Face to Face

Email.
Skype.
YouSendIt.
Intranet.
Dropbox.

There are so many things available to us that makes our virtual workplace -- work.
And for the most part, it works pretty well.
When we use these tools we have the ability to close the gaps of geographical space, time zones, and financial restrictions.

BUT, there is still GREAT value in having face-to-face time.

I just got back this afternoon from spending 4 days with colleagues in South Asia.
This team wants to develop a website and get it live soon.
My co-worker, Oliver, and our friend, Sam, got to sit side-by-side for about 4 days learning Drupal (software for building a content managed based website). They got to ask each other questions, search around the web together for solutions, and work on things until they figured it out.

I think the 4 days helped to build this new working relationship between these two men and I HOPE that it will help Sam to jump start the work he'll be doing in the next couple of months to get the site built and up live.

One of the men who had planned to join us was sick so we didn't have as much time to spend with him as I had originally thought. But during the time we did have together, we got to talk about the content that would be needed for the site, we worked on a plan for getting that content done, and we talked about other communication needs that were still remaining.

Face to face.

Yes, we could have gone through these things virtually. And actually, we have been doing that -- over email. But even in the limited time we did end up having together, we were able to talk through things more thoroughly. I got to hear the questions that he had. I feel like I got to hear and understand some of the challenges they face better than I have heard and understood.

Face to face.

And being face to face I'm reminded too of their hearts for God. I'm reminded of their incredible, hard work ethic and commitment. I'm reminded of their passion for their country and their people. I'm reminded of how great their desire is for their work to be known by more people -- not for their own sake, but for His.

Face to face.

It's easy when you have a long to-do-list to put things that feel faraway at the bottom. Seeing them in person and seeing their vision being pursued... in a way it's like it re-kindles and reminds me of our commitment to them. No, the face to face isn't always necessary. It's not even possible or reasonable at times.
But it sure is great to be face to face with my brothers and sisters once in a while.

So come Monday, I have some things to follow up on. Hoping that the momentum that's been built in our 4 days together will last a while.