It wont come as a
surprise to anyone when I say that my team hated each other. The past 6 months have been anything but easy
for my team. At training camp we stated
that we did not want to be with theses people, and what did they do, they put
us together but added Birkleigh. That
left a really sore spot for most of us but we tried to make the best of it
before leaving for the race. Our first
blow out in Ireland had me thinking what the hell did I get myself into, I have
to spent the rest of the year with these people.
When we arrived in
Bulgaria we were all expecting a team change, and I think we all really wanted
a team change. But that didn’t happen,
and while the rest of our squad was crying because they were being moved to new
teams, we were all crying because we weren’t being moved to new teams.
So we left Bulgaria
and headed to Turkey, which I would say was one of the worst months. We were all crammed into one room spending
every waking moment with each other. Debrief came and things weren’t any better than the past 4 months. Pappy yelled at us, and that opened my eyes
to a lot!
Israel was a little
better. We went through a lot. Tres wasn’t sure where we was supposed to be
and was thinking about possibly leaving, he didn’t and I’m so glad! However his season of leadership was over and
Bethany’s season was beginning. It was
at the moment that the Lord began to Redeem our team.
Last month in Uganda
was the first month there wasn’t a blow out between someone. Yes we still had and still have our moments
where we want to be alone, but that’s normal when you spend 24/7 with 6 other
people. Last month was the first month I
had to give a sermon and God placed Mark 12:28-34 and Matthew 22:34-40 about
the greatest commandment on my heart. To
read more about it check out my love blog. But through that God showed me that I don’t always Love. Love is not what comes naturally. Love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13; Love is patient, and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or
rude. It does not demand it’s own
way. It is not irritable, and it keeps
no record of being wronged. It does not
rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is
always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. And writing my
sermon really gave me a new heart and love for my team.
Our debrief in Kenya
was the first debrief where we weren’t pissed off at each other and dreading
the time. We were complimented on how we
are doing. We asked if we could change
our team name and we were given the ok to pray into it and we’ve officially
decided that our new team name is Redeemed! Because we are Redeemed both individually and as a whole.
