cheapest, but they know their stuff. Again, the cost is prohibitive … unless you’re about to be kidnapped and you need to get a call out. Then the cost will be minimal. :-)

11) Rent a SAT Modem

Editor — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:00:00 +0000

If you’re not sure there will be good connectivity in your area and you simply *must* remain connected, consider a Thrane Sat Modem or its equivalent. Something like the Thrane Explorer 500 (via the BGAN network) shouldn’t set you back more than $115/week. Granted, that’s too much for the typical instant messaging with your kids, perhaps. But if your office needs you to be in touch for a few emails each day, then it’s really not a terrible deal. You can connect at up to 128K via USB. It’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. For an example, visit:

http://www.satellitephonestore.com
although that’s just one of many vendors you could research.

25) Find a USB Cell Phone Charger

Editor — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0000

Many makes of cell phones now sell chargers that plug into your laptop’s USB port, charging the cell phone or PDA throughout the night with a slow charge that should do the trick by morning. That way you save one entire slot in the brown extension cord. :-)

GREAT INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC CALLING RATES

Editor — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:31:00 +0000

Whether from US & Canada, you can now get very low calling rates for domestic (starting at 1.9 cents/min to continental US and Canada) and international calls (200 countries for less than 10 cents/min …UK 2.5 cents, France 3 cents, Russia/Moscow 2.5 cents (see the site for more listings). With this prepaid service you can call from any touchtone phone, including cell phones. There are no contracts; no monthly, activation, or connection fees; and no need to switch carriers. You also get up to 470 FREE minutes on signup, and there are lots of convenience features like no pin and speed dialing. For more information go to:

http://www.BestCallingRates.net

and Judy asked that we remind you to be sure to enter code 837371 to get your free minutes and credit for a tithe to Brigada.

An agent affiliate program with good income potential is also available at no cost to sign up.

20071118 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 01:43:00 +0000

In this issue…

IS THERE AN ONLINE RESOURCE TO DISCERN ONE’S CALLING? — That’s what Andy would like to know. He’s a leader at Wycliffe and he’d love to help people discover what is God’s will for their lives more effectively with some online tool. “Have you ever run across an assessment tool to help a person especially a young person determine what God’s call on his life may be? I have experienced something like this in a work book like “Jesus on Leadership,” but I was wondering if there was something on line that could do much the same thing?” Can you advise him of any options? If so, please drop by at

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=52

and leave a “Comment.” Thanks!

WHO WILL TRY THIS CELL PHONE OPTION (FOR INT’L TRAVEL)? — If you’re willing to be a bleeding-edge beta-tester, we’d love to hear your take on the new int’l travel cell sim chip at

http://www.maxroam.com

We commented on it earlier. Rates aren’t *quite* as good as predicted (prior to the formal launch of the company), but some of them are actually quite close. It happens I recently bought into another system (go-sim), so I’m not well-positioned to test this one. If you’re willing, please jot a note to that effect at

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=51

Once you’ve formed an impression, please stop back and tell your experience. Check back at this site later to see the comments that have come in. Thanks to anyone willing to try it!!! (And thanks to Steve for keeping this at the forefront of our attention.)

MISSIONARY TRAINING CAMP — It’s slated for February 7-10, 2008 at Living Waters Farm, Virginia. Invest in four days of focused examination of seven areas critical for becoming one sent from a local church. The days are a balance of hearing principles and receiving impartation from others who have years of experience. For a full description of the training see

http://www.elijahcompany.org

To personally communicate with an Elijah Company representative write to training(at)elijahcompany
(dot)org or call (757) 226-3507 or (757) 287-4604. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address back onto one line.]
LEARN ENGLISH IN THE USA — Do you know people who are called to missions but need to speak English to fulfill that calling? An ESL class will be offered in Lebanon, PA, USA beginning March 2, 2008 and ending May 23, 2008 for those who want to learn to speak and understand the English language. The necessary aspects of English grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation will be taught to enable the student to acquire communicative competence. Cost is $2250 with a non-refundable $35 registration fee. For more information or to register contact ywampa(at)comcast
(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address onto one line.]
2008 POST-CHRISTENDOM SPIRITUALITIES CONFERENCE — Practitioners and scholars working in the field of new religious movements are invited to submit a title and 250-word abstract along with a curriculum vita for consideration in the Post-Christendom Spiritualities conference to be held at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 16-19 October 2008. Special consideration will be given to papers addressing the academic study of new religious movements as well as the praxis of engaging these movements. Papers for the conference might include, but are not limited to, subjects such as Goddess spirituality and the theology of God, Inter-religious apologetics in post-modernity, and the work of the Spirit in mission and New Spiritualities Papers should reflect the ideas expressed in the Lausanne Occasional Paper no. 45 found at
http://www.lausanne.org/documents/2004forum/LOP45_IG16.pdf

