Today I had the opportunity to tour the Savvis Data Centers in the Sterling, VA area with serveral of my Development Authority and E-911 Board Members. It gave them a chance to see in a small way the data center we are preparing to build in Grant County West Virginia. After spending 14 years in telecom selling these same data center services to Government and Education clients in the Mid-Atlantic states, it was gratifying to share a similar experience with the same people that will enable and bring this same technology to West Virginia. In many respects it felt similar to the birth of a new child. Helping my peers capture the vision that this technology can bring to our rural part of West Virginia is very gratifying. Since we struggle with one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States, it feels like we are on the cusp of bringing real progress to our part of the United States that has been left behind in many areas of economic growth and development.
In a similar way, our trip to AIU and Kenya very much reflects this same feeling of progress. We have recruited a very talented team that hopes to make real progress in bringing positive technilogical changes to an area of East Africa that is also on the cusp of real positive change. African International University has a vision that reflects this positive potential. The vision of AIU is Christ centered leaders in Africa educated to transform God's people and world. To accomplish this vision AIU's mission is to educate Christ centered leaders for the transformation of God's people and world through innovative programs, research and community engagement.
We at CLA feel that we have aligned our vision and mission with AIU. The vision of CLA is to support a healthy, biblically grounded church in Africa with Godly, trained leaders who are transforming African societies by the power of the Gospel and leading the church worldwide. The mission of Christian Leaders for Africa (CLA) is to promote Christian higher education on the African continent and, in particular, to generate support for Africa International University (AIU) formerly know as the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST).
So as I spend my last night here in the USA, I am thinking of what might otherwise be important to me. As a football fan I think of the upcoming Superbowl, but that does not seem as important to me as the mission I have ahead of me and our team. As a Colts season ticket holder, I am less concerned about whether Payton Manning will be with the team next year (which I hope happens) than if the equipment we are transporting to Kenya will arrive safely. Most of all, I am hopeful that our team arrives safely in Nairobi, adjusts in a timely manner to the new time zone, and is able to accomplish all of our ambitious goals for the next two weeks.
Being away from my wife for 4 weeks is the biggest sacrifice I have made in the last 14 years. But if we are able to make a positive difference in helping to raise up Christian Leaders for Africa then it is easy to make my gift of service to her and others my Valentines gift this year.
Blessings as you go. Continuing to enhance the technical capabilities of AIU is an important gift to that institution. I can remember as far back as 1988 -- and even later -- being on campus without even good internet connectivity. They've come a long way and what your team will do should help take them even further.
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