This post is about Emily, but there is nothing second class about her at all. To the contrary! After Cheryl, my beautiful wife, Emily is the second lady in my life who helps me keep my sanity in weeks like this when it seems everything turns upside down. For the past two years Emily has been my executive assistant. Many of you who read this blog do not live in Kansas City. When you try to call or contact me, you often end up in communication with Emily. So, I decided to give you a glimpse of this very special young woman.
I thought to do this a couple of weeks ago when I was in Argentina to train the staff of Thomas Vögelin‘s CEC. Emily has often corresponded with Febe, Thomas’ assistant. Febe asked me, “What does Emily look like? What is she like?” Great questions!
Emily was born in Iceland when her father was stationed there in the US military. She is, however, Costa Rican. After over 30 years of ministering in two languages, Emily is the first bi-lingual assistant I have had, and I can’t begin to tell you what a blessing that is! She is not only bi-lingual, she is perfectly bi-cultural. Her uncle is Marco Castro, the pastor of our Hispanic ministries and director of Que Dice la BIblia, our Spanish-language Bible institute by extension. She has been part of our church family since she was in high school and she is as comfortable in English as she is in Spanish. So, we enjoy mixing up languages together.
Though she has been my assistant for almost two years, Emily has worked on our staff for seven years in a variety of responsibilites. She has served as a leader in our student ministries and is a great mentor for young women. She is bright, competent, given to details and has a great sense of style. Perhaps most important, she both loves and makes a great cup of coffee! If you can’t find either one of us, you just might bump into one or the other of us at Benetti’s Coffee Experience, or some other fine establishment dedicated to great coffee.
People like me who are out in front leading, speaking, training, and all that sort of stuff are often administratively challenged. People like me simply cannot do what we do without people like Emily. Life is never about a single person. Life is a team sport and we need each other.
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Emily and her wonderful mother, Flor Emilia, were here in Denver last year, and we had dinner together. Both of them are marvelous people! Emily is such a delight and so sharp in every way. I’m glad you have her to help you and to represent you so capably. You are fortunate to have a wonderful staff of people working there anyway, but Emily is certainly a spectacular example! Tina
Well, you did it, you got me to post a comment! How could I not – it was either go dig a hole and hide because I couldn’t believe you did this!!!…or accept it and write you to thank you for your extremely generous comments (and yours too Tina!). Life IS a team sport and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to play my part in it. ¡Gracias por tus palabras Pastor! Me has animado mucho.
And Tina, I’ll be in Denver next weekend and thought of calling you when I was there to see if you had time for a cup of coffee. I’ll call!
Aha! I flushed you out! I’m very happy. I meant every word! You must have coffee with Tina in Denver — except she will have tea – black tea.
How funny! I thought the other day that you needed to post something about Emily and almost commented about it! I have to agree that Emily is AWESOME!
As the other half of the Party Planning Committee, I have inside knowledge about what an amazing worker and talented young woman she is! Emily, we love you and you are a very gifted young woman! 
I will miss planning parties with you!!
There’s an old saying that applies here, Debra — “Takes one to know one!” Thanks for the comment.
If it were not for Emily, we would have never gotten the new member video finished. (don’t read this next part Jeff)Emily, if you ever want a job as a tv producer, call me.
So where have I been hiding not to see this post? under a rock I guess. anyway, I have now finally come across it and simply cannot not leave a response. although now I’m not sure what to say. There are so many simply wonderful things about Emily that I wouldn’t know where to start. So I guess I’ll leave it at “Emily is Amazing, Awesome, Talented, & Wonderful” and I can say those things because it’s true and Em would never say them about herself.
I also have to thank you for posting this! You guys are a great team and together you rock out everything that needs to get done!