Please submit a title, abstract and CV to mcooper(at)tiu
(dot)org by 31 December 2007 [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . then reassemble the address back onto one line.] If accepted, a paper must be submitted by 15 August 2008 in order for solicitations of responses from critical respondents.
INTRODUCING PRAYER TOOLBAR — Finally, there is a tool for churches to encourage people to pray, worship, serve and connect with God beyond the Sunday service. Prayer Toolbar (TM) enables churches to publish messages that display in people’s web browser anytime they go online. If your church uses bulletins, web sites, email or podcasts to spread the God’s Word, than you owe it to yourself to investigate this new technology to connect people to God through you. What it can do for your church is huge. What it can do for His people is eternal. Visit
http://www.prayertoolbar.com/

to see a FREE, online demonstration. There’s never been anything like it.

GO TO THE NATIONS…AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER — Here’s an exciting and intensive 4-week TESOL course equipping you with effective English teaching techniques, sponsored by Youth With A Mission in Lebanon, PA, USA. The school dates are March 9-April 4, 2008 and April 20 – May 16, 2008 and it’s a certificate program. Details, application forms, and alternate dates listed on our website at

http://www.ywampa.org

Email questions to ywampa(at)comcast
(dot)net [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address onto one line.]
WHEN YOU SUBMIT ITEMS TO BRIGADA, PLEASE… — Please don’t use “classified ad language.” It’s not really our style. Also, please remember to speak in 3rd person; otherwise our readers will become confused as to which person is speaking. In fact, please check out the short list of suggestions by clicking on “submit” at
http://www.brigada.org

Thanks! Your investment in some of these tiny differences would help us a great deal in preparing future editions of Brigada Today – on time.

A LESS EXPENSIVE VPN — If you’re a one-up VPN user (i.e., you don’t need a dashboard for your entire organization), try

http://www.witopia.net

It’s about $40/year and several Brigada participants, including Wade and Tony, have found it to be very effective.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU’VE MADE IN BRIGADA — We *so* appreciate our dear brother in Sweden who came back in 2007 to give $100, and another anonymous couple out East sent $50. On top of that, YWAM in Lebanon, PA bowled us over with a $300 gift! Sobered, encouraged, and motivated… Thank you! Another anonymous sister sent $100. A brother in Texas sent $25, joined by another brother who also sent $25 from the mountains of Northern Thailand and yet another from here in Kentucky (also $25). A missions committee member from Davao sent $50 with a very encouraging note. Workers from Oscar in UK also sent $50 and a couple working in Brazil sent $25. Another mobilizer from the great state of Texas sent $100. We give praise to God for this partnership and help!

PROGRESS… BUT COULD YOU HELP US BRIDGE THE GAP? — The gifts above, added to last edition’s total of $8,967.90, brings our 2007 total to $9817.90. This is still quite a ways from our goal of $17,150 and still quite shy of the $15,096 that came in in 2006. We would *so* love it if we could see some major catch-uppage happen here in the final week. Would you be willing to help make that happen at your church, group, family, or in your own bank account? If God has enabled you to make even a small gift, would you be willing to give it on behalf of someone who, for now, can’t? If so, thanks!!! Just click on the “Donate“.

