Here & There Podcast

It's been awhile but WE ARE BACK...for one episode that is, but it's a doozy. Sheldon has an interview with THE ROBERT DUVAL...from Canada! AND we introduce a new segment called SHIFT HAPPENS. It's a twofer on the HnT Podcast. In this very special episode, Sheldon interviews Robert about a very exciting and important financial course that the PAOC is making available to global workers. Robert gives us some insights into finances and global workers as well as a synopsis of the course. You won't want to miss out on this special offer. Then, in SHIFT HAPPENS, Sheldon talks with David Fortune (wow...fortune and money and Robert Duval...) about one shift in missions that David thinks needs to happen. This segment will cause you to think about mission and outreach in a whole new way. We may be late but it's worth it!

Season 3 of the Here & There Podcast is finally "in the books" as they say! What began as more here & here ended as it should have: here & there. Sheldon and his crew of Armitages have been shipped safely from Canada back to #Slovakia and all is well again in the world. Or is it? Did Sheldon have a mid-life crisis whilst on home assignment? Are his best years and most significant moments in his rear-view mirror? How hard is re-entry after 6 months away? Can he still do this Global Worker thing? Did Slovakia even want them back? Will there be a Season 4? (most important question in the list) Unbeknownst to him, our season finale episode has also doubled as our last in the mid-life crisis series. Tune in to find out if we're pulling his GW Membership or if he's back in the missionary saddle for another kick at the can (sans sabbatical!). Listener, your faithfulness has earned you another jewel in your already massive crown, so thanks again for listening this season...here and there! ️️️️ #seasonfinale #hereandhere #hereandthere #midlifecrisis #fouroffour #seasonfourandnomore

About a year ago, I had the chance to ask Kelvin and Laura May Chan a bunch of questions about making a baby and what they thought balancing a newborn while on mission in #Thailand would be like. They had no real clue then how this year would play out, because baby was still on the inside! In the promised follow-up Here & There Podcast from the Missionary Guesthouse, I interviewed this beautiful family of 3 about what they now know for sure about having a baby and taking her overseas. If you've ever given birth or raised a few newborns with your spouse, you'll instantly connect with the honesty and candidness of their answers. Pull out your old family photo albums, pour a tall cold glass of gripe water, and enjoy the latest #HnTPodcast on Podbean or find us on iTunes! ️ #sleepdeprivation #ancientchinesetorture #raisingbabies #emberling

***WARNING: Longer than usual #HnTPodcast post, even longer podcast following. For as long as I can remember, I have been keeping #secrets. That being said, there's nothing I've found more freeing than finally opening up and sharing a failure or struggle with someone who I knew would love me in spite of my secret coming out into the light. But if trading secrets for honesty is so liberating, then why is it so difficult? In my case and many others, it is because of #shame. In his book Jesus Is Better Than You Imagined, Jonathan Merritt wrote: "Secrets draw their power from shame. I convince myself that I am too messed-up, too tainted, or too tarnished for others to accept. Or maybe people will think I am a fraud. As I believe these lies, shame grows into fear, which is almost always at some level, fear that if others truly know me, they won't love me. Or at least love me as much or in the same way. In order to release my secrets, I must uncurl my white-knuckled fingers from deep desires: My desire to be perfect. My desire to be liked. My desire to be in control. My desire to be successful." "Shame keeps us from telling our own stories and prevents us from listening to others tell their stories," says Brené Brown. "We silence our voices and keep our secrets out of the fear of disconnection." In the end, shame steals the very thing it promises: meaningful, authentic connections with others. Pursuing a life of honesty means to reveal who I truly am and assert that my #story too belongs at the table. During #Segue2017 Tier II, Joel and Avin Reimer bravely shared their family's story of working through Joel's sex addiction while serving in South East Asia as Global Workers. I can't thank them enough for their #courage in opening up about this painful time in their lives, and for sharing how they are working through it together. With their permission, we recorded this 90-minute session for a Here and There Podcast so other GWs could learn from their story, be encouraged to open up about their challenges, and get help where and when they need it. We know it's a longer-than-usual podcast, but in order to preserve the integrity of their full story (bad and good), we're presenting it to you entirely in one piece. The pause button is your friend!

