And here I am, home. There were days on the race where I couldn’t wait to lie in my own bed and actually rest, and then there were days I wished the adventure would never end.
I loved squad leading. I love seeing others walk in freedom and connect with the Holy Spirit. I love seeing hearts heal and minds being transformed and renewed. I love being apart of others growth and their lives.
Even though this adventure ended, I know that the Lord used the time of squad leading these past five months for whatever He has for me in my continueing adventure.
Being home has been wonderful. Resting, being with my family, recovering. I am blessed with a very understanding and loving family and friends.
So where does my adventure go from here. Well, in August I will be traveling to Nepal for a debrief with the squad I was just with. I will be with them for a week to pour into them and hear about their journeys, and then I will go out once again in November to El Salvador for their final debrief! The debrief before they go home and decide what the Lord has next for them.
I know debrief might not seem important for old squad leaders to be at, but they are so essential. I really appreciate and was so encouraged by having my squad leaders at my debriefs when I was a participant on my race. And I want to do that for his squad as well. (A debrief is a 3-4 day time where they squad comes together, shares stories, worship together, and check in.)
It is really important to me to be at the debriefs of this squad I just squad led for. Because they have become family. I have invested in them, and they hvae invested in me.
So I’m asking for prayer, encouragement, and if the Lord leads you, your financial support to get me to these debriefs to uplift the squad and encourage them in their journey. I will also be working and saving money to get me out to the debriefs.
The Lord used the World Race to change my life. And now He is doing that for others and I am so excited for those on R Squad who are pursueing Jesus and living the life of a missionary.
While I was on the race, one of the things that really helped me get by day to day was knowing I had people praying for me, especially my family. Waking up and seeing prayer text from my mom and dad, or surprise emails filled with encouragement and prayers, all those things filled me and inspired me to keep working hard and press into the Lord. And now I have the privilege of doing that for those on R Squad.
The last 6 months of this year will be filled with working, spending time with the Lord, preparing for debriefs, and seeing what the Lord has for me in the day to day. Loving my family and my friends, and adapting to life in America. I loved my time on the race, and I love being home!
Whatever is in my future, I know I can trust the Lord with it. I will still blog and I will also still be fundraising. This journey has been more than worth it. Everything that the Lord has done in me, through me, and around me has been a blessing to see and partake in. And the past 5 months have been a blessing because of the people the Lord has brought into my life.
Thank you to everyone who has invested in this journey with me. It is so good to be home, and I am excited to continue this next year with the Lord.
Blessings to all of you! Jesus loves you and so do I!
-Ariana
