“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask, think, or imagine, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
– Ephesians 3:20-21
Thanks for your continued prayers! This summer has flown by. But it’s been a full one and the Lord has taught me so much!
My month in Botswana ended well and the team we had made the journey such an enjoyable experience. My co-leader and I were able to disciple them and walk along side them during what, for many of them, was their very first mission trip! They were receptive of all that was placed in front of them and they had a tremendous impact on the family we stayed with and the children we ministered to throughout the month.
The week-long trip I was privileged to lead in New Orleans at the end of July was a whirlwind of an experience, but the team I had said their world was rocked in that short period of time. They ministered to the homeless in downtown, helped repair a home in the 9th ward still damaged from Hurricane Katrina, served at a men’s rehab facility, and even had opportunities to share the Gospel to complete strangers! Many of them would tell you that this was the first experience they had in being bold with their faith and stepping outside of their comfort zone. And they did it well. Their stories at the end of each day even challenged me and awakened me to areas I need to be stretched!
As you know from my previous newsletter, I had asked for prayer regarding my future. Well, I’m excited to announce that starting in September, I will be squad leading for the World Race Gap Year! As you’re also probably aware, I finished squad leading for a World Race squad last year. But this Gap Year program that Adventures In Missions offers is a bit newer and a little different than the typical World Race where participants minister in a different country every month for a year. The World Race Gap Year starts every September and finishes the following May. It’s essentially an entire school year, nine months. For those of you that aren’t familiar with the term “Gap Year,” it’s growing in popularity in the U.S. as a stage before or during college. The purpose is to gain work experience, engage in community service, or simply garner general life experience to help determine one’s life goals and give them better insight into what field they might want to study in college. So this program that we offer is exclusively for students, those ages 18-22, and they will be spending three months in three different countries, El Salvador, Malawi, and The Philippines. The plan right now is that I will be with them on the field until about mid-January.
I was able to be a part of their training camp at the Adventures office in Gainesville, GA last month. They’re a lively bunch of 40 students, full of energy and teachable spirits, ready to see the world and ready for God to show up in the different settings they’ll be ministering in throughout the year. I could hardly keep up with them! As with squad leading before, my co-leader’s and my responsibilities will be similar in that we will be traveling to the individual teams every couple of weeks to disciple them and coach them through this life-changing and unique experience. We will also be facilitating debriefs on the field, alongside other field support from back in the States. Our time will be spent making sure they are healthy, spiritually and physically, and that they are unified in their cause to spread the love of Christ around the world!
From now until January, I will be required to raise $3,500 to cover my expenses on the field. I ask that you would please pray about continuing to support me with a one-time donation or with monthly support as well. You can send checks made out to “Adventures In Missions” to the following address, and please include my name in the memo:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
You can also contribute support online via the “Support Me” link on my blog, danlidwin.theworldrace.org.
I’ll continue to send updates from the field every month. As always, I covet your prayers as I head overseas again! Pray for the strength and energy needed to lead these young people through unfamiliar territory. I head back to Georgia on August 30 and then our whole squad heads down to El Salvador on September 5th! But I will be home until the end of August so I look forward to getting to see many of you in person this month!
For His Renown,
Dan Lidwin