Welp, he's back...in #Slovaktown! Similar to Anna Armitage, Canada had it's fill of Sheldon Armitage and sent him #packing. After a refreshing, but rigorous home assignment (don't call it a holiday!) (or a #sabbatical!), the Armitage clan returned home with full hearts and extra baggage to #Slovakia to resume their global working duties in #Bratislava. Was home assignment a valuable experience? Does Sheldon still want to work globally? Did they raise more #support? Did their international church explode in their absence? Did their girls convert into #Canadians while here? Are the Armitages going back (home) #rejuvenated and ready for the work ahead? All these questions and more are answered on the last ever edition of the Here & (T)here Podcast. Fire up the BBQ, pour yourself a non-mood altering cold beverage, and enjoy this reflection on a "furlough in the books"! ️️

In Part III of the Mid·life Cri·sis Series I asked Rob Moore to open up the Vulnerability Vault and share about his family's #unexpected transition from Global Work in #Thailand to pastoring in Montreal, Québec. While Rob and Jana Brecht Moore were in Canada for an extended home assignment "processing life", #change and #opportunity came their way which ultimately led to them returning to live in their passport country. If you've ever known the pain of a crisis in your own family, or walked closely with another GW suffering while serving overseas, I know the discussion on this latest episode of the #HnTPodcast will be meaningful to you. ️️ #processinglife #crisis #notmidlife #threeoffour

I've often said, "Being sick, sucks." Nobody from our GW crew understands this more than Adrian M. Thomas right now. Being sick can seem like all fun and games until you are grounded from flying, separated from your immediate family, and you're prevented from global working! On the latest edition of the #HnTPodcast, I chatted with Adrian about some fun rumours about his sickness, what he's sick of (not Sharon MacDonald Thomas, but maybe James Guskjolen), and how he's been dealing with sitting on the GW bench these last 5 months. For a guy who's got every right to be sick and tired of being sick and tired, he sure doesn't sound sick!

While at #GenCon16 in Montreal, I reconnected with someone I barely knew in the GW world, Jeremy Feller. I'd only met Jeremy once before back in 2011 at an all-Africa retreat just outside Malindi, Kenya, where we played some solid beach volleyball with former athlete and self-talker, Murray Cornelius. I've been in a mostly #textual relationship with Jeremy for just over a year now, and in this latest edition of the Here & (T)here Podcast, I attempted to bring our newfound friendship out into the light. No matter what you thought of him before this, I know you'll agree after listening that he's a jolly good Feller, which nobody can deny.

According to Leanne Toews McAlister, Zoe is the Greek word for "life". When she launched The Zoe Network a few years ago, it was her goal to expose our fellowship to the mission activities of our Global Workers who were "bringing life" to women around the globe through their acts of service. Sheldon and Matt ran into Leanne at #Segue 2017 who was "sans Darcy" at the time and asked her all about The Zoe Network's inception and first few years of supporting projects that empower women and bring spiritual transformation to whole communities. The time for DREAMING is over, and Leanne is imploring people to get off the couch and GET REAL with women! Hope you enjoy the latest edition of the #HnTPodcast. #dreamsmaller #thinksmaller #linkarms #smallprojects #smallthingsconsistently

Once per season, our Fearless Leader, aka "The Donald", sits down for a chat with the HnT Podcast. I caught up with Murray Cornelius on a warm and quiet Friday evening at #Segue 2017 in beautiful Abbotsford, BC. In an attempt to steer away from serious global worker matters, I asked Murray about a few of his #Favourite Things, and he did not disappoint. He may not be a big fan of raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but he does have a favourite RD and travel destination! Grab some #chai (another fav thing) and listen in while I try and make Murray #human again! ️

Raising #kids is tough work. I know, because I'm currently co-raising two delightful teen-aged monsters. Raising kids across cultures is even tougher work. This too I know, because I've listened carefully to Global Worker families share openly about raising their third-culture kids and #teens for the past 8 years. Sitting at my kitchen table a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of interrogating the Forgotten Armitage Children of #Slovakia about Global Worker kid life and growing up between two worlds. Like all good pods with kids, you'll love the honesty, hilarity, maturity and calamity that ensues on the latest edition of the Here and (T)here Podcast. One thing you'll agree on is that Sheldon and Anna are doing a fantastic job as GW #parents and raising their kids in a beautiful culturally blended family destined to change the world. Grab a juice bar lady drink and have a listen!

