We have 19 days until we fly across the Pacific and land once
again in the beautiful land of America. It seems like most of us are so ready
to go home. We have family waiting for us – grandparents, parents, siblings,
nieces and nephews (some of whom were born while we were away). We have
friends, dear friends who have stuck by our side through the thick and thin of
this year, who are eagerly anticipating our arrival. One of us even has a
boyfriend, who I’m sure wants nothing more than to wrap his arms around his
girlfriend and tell her how much he missed her.
We miss our comforts – a bed to sleep on that isn’t rock
hard, a shower with hot water, food that isn’t rice, the ability to hop into a
car and go wherever we please, clothes that fit our style, air
conditioning,..you know the list.
I know some of us have jobs lined up. I know some of us are
ready to move on with our lives. I know some of us are just so sick of being on
the World Race.
I want to share something with you.
When I was in India two years ago the only place I wanted to
be was home. I made a calendar in my diary and I would stare at it with an
unhealthy obsession, counting down the days until I was to leave. I would cry
myself to sleep at night. When I was hiking through the Himalayas I would dream
about home. Now that it’s all over, I wonder why I didn’t just enjoy the time I
had there. Home came soon enough.
Remember when we first bonded around the campfire at
training camp? We sang songs a capella and shared pieces of our souls with each
other. We prayed and spoke scripture.
Remember that time in Ireland when we worshiped in the hotel
bar? We were singing so loudly I’m sure the people around us couldn’t carry on
a conversation.
Remember in Turkey when we switched teams, and we had to continually
surrender ourselves? And we worshiped.
In Israel we hiked out to the desert on Thanksgiving Eve –
we sang under the stars and we huddled together and declared truths over who we
were as J-squad.
And then there was that other time in Turkey when we met in
The Romance Hotel, and people came forward for prayer about depression. We
circled around them and we prayed. Boldly.
Hopefully we’ll always remember New Year’s Eve, when we had
just arrived at Milimani for the first time. We sat in a circle under the
African sky, with lamps set out before us and sparklers in hand. We took
communion. We worshiped.
A month later we came back to Milimani, and down the street
under that big white tent we took off our shoes and came before God with
reverence and worship.
When we made it to Thailand we gathered together in that
room on the first floor of the G-House. As usual, Adam played guitar and we
ministered to each other. The next night we honored our squad leaders by
renaming them. The last night we were there we came together with K-squad and
worshiped on the rooftop.
And in Cambodia we worshiped in that main room at the YWAM
base. We circled around teams and prayed for their last month together. We
prophesized over each other. We worshiped.
We’ve experienced so much together – we’ve survived
torrential downpours and mild hurricanes, we’ve sweated together, slept in
airports, suffered from malaria, had parents die; we’ve loved each other and loathed
each other, we’ve laughed at Ruth, we’ve cried when we lost flip flops or
underwear, we were thrilled when Colin was declared the John the Baptist of our
generation.
But if there’s one main thing we’ve experienced together –
if there’s one distinguishing feature about the J-squad – it’s that we are a
squad that worships.
I have this chilling memory of Austin in Ireland…when we
were gathered together in Spinickers he bellowed out before us, “You can take
my tent, you can take my computer, but
you can’t take my worship!”
Here’s the problem: we’re tired now. Like I said earlier,
most people are checked out and ready to go home. But I don’t want us to look
back on this time and wonder why we wished it away. We only have 19 days left –
and then it’s over forever.
Let’s not take for granted the fleeting moments we have left
with each other. Let’s not take for granted the last few days of ministry we
have before we enter back into the “real world.” Let’s not forget to worship in every circumstance – when
we’re tired, when we miss home, when our teammates are messy…you know the list.
We are a squad that worships. Let us look back on this year
and see how good God has been. Let us remember how he provided for us in every
situation. Let us remember how he called us on this journey, and let’s finish
it running.
Dan Brandy Nick Lacey Colby Chelsea Anthony Halley Austin
Sam Brenda Priscilla Monica Brittany Rebecca Chad Leslie Callan Jen Holland
Beks Shannon Don Kendra Ken Katie Ashlee Marissa Jodi Aubrey Colin Matt Robin
Melanie Emily Michelle Adam Anna Geoff …
I love you guys.
