We've reached month 5 and we are now in Kathmandu, Nepal. The reality of things set in often and at anytime during the world race as I look around and realize where I am, what I'm doing, and what God is doing all around me. Only 2 days into this month, each day seems like a dream, and God is just getting started. How blessed am I to be sitting on the 3rd floor of an orphanage on the outskirts of Kathmandu with the chilly morning air present in the room, the smell of a burning mosquito coil next to me, listening to Hillsong United and writing a blog. And not just any blog, a blog that finally makes sense, one thats actually coming from the depths of my heart, unlike last month where it felt as if God stripped every comfort I had and means to process and cope/deal with all the chaos that was going on last month.　
Coming out of last month I was worn out, straight up. It was our 4th month on the race, we were in India, I had just become a team leader, and I had a brand new team. Nearly everyone in my team had been on separate teams prior and God had just brought us all together. If that wasn't enough in itself, my team as a whole is full of the people with the strongest personalities on the entire squad. Being a type A and dominant male I knew I had two options, I could strong arm everyone and "lead" from a position of "my way or the highway", or I could submit to God and learn in humility to lead in a way that I've learned thus far on the race. India was the most challenging month by far as I honestly had no clue what I was doing. If you think leading a group of Marines in combat is tough, try leading a group of 7 strong willed people from 7 different backgrounds and walks of life. Did I mention the team consisted of 4 girls and 2 other guys? Being responsible for the emotional, physical, and spiritual well being of 6 other people as well as balancing myself and my race was challenging. There were days that I just sat there and prayed and basically ask Jesus to take the reigns cause I had NO IDEA what I was doing. 　
Last month we were stuck on an orphanage, and weren't really allowed to leave because of security concerns in the area we lived in. It wasn't to bad of a place but I think our contact was really protective of us(love you pastor Isaac). Because of this we had a lot of time to bond yet the unity for the team as a whole just wasn't there…. It didn't really matter what I tried to do we all just sort of had our own intentions and our own interests in mind. Rather than forcing anything or forcing anyone to become vulnerable and trust one another I sat back and simply asked God to take control. It was rough. I am definitely the person that likes to take control of the situation and fix the problem, and its something I believe I'm good at. Leaving it all in the hands of God was difficult especially because God was so distant to me last month. He was there and I would see Him heal and save people every night as we did night evangelism and ministry in over 18 villages yet in my personal life in my quiet times He was no where to be found…..　
The team as a whole struggled as well. People who had seen victory after victory each month on the race now settled into this zone of not seeing the breakthrough they had experienced before. Our living conditions were better than some but still not the greatest and that weighed on us emotionally. It was over 105 degrees every day and with power on only a few hours a day that proved challenging to our mental and emotional well being. We had no options in regards to food and we either eat what they gave us or went hungry. And besides all of that God showed up through us, but in and around us He seemed to be far away. Minus Brad who God rocked day in and day out, the team as a whole spent the month waiting for God to show up and be close yet everything we did He didn't seem to show up in our personal lives.
With the month coming to a close I knew I needed a breath of fresh air, I needed vision, I needed help. Thankfully we had a leaders retreat planned and I spent 3 days with the other team leaders, and the new and raised up squad leaders as well as the alumni squad leaders that are leaving at the end of this month. Leader retreat was amazing for me and I left filled up, refreshed and excited for what God had in store. Last month I didn't have the relationships with the other leaders and I never reached out for help, although I knew I wasn't I felt alone and isolated on an orphanage hours from anyone else. During leaders retreat I was able to build those relationships with the other leaders and I spent a lot of time learning about what worked and didn't work in the teams. I was able to get new ideas on how to help my team and how to push us in the right direction.　
We spent 3 days training with each other and developing leadership, relational, and other skills. Its funny what God and others can teach you in such a short period of time. We didn't really have an "agenda" those 3 days but God lead and directed us. I remember one session we sat there and did iPod worship listening to song after song, I just laid there on my back crying, I was overwhelmed by God and His love for me in that moment. We prayed a lot, spent a lot of time together, and learned a lot, but above all else, the biggest thing that we did was dream. We spent about 3 hours on the last day praying and dreaming about what God had in store for our teams and for the squad. The very first thing that God gave me for the team and the squad was the word:
HUNGER……
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
Psalms 42:1-2
To be contiunued…. look for "A greater hunger: Part 2" in the next few days, and subscribe to my blog by entering your email on the left hand side. Thanks for reading, please feel free to comment if God speaks to you in anyway by this blog or any others. Love you, and also if you read this blog I prayed a special prayer of blessing and breakthrough in your life! Be blessed!