Recently we came across an interesting article about missionary burnout. It seems to be a theme on the past few podcasts but this article generated a lot of reaction and dialogue between global workers. So, being the relevant dudes that we are, we decided to chip in our two cents and examine hot topics like burnout, stress and the sacred cow itself...sabbaticals. Are global workers soft? Does a Wall Street investment banker have the same levels of stress as a global worker in Timbuktu? Should sabbaticals be available to all or only those on the 76th level of the missional org chart? Listen to Matt and Shel spare with each other, challenge each other and ultimately love each other on the latest episode. #sabbaticals #hntpodcast #mattisawesome #stress

Ah, Missionary Care. Probably the single most debated issue I have discussed with Global Workers over the years. Some GWs need a little, others, a lot. Many missionaries feel well supported by their regional leadership and/or the home team, and some wonder if anyone knows they're still out there! While Melissa Williams (- the Melissa + a Scott) was hanging out at the Missionary Guest House for a couple of days a few weeks ago, we chatted about this topic, and Scott shared some creative "care" ideas with me. The opinions expressed by Scott and myself in this podcast are those of a GW and former Missionary Care Guy and do not necessarily reflect your opinion or the official policy or position of any sending agency of the #PAOC. There, we disclaimed it, now you can safely listen to it! #missionarycare #membercare #haveyoursay #HnTpodcast

Here & (T)here is getting out of the studio and taking this show on the ROAD! Join us (Anna and Sheldon) as we embark on the adventure that is ITINERATION. We start in Vancouver, head to Osoyoos, go up to Trail, stop in Banff, go to Edmonton and somewhere along the line end up with a $350 speeding ticket. Along the way we sample new cuisine, discover outdoor hot tubs, see the Rockies, lay some smack down on Alberta highways, talk to the newest member of the Eurasia Lead Team, Cal Anthony, and see so much more... This podcast is as epic as the trip we went on...and we know it one that most Global Workers can identify with. Thankfully It's not as long as a Canadian highway but it might be just long enough for your next commute to where it is you are global working. This podcast is 100% true and 100% Matt Janes free (sad emoji).

In Part II of the Mid·life Cri·sis Series I asked Patricia DeWit to reflect back on the #transition from 22 years in #Thailand to life as it is now for her and Peter DeWit in Paris, #France. Pat and good words are close friends, and you will surely enjoy the ones she's intentionally chosen to describe this time in her family's life on the latest edition of the HnT Podcast. Listen closely at the end when she talks to her 30 year old self! Interviewing my sister from another mister was a pleasant walk down Authentic Avenue, and I know her way of processing their "Continental Crisis" will encourage so many of you out there.

Mid·life cri·sis: (noun) "an emotional crisis of identity and self-confidence that can occur in early middle age." Nice working definition, but who gets to define #crisis of identity and self-confidence? What's the exact number for "early middle age"? In an effort to bite off more that I can chew, I'm recording a series of podcasts with Global Workers who are or who have worked through some sort of transitional period in their adult lives. Ryan Salomons was the first to take a ride down Honesty Highway with me on the #HnTPodcast and talk about the difficult years while leading his family to #Ukraine and through the first 2 years. Did he have a mid-life crisis? Did it move him into mission? Was it an actual crisis? How did he handle the transition? Our discussion answers these questions and others. Thanks for listening here and (t)here! #midlifecrisis #oneoffour #hereandthere

You know how many Indian food jokes I know? Naan! On the other hand, I could tell you a few hundred stories about the awesome work of Global #Volunteers over the past 8 years. I am a huge fan of our GVs...remember, Noah's Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals!

Many people have observed that, the second you're born, you start dying. Of course, dying is not an acceptable reality these days until you've got a good 80-90 years behind you! I'm at the age and stage where my parents are now mid-70s and their health is relatively good, considering their age. That being said, I know at any moment that could change - but I'm over HERE and can immediately step in to help with a health crisis. You're over THERE, and you've left your aging parents back HERE - so what do you do when you get "the call" from your mom or dad with the news of their recent diagnosis? In the latest edition of the Here & (T)here podcast, I was able to ask Wendy Laird Skinner that question and a few more about this issue. Special grace and peace upon her for opening up about the challenges of caring for aging parents from overseas. Trust you will enjoy her honesty and advice!

Steve Martin once famously said, "Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way when you do criticize him, you'll be a mile away and have his shoes." Well last week I traded in my Chuck Taylor Converse and walked a few thousand KMs in Sheldon Armitage's #German clogs, and now I'm ready to tell him what I really think of the GW life in #Europa. For the first time since the birth of the Here & There Podcast, we've fully switched places with me being "over there" in Germany et la France, and Sheldon doing time "over here" in Canada. Pardon Sheldon's Canadian Internet signal and poor audio...just one of the many crosses to bear living in Canada. Kein Bier wurde bei der Herstellung dieses Podcast verbraucht!

The audio quality of this podcast gets much better after a few minutes. I promise. Have you ever attended a District Conference? What's the point beyond voting on amendments to the amendments of the resolution on whether or not we should raise one hand or two during worship? Is there any reason for global workers to go to their district conference? This week on the podcast, Sheldon and his awesome co-host Anna attend the BC and Yukon District Conference. Along the way they attend a banquet (free food!) bump into a few familiar faces and make some new friends as well. If you've ever wondered what the director of GlobalEd is up to or how the author of the Wellness Plan and Sheldon are connected or even who Rebecca Strafforelli is, then pour yourself a cup of coffee and give this episode a listen. BTW...This episode is 100% Matt Janes free as he's over THERE on family vacation somewhere in Europe.

