Defining "Success"

I returned last Tuesday evening from a very successful trip!  Usually, as team leader, I define "successful" as bringing back the entire team in one piece, not losing the money, and not causing any international incidents.  In this case, however, I saw success in a different light.  Most of our trainings follow fairly closely to a "script" as outlined in the curriculum we are using.  This time, we had no script.  This was "advanced sanitation" training, as requested by the participants themselves.  Thus, the first task was to learn from them about the successes and challenges that they've had in implementing our previous training.  Linda, our lead trainer, had designed an "inquiry" format where we asked various questions designed to inspire open discussion in an encouraging environment.  We spent most of the first day learning from them about what they felt that they needed.  We also spent a long day in the field visiting latrines that had worked well and some that most definitely had not.  Our lessons were designed to draw out from them the solutions to the problems that they had encountered, rather than just telling them our "expert" opinions.  While this was a challenging approach, we felt that it was the only way to leave them feeling equipped and confident in themselves and each other when this final training ended.

The worst part of this training approach was that it was totally out of our control.  The best part of this training approach was also that it was totally out of our control! We were completely dependent on God throughout the planning and training.  We never knew what challenges and creative ideas would surface on any day.  None of us knew exactly why we were on this team, or exactly what our "roles" were.  We didn't even have a defined goal.  And that was exactly where God wanted us to be.  We were very intentional about turning all of this over to Him, and following His leading when He chose to give it, wherever it might take us.  And, not surprisingly, He blessed us tremendously for our obedience and faithfulness.

When we received feedback from the participants at the end of the week, we were encouraged - and relieved - to hear that they felt that this training was exactly what they had needed, and that they felt equipped and eager to return to the field to try some new creative approaches.  For me, this was an affirmation of this entire training project that began in February 2010.  All of the community development principles we had sowed and cultivated were bearing fruit, and God was glorified in the process.  That is the greatest success of all.