As we say above, we’ve made progress, but still need the following gifts to meet our needs…

1 of 1 more gift of $1000
3 of 5 more gifts of $500
8 of 250 more gifts of $250
7 of 13 more gifts of $100
20 of 27 more gifts of $50
56 of 70 more gifts of $25

You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card. Or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACKPAGE: ONE MAN’S REFLECTIONS OF CHRISTMAS — As I write this ‘back page’, it’s Christmas evening. (Yes, I know the edition is dated earlier than that; we’re *trying* to catch up by the end of the year. Pray for us! :-) ) I’m listening to Napster Christmas music in my earbuds, my wife and two sons are fast asleep and I’m redeeming these tranquil moments to reflect on the essence of family. Fresh in my mind is Steve Farrar’s book, “Point Man: How a Man Can Lead his Family.” (See

http://www.stevefarrar.com/

for more info on Dr. Farrar.) It always seems to me that families try a little harder to “get together” at Christmas. I saw both my brothers. We spent Christmas Eve with my wife’s family. And today I drove up to see my mom, who now lives alone in the family farmhouse where I was raised. On the one hand, my wife and I are enjoying having our college-aged son home for the holidays, while at the same time, our thoughts fast-forward to summer time, when our other son ships out to begin training as a soldier. We leave day after tomorrow for a week-long family vacation.

Perhaps, as you read these words, you’re serving overseas. But I bet you’ve Skyped (or wish you had) with a relative too, sometime during these past couple of days. So you can at least identify. We make a special effort to focus on the family this time of year. And I’m wondering — what if we could somehow manage to keep that focus throughout the entire year. Maybe we can’t take a family vacation every month… but we could probably at least do the Skype call, you know? I *try* to motor up to see my mom at least once a month, but there are certainly times that I miss. Someone recently admitted to me that we really don’t know for sure that Jesus was born on — or even around — December 25th. So although Christmas holiday is a great excuse, it really isn’t rooted to December. So as we turn the corner toward the New Year, why not join me in a resolution to “focus on the family” all the more in ’08. If you’re single, call a parent, sibling, or family friend. If we’re lucky enough to still have parents or others alive in your life, let’s seize the moment. Let’s make *every* month like Christmas in ’08. Let’s rebuild broken relationships and strengthen others. Let’s save up and budget for the gifts we wish we’d been courageous enough to give this Christmas. And let’s love like it’s going outa’ style. Let’s make 2008 the year we show family (and the world) a model that Jesus would have loved. After all, he made sure his mother was squared away, even as he hung on the cross. So moms, wives, and kids of the world, get ready — ’cause here we come! :-)

(Want to comment on this ‘back page’ editorial? Just log on at:

http://brigada.org/brigade/?p=53

and click “comments” in the summary line. Thanks!)

20071021 Brigada Today

Editor — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:24:00 +0000

In this issue…

TRAINING ON MICROFINANCE AND MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT — The next class of the Chalmers Center’s “Principles and Practices of Christian Microfinance and Microenterprise Development” email-based distance learning course is scheduled for Jan. 7 – Feb. 22, 2008. This course gives you an overview to microenterprise development and microfinance and orients you to the selection and design of a holistic intervention appropriate for your ministry context. Cost of this seven-week course is $199 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material. (The course will be offered again in Sept. 2008.)

The course is available to those who have taken the prerequisite course, “Foundations and Principles of Holistic Ministry.” The “Foundations” course helps you understand appropriate goals and strategies for conducting Christian development in poor communities within the Two- Thirds World. (It will actually benefit anyone preparing for Christian outreach and ministry among the poor, whether they plan to implement an economic development strategy or not.) This class will be offered on Feb. 4 – 29, 2008 and on April 28 – May 23, 2008, and either class offering can be taken as the prerequisite for the Sept. 2008 “Principles” class. Cost of this four-week course is $75 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material.

Because these courses are email-based, slow dial-up speed will not limit participation. Also note that you may spend 8-10 hours per week on course work.

To learn more, including information about a discount for Two-Thirds World participants, or to register, visit

http://www.chalmers.org

or call 1-706-419-1805. When registering, use Reference Identifier BRN- 10/07.

GET YOUR OWN MISSIONARY WEBSITE — 411 Ministries is offering a new, upgraded service that allows any missionary to bring up their own website within 15-30 minutes without knowing any web programming. Get a free Basic website plus a donation-based Premium website. You can include your personal and family information as well as information about your sending organization. In addition, you can post pictures, prayer requests, news updates, your current support status and needs, and you or your family’s biography. Their management interface includes an easy-to-use button-driven toolbar to add formatting to all your information. Some 180 missionaries have already found a home there. For more information, go to:

http://www.411ministries.com

or, contact noel(at)
411ministries(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address elements on one line.]
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS WITHOUT LONG-TERM HARM — In addition to its distance learning courses on economic development, the Chalmers Center also offers an email-based distance learning course on the issues surrounding short-term missions (less than one month) in the context of the socio-economic poor. This course presents frameworks for considering the issues so that the benefits of missions projects are maximized and potential harm is minimized. It is designed for those involved in short-term missions to locations throughout the world as well as to locations in the U.S./Canada. The training is appropriate for: 1) sending churches and denominations, 2) host churches and missionaries, 3) missions project leaders, and 4) missions team members.
The next class is scheduled for March 10 – March 28, 2008. Cost of this three-week course is $55 (USD) plus the cost of separately ordered course material.

