There’s some fierce weather on it’s way due to the hurricane. I’m hoping to ride ahead of it and get as far north as I can .. maybe even to Kansas City. We’ll see how far the bike gets me today. I’ve already put 2000 miles on it since leaving Los Angeles and it’s starting to show in a few areas.

I’m really encouraged by some of the emails I got about the serveYOURCITY post… so keep them coming if you’re interested in setting up something similar in your city. All it takes is one person to lead and get things rolling.

A friend from the Philippines got in touch and wants to start a ’serveLA’ in her city in the Philippines. As she was imagining the ideas and possibilities… she shared this thought which I think was really interesting…

“..all I know is that most of the selfless people I know who are really involved in touching lives and loving the souls of people are the ones who are truly joyful and fulfilled”

So many conversations over the past few days have weaved along that same thread. I hope that these serveYOURCITY ideas and The World Awaits can help make that happen in people’s lives. Truly joyful and fulfilled… always a good thing to strive towards. =)

So the conference ended yesterday with an AWESOME message from a brother who was from Myanmar. He shared so many incredible stories about people who had great dreams to help others… and put them into action… even though they had next to nothing. Many people were moved to tears. He ended with a charge to all of us. To all of us who dream and have visions of doing something meaningful with our lives. He simply ended his message with these words.. which I think sum up the whole weekend…

“GO! Obey your vision..!!”

So I’m here in Dallas… at an international conference with over 2500 people from something like 92 different countries. The theme of the conference is ‘Visions and Dreams’. It’s been pretty incredible to meet people from all over the world and to see the possibilities of what God can do through us. It has gotten me thinking a lot about what we could do through The World Awaits.

The goal of The World Awaits is to create avenues to love and serve others in our communities and around the world. The possibilities for this are truly endless… because each one of us brings something different to the table. God has made each one of us distinctively unique.. so the way we love and serve should reflect that.

Think of somebody who is passionate about teaching. Imagine the fires they could light within a young child if they had the opportunity to live their passion and teach for a few months at the elementary school at Huruma Children’s Home.

Or somebody who deeply understands business. The self-sustainability they could help bring to an organization like ANPPCAN. An organization that often relies on donations… and struggles with the unpredictability associated with that. To help develop income-generating activities so they can be more self-sufficient and effective in pursuing their goals for the welfare of children.

Or somebody who is gifted at street art (or any other art). Imagine the beauty they could bring to the slums of Kibera or Mathare in Nairobi. To use the gifts and talents that God has given them… partnering with local artists.. to create murals and artwork that bring life and hope to a community.

So whether we are overseas or in our local communities… the question is… how we can use our unique set of skills, passions and talents to love and serve others? This is the vision and dream for The World Awaits.. to find those avenues… and help each person find their unique contribution and truly make a difference with their life. At this point it’s still just a dream… but I believe it can be realized. If you also believe in the vision.. please help make it happen!

A quick flyer I put together for the Visions and Dreams Conference