After working in an accredited Zoo for 4 years, I picked up the lingo and could casually discuss the mating/eating/sleeping habits of the snow leopard, Edwards pheasant...Julian, the suave chimp; and a few The Ohio State University chants ,"Fear the SweaterVest." 

I now work for a missions organization - a network of people who equip, send, seek, serve, walk-beside the poor, the lonely, and the broken (sums up most folks, I think).  As with any culture of work, Adventures has its own lexicon...things you hear around the office.

On any given day, you may hear:

* You guys got coffee?

* Where you going?  Little Italy.  I didn't know we had any people in Italy! NO-Little Italy for lunch - by Zaxbys.

* Have you seen Clint?

* Are you coming over to watch the SuperBowl this weekend? No-I'll be in the Philippines & Vietnam this week. (Unfazed) Oh cool. So you'll be back on Monday then?

* I'm an ISTJ - what are you?  An XNFP - or so they say. No way! Emily says that there is no such thing as an X... Pops head over cubefarm, Emily-come over here! She's an X!

* Is the coffee done?

* We're headed to the DR to debrief with the x, y, z-squad racers (not speed racers, mind you) and then heading over to Cambodia to catch up with the trafficking team.  See you next week.

* You guys got chocolate?

* Did you get the message?  No, I thought I'd try the New King James version this time.  Not that, the message I left for you on the tel-e-phone!

* G42, NOLA, Lakehouse, intentional community, h, i, & j-squads; wrecked for the ordinary, squatty potties, and "ask Jake first"

* You guys got coffee, yet?

You'll also hear people referred to as "Dreamers" with great respect, fewer southern accents than - say - Michigan 'you betcha's', and people asking for prayer without drama or fear. We've got our own "Apprentices", an ebb and flow of people moving into Adventures for short stints, project leaders, lots of laughter, Monday morning worship, and conversations around the big kitchen in the training center.

It is in this richness of simple intentional working that life is refreshed for so many - and you can hear this, too, around the office in the language and conversations.  

Words like:

* hope

* freedom

* sacrifice

* worship

* brokenness

* redemptive

* mercy

* forgiveness

* finally... get frequent play.

And where else can two Allies, one WildCat & one Jayhawk, get along so well with shared purpose?

Blog Bonus:  The Jayhawks, music for your mind