Reaching Souls International

Casual Friday means different things to different people. Perhaps in your workplace you are allowed to dress a little differently and maybe there are even some special “perks” – office breakfast or lunch, or just a more relaxed environment leading into the weekend.

Last Friday, Casual Friday, took on a whole new meaning for me. We (Dustin Manis, Wayne Fagala, and I) had been in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania for a week of intense training and meetings with 21 of our National Directors and Associate National Directors from 7 countries of Africa. The days had been long and tedious. We had spent 4 grueling days hammering out budgets, goals, strategy, and expectations for 2011.

Then came Friday… I had asked our International Director, Elias Kashambagani, to organize a day for relaxation and fellowship. He planned a day that we will never forget. We began the day at the Zoo of Dar Es Salaam. I’d say the zoo was positioned on about 5-8 acres. The animals were all kept in pens made of chain link fence. I’d never been so close to lions, tigers, leopards, giraffes, etc. When we sat down in the shade, I wondered how many of these men had ever been to a zoo. When I asked how many of the men to raise their hands if they had never been to a zoo, 9 of the 21 responded saying that they had never experience anything like this before.

From the zoo we made our way to the coastline of the Indian Ocean. Several of the men took off their shoes to wade in the clear ocean water. Again… many of these men come from landlocked countries and this was their first time to ever experience the ocean.

The men that are supported by Reaching Souls International are men who know how to enjoy a casual Friday. If there are men on the planet that deserve a day of rejuvenation – these men do. Last Friday was a reminder of just how great the creation of our Father is and how wonderful His servants are. You can expect great things in 2011 as God works mightily through His faithful followers.

In Him,
Brent A. Parsons
COO