In a Meet The Home Team kind of podcast, I had the chance to sit and chat with Kerry Halliwell this week, who is the Manager of Global Operations for International Missions. She used to be a GW (or is she still?) with her family in #Malawi and now works in #Meccassauga supporting GWs on the finance side. She seems to have one job: to help the PAOC keep it's charitable status. Kerry is a by-the-book kind of person, who's heck-bent on following the rules on how donor money is spent. Her #Birkman results had the nerve of yelling "nerd" right to her face! Caution: never ever use the words #channel or #funnel with her if you want to keep getting your expenses reimbursed. Sharpen your pencils, tape your glasses, and grab a spreadsheet...this is a riveting pod!

The 'M' Word. Some people love it, others love to hate it. Early use of the word in Sheldon Armitage's childhood drove him to counseling as an adult. Of course, we're talking about the word "missionary" or as Darcy likes to say, "Global Workers". An article I recently shared on Facebook called "Why I Think it's Time to Retire the Word 'Missionary'" got people talking. Turns out, you might just be passionate about your title! Well, you talked about it, so Sheldon and I podded about it in the latest edition of the HnT Podcast. Have a listen and keep having your say in the comments. For now, I'm going to call you all #Globissionaries.

They are the keepers of the bridge. The ones who get you in the door or keep you locked outside where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. I'm talking about the much discussed and mostly misunderstood, Missions Pastor (or chair of the missions committee in some churches). They may not hold the keys to death, hell and the grave but they do decide who gets into the church, who gets support and who goes home with nothing at all. On this episode of the Here & (T)here, Sheldon and his better-than-Matt cohost, Anna Armitage, sit down during Stormaggedon (2 cms) in Vancouver to talk with Pastor Paul Moores about missions giving, church committees and how global workers can better engage with churches. Pastor Paul gives the other side of the shared funding story and encourages churches on how they can better support their missions partners. This is a great episode for global workers and for church mission teams to listen to so pass it along!

A few weeks ago, Sheldon Armitage and I attended a meeting in #Meccassauga where a Who's Who in the PAOC gathered to examine the Shared Funding Model. I am pretty sure I was invited because I have the nicest beard. We are happy to report that we saved Shared Funding and you're all getting a one year break from raising partners! As the kids say these days: jk. They say you can't fix something that ain't broken, but Sheldon and I gave it a whirl on the latest episode of the HnT Podcast with our Top 10 Amazing Shared Funding Replacement Ideas. Have any to add? Leave them in the comments below, and let's turn Shared Funding upside down! #hntpodcast #sharedfunding #moneycometh

We know, we know...it's been awhile but we're back and we're better than ever. In fact we're so back that this season is called Here & (T)here. Why's that you ask? Well, the 'There' part of the podcast (Sheldon) is actually 'Here' in Canada for a home assignment. Not only that, but he finally had the opportunity to visit the Here Studio and stay at the Janes' Global Worker Ranch and Spa Resort run by Matt himself. Confused yet? No worry, give this podcast a listen and hear about readjustment issues, mid-life crisis and the fun and frivolity of the Here & There Podcast that you know and love and have missed. Weeeeeee're BACK!

And it's a wrap! In the category of better-late-than-never, Sheldon Armitage and I finally got our ducks in a row and dropped the Here & There Podcast finale for Season 2. If we have any listeners left who are still alive and caught the majority of our second season, this is the sugar in your tea, the icing on your cake, the milk on your Coco Pops, the custard on your pie, the cherry on top, the ice in your iced coffee, the Rick in your Shaw...OK, I'll stop. Just a couple of months away from the Season 3 launch, we took the time to reflect on a season in the books by reviewing the pods that made the cut and looking ahead to what may be in the upcoming season. If you've never tuned in to the HnT Podcast, don't start with this one...wait for Season 3 to become a huge fan and donor. To the rest of you, enjoy this finale like the gravy on your turkey!

