Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 7/23/2010
 It is amazing how busy Nick and I have been lately. My last training camp for AIM was three weeks ago, but things have not really slowed down. I wanted to update you a bit on what I've been, and will continue doing for the Ambassador Program.
Right after our last training camp, I took a few days off of "AIM stuff" in order to catch back up on life here in Kentucky. I loved going down to the camps in Georgia, but leaving Nick back at home was not ideal. Plus, with the camps so close together, it was difficult to keep up with the house, relationships, and everything in between for those few weeks.
So after a few days "off," I started back into the swing of things. We put the new 2011 trips up that following week, and the inquiries have been incredible. I've had hundreds of e-mails from prospective participants come in since that point. And it is a bit daunting at points to open the inbox and see 70 new e-mails in bold print. On the plus side, we are now offering two spring break trips, and an even wider variety of trips all around the world during the summer. It is exciting to be at the start of this.
Last year, if you recall, I joined in late February or March, so I missed a lot of the initial inquiries and participants. Additionally, because I started in the middle of everything, I felt like I was always playing catch-up. I hope to stay ahead of the game this year, and help participants get through the application process, and into the support-raising process sooner. Maybe that will alleviate some of the support phone calls closer to the trip that I dread making.  More importantly, though, I am hoping this gives me the chance to get to know each participant. I missed a huge chunk this year because they were already through the application process (which is what I primarily help with), and I never had to follow up on their support. So, unfortunately, at the training camps, I was talking to many of them for the first time.
So among my normal duties of e-mailing and calling participants, I am also going to be doing a bit of recruiting. There aren't too many benefits to me not living near the base in Georgia, but one lies in the fact that I have a whole community people unfamiliar with AIM. I am hoping to speak with the leaders of the youth group at my church, that has a regular weekly attendance of over 300 high school students. I was able to talk to one of the leaders a few weeks ago, and she seemed eager to get me involved since they do not already have their own mission trips set up. That could be an incredible blessing to have participants from right here in my backyard. Please be in prayer regarding all of that.
Thanks for your many prayers and support year-round. You guys are my family and my support system, and without you this would not be possible.
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 7/1/2010
Well, I am heading back down to Georgia tomorrow to help with our second training camp. It has already been underway for two days, so I will jump right into the mix of things.
Would you please continue to pray for the lives of these teenagers? We are so excited to be launching out a whole other batch into the nations. We have worked really hard to see everything culminate here. Let the glory go to God as He continues to use these young people.
Please also be in prayer for the teams on the field that are already winding down and heading back home (we have several two-week teams). Pray that they have had a fruitful time, and that their debriefs help them understand how to handle all of the new world views they may have come into contact with.
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 6/19/2010
 The past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. I have been working just as much at Starbucks, but have also kept busy with Ambassador stuff. We have closed all of our trips at this point, and ready to send the teams out into the field. I've been making all kinds of calls to track down last minute documents and support, but it's exciting to come to this point.
Although training camps started several days ago, I was not able to come down to Gainesville, GA until yesterday morning. It has been an awesome time so far. We have talked about being "chosen," "broken," and "blessed."
I have been responsible to teach the drama this year. That has been a big challenge, but a lot of fun. So with the help of another AIM staffer, Emily, we have gotten through two-thirds of the teams so far, and all in less than five hours over the last two days. We are doing a DRIME (silent drama set to music) to the song "In The Light" by DC Talk. Old-school, I know, but it's the most practical to teach to a huge group, and it's effective for ministry. It depicts the story of two girls created by God. One gives God praise and honor for creating her while the other initially rejects God and and succumbs to the devil's schemes, before finally realizing her need for a Savior and turning to Him.
Last night, after Don Rock spoke about "brokeness," one of the participants came up to her leader and shared that she was not a believer. It was during the DRIME practice that she began to relate to the "bad girl" character, and she realized she has never made a decision to follow Christ Through the rest of the sessions that day, she knew she was ready to make that step. She accepted the Lord and joined the family last night. PRAISE GOD!!!
