Endings and Beginnings
After 8 months of training, the 2004 AIM class heads for their fields
By Kris Smith ('81), AIM Director

It was incredibly hard to put our daughter on that plane yesterday. My wife cried all day long, and I did sporadically. Traveling alone and meeting up with some people she has never met made us real uneasy. We hardly slept while she was flying over the Atlantic during the night. The guy who sat next to her was from a Christian-based construction company in Lubbock. His company even helps support AIM. When the plane landed he prayed for her. Well this morning she called when she was at the home of the missionary. Feeling better.
-- Dad

I had to rush from one plane to the next to catch my overseas flight. I got there after everyone had boarded and was so scatterbrained. I sat down and realized I was actually moving overseas and started crying for the first time that day. I just sat down and stared out the window, tearing up. A man with a big Texas accent leaned over and asked me if I was ok. Well, that made me cry some more. When I told him about AIM he said his company has a ministry branch and they support AIM! When we got off the plane he prayed for me! YAY GOD! I'm so excited and amazed at how God can work everything out. Well, my field is awesome...
-- Daughter (2004 AIM class)

Can you imagine yourself in one of those roles? When I first read these recent letters, it made me teary-eyed! Why would someone put themselves in such a situation like that? Why would a parent allow, and even encourage, their child to do that? And yet how else will the lost ever hear the good news? The last few months of an AIM student's training are very emotional. Wonderful friendships have been created, and the thought of leaving friends and family can be difficult. Taking steps into the unknown can be a real challenge, but isn't that what walking by faith means?

Our last week in AIM is filled with teachers giving their final charges to the students. In our final "Goodbye" session, each student and staff member takes a few minutes to say what the past 8 months have meant to him or her. This alone is a very emotional event lasting up to 6 hours, but it reflects the special memories that have been made. It can be sad to see the AIM students leave, but we have to remember that this is why they have come. It is also very exciting to see them go to their mission fields and to hear about their experiences in that place. As wonderful as the past 8 months have been, the real growth takes place over the next year and a half as they give themselves to the work on their mission fields around the world. Please keep them in your daily prayers!