The snowy winter weather around Europe caused lots of flight delays this past weekend, and so we're thankful that all 20 of the trainees for this year's intensive workshop in foundational coaching skills (FOCOS) have arrived safely in Malaga. This year's group includes missionaries from two different organisations: Youth with a Mission and Campus Crusade for Christ.
The workshop got off to a good start today, with four of us staff sharing the teaching and leading of the different workshop sessions. The first day is always stretching for the trainees, as they begin to learn new skills, new ways of relating and asking questions, and start to practise those skills in groups of three (we call them "triads") - always with one person coaching, one being coached, and the third observing and giving feedback.
Such workshops always involve an intense schedule for me too, as I have to leave home around 8 am, and usually only get back to the house again at 10 o'clock in the evening. Of course, there are some breaks throughout the day, but not long enough for me to drive all the way home and back again. However, it's very stimulating to see these missionary leaders gaining skills that will help them to invest in the lives of those they lead and work with, in nations as diverse as Romania, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, Russia and Thailand.
