Team Black Sheep:
We were all rogues in our own way, black sheep, yet God has brought us together in this race for his glory. He proudly claims us as his own. The name is not about a pride in our past. It is an acknowledgment of our brokenness and that sacrifice that brings us together in God’s Grace.
Psalms 51:17 (NIV)
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
Hey Everyone!
Much has happened the past three months and I’ve been wanting to update you for a while now! So here’s a brief summary of the past 12 weeks and what God has been doing through our team.
Since my last email, my squad met in Istanbul with our coaches. After some discussion and direction, I was given the opportunity to lead a team. Our team is a wild group with a bunch of really strong personalities, but we definitely know how to have a good time together.
From Istanbul, we set out to the city of Kars in eastern Turkey to pioneer relationships and potentially plant a church. Whether being invited into random homes to learn Turkish dances and eat food, or jamming to Eric Clapton with a local university teacher and his friends, we were blessed with numerous opportunities to learn Turkish culture and learn to share the Gospel in Islamic nations. Most importantly, we were able to establish some incredible relationships for the next team.
After Turkey, we spent a week with the first World Race Expedition squad in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, to talk about our experiences on the race thus far and to encourage each other. The week was amazing! allowing many people on our squad to gain outside perspective and realize that many struggles are common to all World Race squads.
NOW! The last 6 weeks in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have been phenomenal. The Kyrgyz in particular are some of the most loving and kind-hearted people I have encountered. In both countries, we connected with local English teachers and assisted them by teaching English classes, planning community events for the students, and facillitating daily, hour-long conversations known as talking time. If you’ve seen any of my photos on Facebook, then you’ve probably seen the fun parts like our talent show and mountain excursion, but this month also came with daily preparation and quiz grading that gave me a new respect for teachers!
Our team & the School Staff
The male students, Beka, Teligan, Urmat, Askat, Baku, Isak, and Erjan blessed me through their daily handshakes, smiles, laughter and interest in my military career. Additionally, Madina, Valentina (a future Olympic track star), Adileta, and Vika reminded me of how much I miss goofing around with my sisters at home. These young men and women not only helped me learn more about the man I want to be, but further proved what my father said before the race, “You’re going learn that you don’t need a lot to be happy.”
Like the end of the movie Big Fish, it’s all about the people you touch with your life, whether for a fleeting moment or many years.
In closing, it’s been a rewarding month that has challenged my team’s patience and love for each other in many ways. But, as the months draws to a close, it’s apparent that we have all matured and grown from our community of seven. I’m grateful for everyone on my team and how God has used this season to redeem my career in America’s army for a life in God’s.
Here are five ways you can pray for my squad and me.
1) Pray for provision of the last $2,000 to fully pay for my mission.
2) Pray for God to reveal to our leaders how I can best serve the squad in these coming months.
3) Pray for our upcoming debrief with Gary and Lisa. Pray for a spirit of love, grace, truth, and positivity to soak this special time of celebrating how far we’ve come and challenging each other to new levels of spiritual maturity.
4) Pray that the young men and women we taught may know God’s love and choose to follow Christ.
5) Pray for our next month’s ministry in Mongolia. I am stoked!
Love and Blessings,
Charles Payne
Our Students Gathered Together for the Talent Show!
