The Right Time to Join the Team

Steve Estes, Principal Technical Program Manager, Mastercard 

When was your first short-term trip with REI?

October 6-15, 2024

What motivated you to do this with REI?

My wife and I were familiar with REI as donors and through our relationship with Brian and Ginny Teel (former REI Director of Advancement). During one of their visits to St. Louis, Brian and Ginny told us that I might be a fit for a new project with universities in Central Asia.

I was intrigued by the possibility of using my experience and education in a professional exchange project similar to those we had been hearing about in Vietnam from the Teels over the years. When the trip to Oskemen was proposed for 2024, my wife and I agreed that the timing was right for me to join the team. 

What are one or two highlights from your short-term trips?

Witnessing for myself what God is doing and how I can be a part of it. On the first trip in 2024, a highlight was how we on the REI team came together as a unit and supported one another. Since it was the first such team, none of us knew quite what to expect, but because we all brought different gifts and experiences to the project, we were able to work together. 

As a result, we were able to help meet the needs of the university administrators and open the way for future business teams. On my second trip in 2025, I had several significant conversations with students and gained confidence in my ability to connect with students and faculty. 

What is one of the biggest challenges you experienced on a short-term trip? 

It was getting through the first day.  I was tired, my luggage had been lost, and I felt unprepared and lacking in confidence.  As a result, I felt that my first classroom experience did not go very well. 

But fortunately, our team and our hosts rallied around me, keeping me from discouragement and feelings of isolation. Their support, practical suggestions, and feedback helped me to be ready for the next day and the rest of the week. And our university host personally oversaw the retrieval of my lost luggage.

What surprised you most about Oskemen? 

Many people there are generous and friendly, welcoming to foreign guests and proud of their hometown. The city itself is safe, orderly, and not overly crowded.  

What was the hardest thing about being in Oskemen? 

While many people speak English, especially at the university and at businesses that cater to Westerners, most of the people you encounter will only speak Russian or Kazakh, with very little English proficiency. Also, the vast majority of signage is in Cyrillic.

As a non-Russian speaker, you can certainly function, especially as you pick things up or if you have someone with you to interpret. But when you are immersed in an environment where you can neither speak nor read the language, it is difficult not to feel disoriented.

What would you say as advice to someone who may be considering going on a short-term professional trip? 

Be open, flexible and realistic. Things will go wrong, and you will feel inadequate at times. But lean on your team, communicate with them what you are going through and let them help. And keep your eyes open to see all the little things God is orchestrating. Keep a journal.

What do you see as advantages of going on more than one short-term trip?

With each trip you will grow in confidence as you see and experience the meaningful impact you’re having. You will also gain confidence as you immerse yourself in the culture and begin to learn enough language and routines to operate more independently. You will also build relationships as you encounter some of the same people from one trip to the next. This will lead to more and deeper engagement opportunities.