In Robert Lupton's book, Toxic Charity, Lupton has strong things to say to materially rich ‪#‎Christians‬ about ‪#‎money‬, ‪#‎power‬, and ‪#‎dependency‬. Two statistics from his book include: * ‪#‎Africa‬ has received $1 trillion in benevolent aid in the last 50 years, and per capita income is now lower, life expectancy has stagnated, and adult literacy is lower. * U.S. missions teams who rushed to ‪#‎Honduras‬ to help rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Mitch spent on average $30,000 per home—homes locals could have built for $3,000 each. No one wants to think their generosity hurts people, but books like Dead Aid and When Helping Hurts have alerted us to the problem. So what is going on? The answer is complex and involves issues of basic economics, power, dependency, and bad motives. In the Season 2 penultimate episode of the Here & There Podcast, I sit down with Mark Crocker of STMLeader.com to talk ‪#‎relief‬, ‪#‎development‬, ‪#‎ownership‬, ‪#‎partnership‬, ‪#‎simplesolutions‬ and ‪#‎doingnoharm‬. Comments and discussion is both welcomed and encouraged!

As a Global Worker, you probably feel like you're having an out-of-money experience at times. My pro bono financial advisor (AKA my father-in-law) told me that the quickest way to double my money is to fold it over and put it back in my pocket! ‪#‎Money‬. Jesus talked a lot about it in the B-I-B-L-E, and this is our second Here & There Podcast on the subject...so it likely matters on some level to many of you. During ‪#‎Segue‬ I had the chance to sit down with a new GW to the ‪#‎RAN‬ family who's been coaching people on handling their money for a living. Her full identity is being withheld for her security, but her free advice is here for the taking. Remember, when you have too much month at the end of your money, you still might be richer than you think. ‪#‎momoney‬ ‪#‎moproblems‬ ‪#‎PAOCpensionfund‬ ‪#‎Godsupply‬ ‪#‎RANitized‬

Turns out, breaking up is easy to do...at least when it comes to Global Workers and supporting churches! In the latest edition of the HnT Podcast and the long-awaited reunion of pod partners, I join Šel and Ännå and talk about the touchy subject of getting ‪#‎dumped‬ by a ‪#‎partner‬ church. If you're a GW who's been fed the proverbial, "It's not you, it's me" line by a ‪#‎supporter‬ before, you might want to tune in with an empathetic box of Kleenex and a notepad to take notes on how to "take it like a ‪#‎Eurasian‬ missionary" from the Armitages. In the end maybe it's not me, it's you!

The Urban Dictionary describes a person named ‪#‎Kaleb‬ this way: "A Kaleb will make you laugh, when nothing else can. A Kaleb will make your face hurt from the amount of smiling you'll do. A Kaleb is the best kind of guy you'll ever come across, so if you're lucky enough to meet a Kaleb don't let him slip through your fingers...you probably won't find another one. They are like an endangered species in the world of men." In the latest edition of the HnT Podcast, I sat down and squirmed around with this young ‪#‎Canethiopian‬, who's name means "devotion to God", and asked him some tough (for a 4 year old) and not-so-tough questions about being ‪#‎adopted‬, eating ‪#‎injera‬, being an answer to prayer, if it was #1 or #2, and becoming a ‪#‎missionary‬. As you listen, I think you'll agree: this kid is going to do great things in this world!

Kelvin and Laura May Chan are having a baby! According to Kelvin, "when two people love each other, and __________________, then the ‪#‎Burmese‬ fairy comes and delivers the baby!" I'm not sure which web site he learned his birds and bees from but I think Laura will let him know if the fairy is any help during the delivery. Due in about 4 weeks, this is the Chan's first baby and they've returned from ‪#‎Thailand‬ to Canada to make her a Canuck! While at ‪#‎Segue2016‬, the Chans agreed to chat with me about all things baby: how she was made, when they found out she was a she, interesting Thai and Burmese cultural pregnancy observations, their uncertainty about juggling life with a newborn and ministry, and how they ensured they wouldn't have ‪#‎stateless‬ grandchildren. As former ‪#‎midtermers‬, they might just be 3 of my favourite people.

While Stewart Paul Shaw was in Toronto last week making ‪#‎partners‬ and influencing ‪#‎donors‬, I had the chance to hang out with and get to know his and Monique Shaw's daughter, Hope Shaw. The youngest of 3 Shaw kids, Hope has had an illustrious career as an MK/TCK! We talked about being dragged to ‪#‎India‬ at 2 years of age by a ‪#‎leash‬, running away from home at 14 to go to ‪#‎boarding‬ school in ‪#‎Thailand‬, whether or not her parents properly prepared her for ‪#‎adult‬ life, moving to ‪#‎Redding‬, California, ‪#‎USA‬ to work on her ‪#‎process‬, and her potential future in ‪#‎Kolkata‬, India. The world is her ‪#‎oyster‬, and she wants the world to know ‪#‎hope‬. ‪#‎hopeforthehopeless‬ ‪#‎livingontheedge‬ ‪#‎lifeofmission‬ ‪#‎missionisliving‬ ‪#‎MK‬ ‪#‎TCK‬ ‪#‎Canadindian‬

