In ten days, Team BLAZE as we know it will cease to exist. Yes, we still have eight months left of the World Race, but in ten days, Y-Squad will be undergoing its first (and hopefully last) round of team changes. Not long after that, our amazing squad leaders, Sarah Schrack and Lucas Tillman, will also be heading back to the US, raising up two new squad leaders to step into their shoes once they leave.
In ten days, we will also be leaving our ministry site in Nyagatare, Rwanda, and saying farewell to Africa before heading on to Asia for our next five months of ministry. It’s hard to believe three months have already flown by and we are already more than one fourth of the way through our adventure.
In the face of this season of change, I find myself reflecting back over the past few months and also wondering what lies ahead. None of us is sure what “team changes” will entail, but we trust and believe that God’s hand will be in the entire process, and even though the transition may take a bit of time and adjustment, we believe it will ultimately be good for each of us.
Still, I have to admit that saying farewell to Team BLAZE will not be easy. These amazing, unique individuals have become my family away from home. We laugh together, cry together, worship together, and share beds, toiletries, bodily functions, and plenty of inside jokes together. We have prayed one another through sickness, laughed so hard that tears poured, sang so loudly that the neighborhood actually paused to listen, and trudged through many miles of muddy roads on the way to and from ministry sites. We have walked side by side as God has been working in each of us, calling one another into greater honor and learning how to love one another despite our shortcomings and imperfections as human beings. I know we have each grown and changed in ways that would be hard to explain, but it’s been clear to see God’s hand working in each of our lives, and His Spirit is definitely moving and grooving in each of us.
Knowing that I may not get another chance, I wanted to dedicate this blog to my fellow Team BLAZEmates: Andrea Rose Garcia, Sarah Elizabeth Ball, Andrew Scott Cangemi, Kayla Dawnn House, Andrew Scott Phelps, and Sabrina Renee Utz.
Andrea. My beautiful team leader has taught me much about love, grace, faithfulness, and hearing from the Lord. She has poured herself into each of us, sharing words of encouragement, blessing us with her hugs, sweet smile, and beautiful singing voice, and always setting an example of what it means to honor one another. God has given her such wisdom in the face of difficult decisions or awkward circumstances, and she has always handled each with such gentleness and grace. I don’t think she fully realizes the extent of her impact or influence in each of the places we have served, but I know and believe God is going to continue to use her mightily in the coming months. I secretly (okay, not-so-secretly) hope to continue to serve on her team, if only to continue to watch God’s hand work and move in and through her life.
Sarah. One of my greatest joys these past few months has been watching God’s transformation in Sarah’s life. I think we spoke all of ten minutes prior to becoming teammates at Training Camp, and it wasn’t until we were actually on the Race that I began to watch God peel back the layers of Sarah’s seemingly shy exterior to reveal the beautiful, comedic, caring young woman that we affectionately call “BALLZ!” Sarah has a powerful testimony that has touched and challenged so many lives in each country we have been in, and she has become increasingly bold in letting His Spirit speak more of His Truth through her. Just knowing the transformation God has worked in her life already makes me so excited to see what else He’s going to do in her.
Scott. This man of God’s glowing white smile and powerful voice usher the heart of the Father to earth. Quiet and unassuming on the surface, Scott continues to blow my mind with his poignant thoughts, his unexpected wise cracks and fantastic sense of humor, and especially his ability to usher in the Holy Spirit’s presence when he sings. Each message I have heard Scott preach has challenged my life, as I know he has challenged hundreds of others who have heard him speak. This bearded, Jesus-look-alike sage has spoken so much life into each of us, and I know we are all better individuals as a result of the truth God speaks through him.
Kayla. Even saying her name makes me smile. Kayla blesses us all with her precious innocence and the earnest desire she has to hear from God. I don’t think she quite realizes what a powerful woman of the Spirit she is, but when Kayla plays guitar and starts to sing worship, something happens in the atmosphere. Kayla has such a sweet, gentle, nurturing spirit, and I especially love watching her interact with children. Kayla’s excitement in the little things of the day has taught me so much about paying attention to the small, seemingly insignificant things that God cares about. Knowing how God has already poured so much of His Spirit into Kayla these past three months, I can’t wait to see what else He’s going to do during the rest of the race.
Drew. Words like ‘warrior,’ ‘knight,’ ‘nobility,’ and ‘strength’ have all been spoken over this incredible young man of God, and it’s true that he embodies so many of these qualities in the way that he carries himself through life. Drew has taught me so much about Jesus’ selfless love for others, love that pours outwardly as the Father pours into him inwardly. Drew certainly has the God-given ability to make each person around him feel special, loving the individual in the uniqueness that was created in that person. Even when he was battling sickness, Drew still warmly greeted others with an earnest, “How are you?” always considering others’ well-being even when he was feeling miserable himself. His sharp intuition and ability to identify solutions have undoubtedly kept our team out of potential scrapes, and it’s no secret that his level-headedness and southern chivalry have blessed our squad as a whole in his role as logistician. It’s no wonder he was given the Kinyarwanda name, “Mugisha,” which means “blessing.”
Sabrina. Despite the fact that I tease her about her sharp elbows (Sabrina and I shared a bed for two months), Sabrina is one of the most graceful, beautiful women of God that I have ever met. She is fully confident in her identity as a daughter of God, and yet she humbly serves others with such a powerful love. Sabrina is a mighty dancer and one whom I know brings delight and joy to the heart of the Father. Sabrina has spoken so many words of life and encouragement into me, and I feel like the Lord has used her to help realize my own identity in Christ. Sabrina’s tender heart and her joy-filled singing shine whenever we do ministry, and I have truly loved and been blessed to serve alongside her as my fellow sister and friend. Even though I’m grateful to have my own bed this month, I know that if God calls us to other teams in ten days, I will definitely be missing those sharp elbows.
I don’t think my words adequately express how much I appreciate and honor each of these individuals, but hopefully they still share a glimpse of all I feel in my heart towards them.
Would you please remember to pray for each of us as we enter the season of change ahead? Please pray that God would prepare us for our future teams, and that He would ease the pain of severance as we trust Him for our new teams and the opportunities we will have to grow with them.
Lastly, please pray for Kayla, Sabrina, and Andrea as we rapidly approach our next finance deadline. We are all believing that God will fully provide the finances that they need to finish the Race. If you feel led to bless any of them by supporting them financially, please click on their names above. Your prayers for each of them would be appreciated!