Please be in prayer for these teams--their effectiveness on the field, their unity as a team, their safety, and their own growth with the Father.
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 6/2/2010
I cannot believe it is already June. This year has just been flying by, and I can barely keep up. As demonstrated by a lack of blogging. Nick and I celebrated six months of an awesome marriage this past weekend. We sat talking about what it may have been like if we had waited till spring or summer to get married. I am so grateful we just went for it!
The Lord has been teaching me so much lately. It's crazy all of the new things I am taking in each week. Not that I feel like he has ever withheld his teaching--rather I've neglected to listen. Nick and I have been going through a ten-week series with our church called "Story-Formed Life." It was compiled by one of our friends and elders here in the community, but is actually quite simplistic in nature. It basically breaks down the thought that we are the center of "the story," and shows us, through scripture, how God is the center of the story...and then how we fit in to that. I say it is simplistic because it only uses scripture to demonstrate it's point, but it really is fundamental in changing our paradigm, and actually living a God-centered lifestyle. We are about mid-way through the series, and already I feel like it has altered my heart and many of my behaviors.
Lately, I have been working on my prayer-life. Because I am an internal processor, I spend a lot of time in my head--breaking down conversations, replaying interactions, and criticizing whatever I deem unworthy. I am working hard to change that. I am proactively trying to use my "thought time" to pray for people, and particularly while I am at work--a disgruntled customer, a buddhist co-worker, my [understandably] stressed-out boss, etc. Wow, has it changed my perspective.
The first week of SFL--titled "The Fall"--shows us that we are made is God's image. Not only that, but we are all to blame for the fall. Not one of us is exempt. With that in mind, I have been challenged to look at people through the lens' of Christ. Of course I've heard this before, but I'm not sure that I've ever actually implemented it...at least not here in America. It has helped me to be more patient, understanding, and forgiving, and has aided in prayer for people. I am so thankful that God is the center and not me.
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 4/27/2010
This is clearly well overdue, but I wanted to show a few photos of
our Easter weekend.
Sunday morning we had a great Easter celebration with many various
families from our community. We spent time feasting, in worship, and
hiding eggs for the children.
 
After a glorious Easter snooze, Nick and I headed out to one of the
many parks in the area, to take in the beautiful spring blooms.
 
 
 
 
On the way home we came across the coolest house I've ever seen.
It's owned by an artist--clearly. I want it for myself, though.
 
For dinner we had a fabulous Chinese food picnic in a different park
with our friends/neighbors. It was truly a great Easter where we could
sit back, relax, and reflect on Christ and creation.
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 4/27/2010
Nick and I spent a great first Easter together. Friday night we
co-hosted the first annual Treas/Derington Italian themed Gathering with
several other friends from our community. Nick made fresh-baked garlic
bread and I made a hearty marinara sauce to accompany the plethora of
noodles. Sadly no one brought Tiramisu, but I survived. It was a great
turn-out, and we really enjoyed having everyone over.
After some fine dining indoors, we
moved the crew outside for worship around the first campfire of the
season. What a blessed Easter Eve.
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 4/1/2010
After Nick and I were married, the job hunt began. We both continue feel a strong calling into ministry, but agreed that this year our "full-time" ministry was to each other and our marriage. With that in mind, I was still interested in pursuing something, at least part-time, with a ministry focus.
 Since I have been working with AIM (Adventures in Missions) for the past few years, I thought it was the best place to start. I spoke with a few people at AIM but nothing seemed to be available outside of their base in Georgia or out on the field.
Fast forward a few months, and I received word that there was, in fact, an area where I could help out. It has all kind of happened over the last couple weeks, but I have come back on staff to help out part-time with the Ambassador department. For those that are unfamiliar, this is the portion of AIM that handles the high school trips. If you recall, I led an Ambassador team to Ireland last summer.
Additionally, I have grown rather close with the two primary department heads-Don & Connie Rock-both in ministry and friendship. Connie also comes from a background as a missionary kid, and we basically clicked from the start.