This past week, Stewart Paul Shaw and his daughter Hope Shaw stayed in the ‪#‎missionaryguesthouse‬ while meeting with supporters in the ‪#‎Toronto‬ area and preparing to return to ‪#‎India‬. Stew is one of a kind. An original. The real McCoy. A genuine Indian article. An ‪#‎Irish‬ anomaly. A legendary oddity. I was excited when he agreed to be on the Here & There Podcast, but wasn't sure where it would lead because of our shared ‪#‎ADD‬. We wandered around his childhood, talked musical tastes, addictions, his family, their call to India, the Teen Challenge dream, and his greatest accomplishment so far in life. ‪#‎Hope‬ you enjoy this bowl of nontraditional Irish Stew!

Murray Cornelius joins us again for a great conversation on how the Majority World church is doing things differently and maybe even better than we are. Matt and Shel have the privilege to grill their boss about his claims, ask him about turning 60 and try to get him to go "full angry prophet" on the Canadian church. If you work for PAOC IM then you have to listen or else we'll dock your pay. At least that's what Murray said. It's a great use of your time and a good way to honour Murray before he takes the fateful step into senior status. Happy Birthday big cheese!

This past week, right after ‪#‎PAOC‬ ‪#‎gencon2016‬ in ‪#‎Montreal‬, an Ethiopian Eunich came to stay in the ‪#‎missionaryguesthouse‬ in Pickering, ON. We ate all low-carb food, drank a ton of good coffee, and did plenty of talking...and neither of us know any short sentences! Between high fat meals, we dropped a discussion about ‪#‎churchplanting‬ in Ethiopia and beyond in the podcatcher. My guest opens up about ‪#‎gencon‬, ‪#‎family‬, ‪#‎fogmachines‬, ‪#‎coffee‬, ‪#‎apostles‬, ‪#‎diapers‬, ‪#‎traplesschurches‬, ‪#‎northafrica‬, ‪#‎bigladies‬, ‪#‎ownership‬ and world domination. Be careful when you listen - you may just find yourself inspired and moving to Africa to join his team as they continue planting coffee churches across the continent!

Heigh ho, heigh ho it's off to camp we go! How many of you were saved, baptized and kissed for the first time at Christian camp? How many of you love Christian holidays and the safe environment they provide. How many of you think both of these notions are crazier than By-Law 10.6.2.2.3 of the PAOC constitution?  Wait, that's for another podcast... Whatever side of the fence you might be on, we guarantee this podcast will have something for you. Matt, Shel and Anna talk Christian camps, romance, missional marketplaces and even give a shout out to Vanuatu. Summer is almost here which means you can listen to the podcast as you garden, jog, do yoga outside or enjoy Montreal while you are at General Conference.

Are you a beaver? What's your four letters? What colour of ministry are you? Are you an airy sanguine or a fiery choleric? What's your sign baby? Our ability to be self-aware is greater than ever before thanks to online tests, breakthroughs in psychology and just a general understanding that the more we know, the better we can become. In this podcast we talk to Global Worker Rodney Corcoran about the Birkman Assessment. Rodney is a certified facilitator in one of the best behavioural and strengths assessments out there. He has taken hundreds of people through the insightful and powerful assessment and shares his experience and wisdom with us about it. Why does this matter, you might ask? What does it have to do with global work? Rodney answers these and other questions about the need to know ourselves, how it can help us be more effective in ministry and how to start operating from a place of strength and confidence. We guarantee that after this short but powerful podcast you will want to get a hold of Rodney so he can Birkmanize you or you will just want to know more about how God has designed you.

For 10.5 years, Peter & Sandra McIntosh have served our South East Asia Region as Regional Directors living in Bangkok, ‪#‎Thailand‬. A few months ago, they made the decision to ‪#‎transition‬ from Global Workers back to Canadian Pastors. In the latest edition of the Here & There Podcast, Matt had the chance to ask them all about the whole experience: from considering to praying to deciding to announcing to packing to ‪#‎leaving‬ to returning to re-starting. You'll enjoy their candid and honest thoughts about transitioning, and their awesome list of ‪#‎returning‬ observations! If you're considering returning to Canada soon or wondering what that time in your life will feel like in 25 years, have a listen and take some notes. Turns out, Friends Are Friends Forever. ‪#‎michealwsmith‬ ‪#‎yeahyeah‬ ‪#‎searegion‬ ‪#‎RDs‬ ‪#‎ISM‬ ‪#‎passingthetorch‬ ‪#‎bethelottawa‬

