ICCM (International Conference on Computing and Missions)
Tomorrow, June 10, I will be leaving the family for six days to attend a special tech conference in Indiana. During this time, I hope to find out about all the latest tools and computing technologies that missionaries from all over the world are using. I hope this time can be profitable for learning and also for building friendship networks through which we can help each other further missions around the world. Pray for Kristi as she holds the fort down here at home with all the many responsibilities.
You can find out more about the conference at ICCM
2009 Audio Presentation
As hard as we tried, we were not able to see every one of you who prays for us and supports us financially. Time did not allow us that opportunity during this quick trip out West. Although it would never be the same as coming to see you…I did realize yesterday, that I could upload the message from last week and at least you could listen to a little testimony/message about our ministry and what God has been teaching us. Let me know if it was helpful.
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Are laptops a blessing?
Yes and No? Well, let me explain. Laptops are built to sell to business people who work and live in perfect climate and dust free rooms for the most part. This greatly reduces downtime and issues. Most missionaries live in conditions that are extremely opposite of that. 120 degree weather in combination to near 100 percent humidity, etc., is not what the manufacturers had in mind when they build them. (Unless it is the OLPC computer) In fact most warranties state that when you take a laptop in those conditions their fancy warranties are voided. Because of this, missionaries laptops have a lifetime expectancy of about 6 months before they need repaired. Generally I have about 10 laptops per week come in and out of my office. That is a whole lot of down time for missionaries. Most missionaries choose to use laptops because of two main reasons…power consumption (most use solar power) and portability as they travel in and out of their villages. Because productivity is so important to the modern missionary, most missionaries carry about 3 or 4 computers with them. Computers are a huge asset to the missionary life in language learning, bible translation, emailing supporters, etc., There are always exceptions, but in general laptops have an awful track record for reliability and support and if it were not for those two reasons stated earlier I would choose a desktop over a laptop any day of the week. There are brands that do better than others…right now, we work on far fewer IBM (now Lenovo) machines than any other machine.