Cal and Dustin had arrived early and were in time to join us in our 13th year of the Paddle Against Poverty on Saturday May 4, and that was a great connecting event with our community. Some 88 paddlers, mostly from the broader surfing community raised over $11,000 for our sponsor kids and Elevate Bali.
By Sunday 5th the rest of the team had arrived and my new treehouse platform was load tested as we met down there for prayer that morning before moving to our campsite up in the bush. The Coledale Rainforest Retreat is such a beautiful place and our hosts Tim and Kath are so generous. We always check in personally and all are encouraged to confess any sins and come clean before God and one another before we start.
Monday 6th we reviewed the state of the world movement before the giant world map from the CSI office and region by region was prayed for. So much going on, and so many needs and challenges as well. We again identified Japan as deserving special attention and the Asia region as presenting our greatest challenges. It was so good to see Cal and Dustin tag team their report, a good indicator of their coming leadership handover. Play time introduced Rocky and Bullwinkle - Rich and Dustin dressed as the 1970's cartoon characters - in anticipation of their upcoming weddings. They were given flying goggles and reindeer antlers to wear over the coming week for an early 'bucks' celebration. First up was tandem hang-gliding That night was a local CS night surfing experience at Sandon Point. Rich shared the gospel in the dark at the Point while the floodlights were set up. We couldn't believe it when the night exploded with a flash mob and some 50 surfers hit the lineup, glow sticks around each neck. The greater challenge was to not hit other surfers in the dark dodging the line of green glow sticks down the point! I swear that was one of the most dangerous things we had ever done...and we refused to be interviewed next morning by ABC Radio who got wind of it. Classic!
Tuesday dug into reviews and discussion about our key strategies. Great to have Steve Bligh facilitate chaplaincy as well as energetic discussion about leadership development, national movements and jumping from the roof of the meeting room into the pool. Aldo noted that his Australian hosts were a little crazy. The surf came up and the boys all got to surf pumping Sandon Point.
Wednesday we skyped in with Al Westbury discussing the Jesus Pro Am style events and networking these internationally as well as the Australian event becoming a rated Pro Junior event with the ASP, a world first for us. Al is such a servant-hearted leader and offered to be a global champion and resource for this strategy. Plenty more discussion about short-term missions, hospitality and servanthood as well as disciple-making communities. The perennial issue of fundraising got a solid debate with each RC taking on one new funding strategy. Once again, there is just so much going on and the challenge for RC's is how to devote more time to give to their international roles. We also believe in working smarter not harder and approved a matrix model of empowering teams not just geographical, but also around strategies. A fun surf out at Sharkey's reef (nervously attended) had Rocky and Bullwinkle tandem surf and Rich discovered a new found respect for SUP riders. We had board members Eric Arakawa and South Africa's Mark Edwards join in that night.
Thursday we switched gears and had Duncan Brown fly in from Melbourne to lead us through discussion on succession, leadership development and being a better change agent. Wow, what great insights he has about this...and roping bulls. Duncan doesn't do water, but spent years on cattle properties. Still he humoured our afternoon jump into the Kiama Blowhole and the cave of death initiation. "You guys are as mad as a bunch of cut snakes!" We had great late night fireside chats talking story over a glass of port supplied by Mr Williams. Jon Mak and Marcus from the board had joined us, with Mr Mak sleeping in what appeared to be a 5-star horse float.
Friday we were joined by the rest of the board and engaged in a spirited discussion about succession and how to transition our movement to the next generation. I am so glad to have such a strong united team wrestle through these issues. We pressed on through the afternoon with a final treat of 'The swirling vortex of death'...Aldo is starting to wonder just how many death-defying things one can jump into. A slack line across a coastal surge was enjoyed by all. That night we had a great dinner with the board, ILT and the office team as well as some former members and our patron Kotsy, the fairy godmother. It had been a long week for most.
Saturday was the all day board meeting and we were able to finalise many things regarding our structure, finances, succession and the future board role and makeup. I am so thankful for such a talented chairman as Marcus. The day wrapped up with an 'Evening With Eric' invitational dinner for local surfers and shapers to hang with the humble shaping legend.
The last of the team had flown home by Tuesday and we all agree that this was a significant week in the future of CSI. Thanks to all who prayed and made this possible.