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of ‪#‎Light‬, it was the season of ‪#‎Darkness‬, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to ‪#‎heaven‬, we were all going direct the other way..." In their improbable 50th episode of the Here & There Podcast, Sheldon Armitage and Matt Janes review the 50 Best & Worst Things About Global Work. Have a listen, agree or disagree, and make some lists of your own! ‪#‎thisis50‬ ‪#‎goldenjubilee‬ ‪#‎globalwork‬ ‪#‎bestandworst‬ ‪#‎charlesdickens

Sheldon Armitage recently hosted his very first Global Volunteer in ‪#‎Slovakia‬ from PAOC‬ through the STMNetwork‬. (‪#‎mouthful‬) Over the last few months, we've been chatting on the pod about how a host prepares themselves and their ministry partners for a volunteer in a segment called "So You're Getting A Mid-Termer". In this edition of the HnT podcast, Jennifer Church (aka Brenda Synagogue) joins Sheldon and Anna Armitage in a Slovak McCafé to debrief the month that was her international scouting trip. Was it a match? Will she return? Is she a future GW? Who is ‪#‎Brennifer‬'s favourite Armitage child? Is Sheldon even a good host? Listen in for the answers to these questions, some Slovak Easter traditions, and a useless Toronto weather report! ‪#‎loveconnection‬ ‪#‎roma‬ ‪#‎refugees‬ ‪#‎BIF‬ ‪#‎volunteer‬ ‪#‎GVisthenewMTMer‬

Short-Term Missions. Some people love it, while others love to take swings at it like it's a piñata at a Mexican-themed Alpha small group party. There are Global Workers who host plenty of STM teams every year for a variety of reasons. A nameless few GWs wouldn't be caught dead inviting and hosting short-termers in their adopted cities and villages. Say what you want about STM teams - and in the latest edition of the Here & There Podcast Mark Crocker does - there's a way you can host and use STM teams with much more effectiveness than you are right now. Mark is one of our fellowship's most creative thinkers and provocative trainers, and many of you have had your deeply held beliefs about international work challenged by Mark at ‪#‎Segue‬. I thoroughly enjoyed rekindling my bromance for mission with Mark on this podcast, and catching up on what he's been doing since launching STMleader.com. ‪#‎shorttermmissions‬ ‪#‎longtermimpact‬ ‪#‎leadercertification‬ ‪#‎stmleaderDOTcom‬ ‪#‎africaisacountry‬

Over 20 years ago, Noel and Marnie Hutchinson were introduced at a Missions Convention at Agincourt Pentecostal Church where I was serving as the snot-nosed punk Youth Pastor at the time. APC was supporting the Hutchinson's work in Asia and they were back in Canada on home assignment (‪#‎furlough‬) telling stories and raising support. I distinctly remember the pride my pastor had in showing off his missionary friends and feeling like I wanted to get to know them the same way myself. It's taken more than 20 years, but through my role with International Missions the last 10 years I've learned a thing or 3 about Noel, and he's become a friend and mentor in my life. In this latest edition of the ‪#‎HnTpod‬, Noel declares his love for ‪#‎Cambodia‬, dirt bikes, sustainable development, fixing things, and ព្រះយេស៊ូវ (‪#‎preahyesaouv‬). It's a long chat, but a good chat IMO. ‪#‎goodchat‬ ‪#‎goodguy‬ ‪#‎rapidfire‬ ‪#‎AOC‬ ‪#‎AsianOutreach‬ #AOC ‪#‎Khmer‬

#‎Leadership‬. For some reason, no other Christian buzzword bugs me more. Maybe it's because I lack it. Perhaps few have exemplified quality leadership in my life. It's overused and under-delivered. It's slapped on brochures and posters and tossed around like candy at a junior high lock-in. Conference organizers rake in wads of cash by selling leadership talks to you that rarely contain anything concrete or valuable. Sheldon Armitage will tell supporters he's busy "training leaders" all night long. We fill our newsletters with tall tales of developing leaders in far away lands, but how do we prove it? Does it make a difference? Is it even a thing? How does the rest of the world feel about importing our leadership lessons from here to there? In this mostly-over-there edition of the HnT podcast, special guest Keith Waara (The Finnish John Maxwell) joins Sheldon live in Alicante, Spain to talk about ‪#‎liderazgo‬ and it's affect on our global work! ‪#‎buzzword‬ ‪#‎espagnol‬ ‪#‎HnTpodcast‬

Limousine service, VIP lounges, private jets...it's all part of the global worker life (well maybe it would be for Matt and Shel if they had a sponsor), right? Maybe it's more like bumpy roads, crowded terminals and cheap flights. Whatever it might be, the reality is that global workers travel more and more in order to reach, plant, equip and care. It can be a hard life for the road warriors but even harder for the spouse who stays behind to mind the fort. On this special Here & There podcast, Sheldon talks with a global worker spouse who is used to staying behind while her husband is out saving the world. They talk about the struggles of being left behind, what they think their spouse is out doing and what they want when they get back home. Bon voyage!