Because the course is email-based, slow dial-up speed will not limit participation. Also note that you may spend 6-8 hours per week on course work.

To learn more, including information about a discount for Two-Thirds World participants, or to register, visit

http://www.chalmers.org

or call 1-706-419-1805. When registering, use Reference Identifier BRN- 10/07.

AQUAPONICS WORKSHOP — If you want to develop skills in the emerging technology of fish and vegetable production in a naturally balanced system, attend an upcoming Aquaponics Workshop. Learn the techniques of inexpensively constructing and managing these highly productive systems which are adaptable to all types of environments and proving to be an effective outreach ministry. Full-time missionaries can register at the student rate. For more information or to register, visit:

http://www.aquacultureinternational.org

GREAT CHRISTMAS/END OF YEAR GIFT FOR YOUR MUSLIM FRIENDS — Here’s a new book, One God One Message, written for Muslims, skeptics and seekers. A newly printed, thinner, attractive edition seeks to clear up the confusion that prevents Muslims from taking the Bible seriously using real-life illustrations and more than a thousand verses from Scripture. Available for $10 a copy from GoodSeed International:

http://www.goodseed.com/store/us/products/resources/ogom.aspx

Translations are underway in French, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Swahili and German.

LOOKING FOR AN ITEM IN A PAST BRIGADA? — Just use our on-site search capability, powered by Google. Just click on “Search” in the menu at the top of this page. Enter a word or two from the item that you remember and watch it flash before your eyes.

GAIN NEW INSIGHT: TAKE THIS ONLINE PROFILER — Just browse to

http:// www.cflex.org

It’s a free online test that helps you analyze your ministry in a whole new objective light. Check it out. (Thanks Rick!)

E-TICKETING THROUGH GLOBAL TRAVEL TRENDS (GTTRENDS) — Organizers of GT Trends invite you to book global travel through their site, claiming cheaper fares and easy access. You can also become a business partner with GTTrends by investing US$ 299.00 to become an Associate Travel Agent, creating the potential for a stream of income from the customers you attract. For more information, email streams7(at)
juno (dot) com or benjo_lee(at)

juno (dot) com. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the email addresses onto one line.]
UNREACHED AND LEAST EVANGELIZED PEOPLES FORUM — Don’t forget, it happens this week, Nov. 27-29, 2007, at the Irving Bible Church, Irving TX. The goal? To increase and multiply the focus and engagement with Unreached Peoples. In this forum key ministries, churches, agencies, and others from or within North America will meet to interactively: a) Explore the big picture & current realities b) Cross-pollinate c) Engage in strategic conversations around the challenges and issues that emerge. d) Connect to a growing group of partners, models, resources and new ideas e) Intercede and hear from God f) Both give input and receive. Get more info at
http://www.snipr.com/naupn2

or email johnq(at)
missionamerica(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address on one line.]
GRAND CENTRAL: YOUR FREE PHONE NUMBER FROM GOOGLE — Have you ever wanted to have one number that followed you wherever you went? Have you needed an US number when you lived overseas? Dou you need a number in a different area code? Google has launched a new service called GrandCentral. Check it out at
http://www.grandcentral.com

It allows you to sign up for a local phone number that forwards to several other phone numbers. It works with landlines, mobile phones, voicemail, and other systems. It is in beta and is free. But for now, users primarily can just *reserve* a number… unless you can find a current Grandcentral user to “invite” you. (Thanks Jonathan!)