So I have started helping with some of their administrative work-responding to e-mails, making phone calls to prospective participants, and even helping conduct some of the interviews. There is also a good chance I will be involved in the training camps this summer-possibly helping with teaching dramas.
I am really excited about the opportunity to not only continue working with Don and Connie, but to be involved with a mission organization directly. I will definitely need your prayers as I take this on. This will be a part-time position, but on top of my job at Starbucks. Also, the vast majority of their staff are right there in the office, so please pray against any communication strains due to distance. Please also be in prayer for my finances. I will need to raise roughly $400 a month at this point.
His Daughter, Traci Derington
Please prayerfully consider whether the Lord is calling you to participate in this ministry in a tangible way. All gifts to AIM are tax-deductible. Checks may be made payable to Adventures In Missions, P.O. Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. You may write "appealed by Traci Derington" in the memo section of the check. Or you may choose to click the "Support Me!" tab on the left of my blog. Upon receiving any contribution, AIM will send you a receipt.
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 2/24/2010
For those of you that did not receive an e-mail, Nick and I have begun to collaborate our blogging efforts into one location. You can now keep up on all things "Derington" at http://deringtonfamily.wordpress.com/
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 2/10/2010
 We rolled up to our new home at the start of January. After some final touch-ups, we were able to move in and begin to get settled. It's been a crazy few weeks. Nick and I have never lived on our own before, so this is really our first chance to furnish, decorate, and accessorize our space as we desire. Of course, there are limitations to that, but I have really enjoyed finally making this house OUR home.
Thanks to the wedding gifts and start-up money from you all, we were able to begin functioning smoothly, and rather quickly. I have been cooking up a storm almost every day, and absolutely loving it. It is really awesome to be able to build our home together. I Thank you for all of your prayers for us in these beginning months. It certainly has not been the easiest thing either of us have done, but incredibly rewarding already. We know God had a huge plan when He put both of us together.
 As for me individually, I attended a women's study with a few other wives from the community. It was only a four-week stint to discuss some Mark Driscoll sermons regarding women and their roles. It was incredibly humbling, challenging, encouraging, agonizing, exciting, and every other intense emotion, but man am I glad I went. I learned so much, not only about what it means to be a wife, but just about myself in general--my stubbornness, individualistic attitude, and selfishness, and on the flip-side, my gifts, desires, needs, etc. It was awesome, and I am really grateful that I could be a part of that time.
During the week I have been doing a lot around the house--the cleaning never seems to end. Hah! I have also been applying for job after job. Shortly after we arrived here, Nick started working for our friends' companies--Epipheo and Marketplace Earth. I, on the other hand, cannot seem to find a job at all. I know the Lord has something for me, and things to learn in the meantime, but if you could please be in prayer with me regarding this, I would really appreciate that.
Pray for us as we grow in our marriage more and more each day. Please pray that the things I have begun to learn, regarding my role as a wife, would stick! Pray for our ministry here in the US--whatever that looks like--and our plans for the near and distant future.
*Here are the sermons in case you were interested
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Posted in Stateside by Traci Derington on 1/26/2010
 After our wedding, Nick and I hung around Kentucky for a few more days, and made the decision that we would live there for this year. We even managed to find a house in that time.
After that we took off to DC to spend a bit of time with the family Nick had been living with before the race. Nick flew out from there a few days later, bound for Minnesota, where he helped one of his machinist friends cut our wedding bands--we had used temporaries for the wedding. Meanwhile, I drove up to be with my family in Eastern Pennsylvania for a few days before he flew back to meet me there.
We spent Christmas with my family, and were able to celebrate my nephew's fourth birthday with some family and friends. It was a great time to relax and begin to acclimate to married life.
At the end of the month, we loaded up an Explorer and trailer piled with my stuff, then drove down to DC to load up Nick's belongings. Then, off to Kentucky we drove. It was a long trip, but we were so excited to move into our new home...more on that in January.
*In the spirit of "two-becoming-one," Nick and I tried on a pair of pants together. Not actually going to work out after all, though.*
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