Happy double 20s Anna Armitage! Matt and Shel celebrate a Milestone birthday over there in Slovakia and start to reflect on celebrations, birthdays and the aging process. Do you get better or bitter with age? Do you know how to collect your old age pension? Do you know how to reinvent yourself? Does it even matter?Plus we talk about something very serious...the Superbowl! Does anyone outside of Here even care about the fake "football?"It's a lighter pod for a heavy subject...but of course we navigate it beautifully with our wit, charm and brilliance...oh yeah, Brenda Synagogue is on her way to Slovakia which means we do another "So you're getting a midtermer."Enjoy the show!

Do you know what the five best things about being home-schooled are?1. You're always the smartest kid in the class.2. You always part of the 'in' crowd.3. You never get bullied or teased for what you wear to school.4. You never get homework (unless of course you view all of your school work as 'home'work).5. You never have to stand in the rain waiting for the bus. Of course the worst part is you have to ask your sister to the school dance...but some would say it's a small price to pay for the privilege of being schooled at home. This week we do a Here & There first. Matt and Sheldon host an international panel of educational experts who try to convince us and each other about the BEST way to school your kids. We've got people from Asia, Africa, Eurasia and beyond who all have different views of education ranging from International Christian Schools, homeschooling, public school, private teachers and more.We don't promise that this podcast will make you feel better about the choices you've made about your kid's education but then again, it probably won't make you feel any worse.

In the latest edition of the Here & There Podcast, we catch up with LAC Regional Director James "You Can Call Me Jim, But Don't Call Me Gus" Guskjolen in Panama and find out what lurks beneath the surface of his smooth but rugged ‪#‎RD‬ exterior. With his Norwegian heritage, his Prairie upbringing and his international gallivanting, you might wonder if he can remember who he is and what he does. Good news - he's passionate about Global Workers and loves serving you! Pour yourself a non-mood-altering piña colada and enjoy the conversation. ‪#‎LAC‬ ‪#‎Panama‬ ‪#‎HnT‬

E·quip /əˈkwip/(verb): to supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose and/or to prepare (someone) mentally for a particular situation or task. This word came up at least a dozen times in Matt's recent conversation with Valerie Penney, who serves as GlobalEd's Administrator. In the latest episode of the Here & There Podcast, Val talks about her trip to ‪#‎India‬ a short time ago, the "best" way to reach the world with the Gospel, and the rewards of training global educators. The Canuck "cent" may be discontinued, but this Canadian Penney's work will carry on for decades! ‪#‎equip‬ ‪#‎eph41112‬ ‪#‎globaled‬ ‪#workingtogether #‎hntpodcast‬

It's a New Year and with that, a new Here & There podcast is here (& there) for your listening enjoyment. Sheldon and Matt are back at working through the Wellness Plan 4.0 and chat through Intellectual Vitality. Are you smarter than your spouse? Do you eat enough books for lunch? Is your brain still developing? Are you open-minded (or worried your brain is going to fall out)? We answer all of these questions, update you on the Funder Games and learn more about hosting a Global Volunteer! ‪#‎wp4pointoh‬ ‪#‎fundergames‬ ‪#‎soyouregettingamidtermer‬ ‪#‎hntpodcast‬

In this lead-up-to-Christmas episode of the Here & There Podcast, Sheldon and Matt share their family Christmas preparations, discuss what "down-time" looks like, and the special segment "So You're Getting A Mid-Termer" is back! Also, The Funder Games are underway with the first 2 players being eliminated and strategic alliances are forming. Grab some 'nog and have a listen! ‪#‎HnTPodcast‬ ‪#‎christmasprep‬ ‪#‎fundergames‬ ‪#‎banterforjanira‬

In the spirit of Christmas blockbuster movies we present the introduction of the Funder Games (brought to your by the HnT Podcast). That's right, 12 unsuspecting GWs have been harvested by Matt and Shel and placed into the arena where they will fight for survival (and funding). Listen in and cheer for your favourite Global Worker. And may the odds be ever in your favour.Also Matt and Shel talk about other stuff that's pretty cool like the fact that Shel is getting his first midtermer, Christmas prep has started, getting "swabbed" and of course podcasting mistakes. It's an epic podcast to help you get into the Christmas spirit.