FREE DOWNLOADABLE MULTI-LINGUAL TRACTS — Order soon in time for the Holy-days! In 1954 a pastor preached a sermon entitled, “Steps Leading to Salvation” and distributed his notes. Little did he know that this would give birth to the _Step Up To Life_(tm) evangelistic booklet. Since that time the tract has been translated into 17 different languages and is used worldwide by many different denominations, organizations and everyday “Joe Christians.” More information, teaching materials, free downloads (multiple languages available), and interactive versions are all available at

http://www.stepuptolife.com

INVITE A SPECIAL SPEAKER: ROCCO BADENHORST — Looking for a speaker for an upcoming missions conference? Rocco Badenthorst is reputed to be such a speaker, having been invited to Brazil for the past three years by invitation at one their key conferences. Many listeners have experienced transformed as a result of his talks. Read more at:

http://www.integrityministries.org/christianspeaker.htm

Call him at (309)828-5057 in the USA or rtb4him(at) gmail(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble it onto one line.]

READ BILL DILLON’S FUND-RAISING BLOG — Now you can get even more practical advice from Bill Dillon, President of People Raising. Learn from his more than 35 years of fund raising experience. Whether raising individual support or organizational support, this resource could be invaluable. Also take a look at the award-winning 6-hour fund raising training program available in DVD/CD/Video/MP3.For more information go to

http://www.peopleraising.com/blog/

or email Bill(at) PeopleRaising(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . and reassemble the address on one line.]

SINCE WE LAST REPORTED… — Our good friends at Dial-Abroad sent $60.95 in thanks for those who learned about their services via Brigada. Thanks! To try Dial-Abroad’s revolutionary phone services (at a great price), just click to:

http://www.dial-abroad.org/brigada.htm

In addition, an Oregonian sent $20, joined by a resident of Kentucky who sent $25. And a new friend from the great state of Pennsylvania sent $300!

This brings to $6,222.87 the total gifts for 2007. We publish our budget needs in the first month of the year. The 2007 budget is $17,150 for *everything*. So… sorry to say… we have quite a bit of ground to cover in the next 6 weeks. Is there *any* way you, your church, or organization could pitch in? Match the giver from Oregon, Kentucky, or Pennsylvania? We would be so grateful. When giving reaches $17,150, we’ll stop receiving money for 2007 and stop mentioning finances in Brigada Today. You have our word on it.

UNDERGIRD BRIGADA, GIVE FOR A GLOBAL CITIZEN WHO CAN’T — Notice, you received this edition of Brigada for no charge. We’re a step-out-on- faith initiative. Would you consider giving an offering so that our 2007 needs are met *before* the end of the year? If so, just click “Donate“. You can pull the money from your PayPal account or from any major credit card. Or if you prefer, send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 11327 Jefferson Trace Blvd., Louisville, KY 40291. (Team Expansion is a 501(c)3 incorporation so for USA citizens, your checks made out to Team Expansion are tax-deductible.) As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. And thank you in advance for helping.

THE BACKPAGE: THE NIGHT BEFORE A BIG TRIP — What do you do on the eve of a big trip overseas? (It’s such an evening for me tonight.)

Do your kids ask you to help them list an item on eBay? :-) My suggestion is — do it. The gesture will take you 30′ and possibly force you to stay up a half-hour longer at the end of the day, but the price will be worth it. Besides… maybe it’ll make you sleep better on the overnight flight. So in general… invest in a high quality time activity for any family member that will receive it. You’ll be glad you did.

Do you clean out your inbox? I try to, if at all possible. My outbound flight might take me out of commission for as long as 18-24 hours. So if possible, I like to be caught up so things don’t look any worse than they already are! :-)

Do you look ahead not only at the time you’ll be gone but also at the 7 days immediately after your return? Check out any deadlines or due dates for that next week so you can be working on things during your trip, if need be.

Do you make arrangements for communicating with your loved ones at crucial junctures? (e.g., arrival at an int’l port of destination, or connecting in a sensitive land) It’s extra work to arrange for cell phones, faxes, or email hook-ups. But it just seems the extra work pays off not only for the ones you love, but also for the ones making your trip possible (donors).

Finally, do you gather up all your research and notes about your trip? Get your eTicket numbers, reservation numbers, confirmation numbers, etc., and put them all in a file folder in your *carry-on*. If they’re checked, you might never see them again.

Think ahead before your trip. The time you invest on the front end can pay mongo dividends on the other side.

Doug

Want to comment on this “BackPage?” Just click here to see it at the Brigada “Brigade” site, where you can add comments.