Squad Leading. WOW! Its been one month and what an adventure it has been. I have learned more this month about life, communication, working with girls, working in a team, and people in general than ever before.
Before I jump into explaining all I have learned let me explain a little of what being a squad leader is. As a squad leader Christin and I work with our awesome logistics group, Chris and Majil, at getting the squad as a whole to and from countries and ministries. This is a simple explanation because there is so much more that we do than that, but to state it simply, squad wide travel.
Christin and I each month travel from team to team and check in on how they are doing; this means physical health, emotional health, and spiritual health. We sit in on feedbacks, observe the teams working together, and bring up the stuff that no one wants to talk about. A lot of the time we call attention to the elephant in the room that everyone knows is there, but no one will point or talk about. It has been challenging to say the least to face that awkwardness, and to be that direct since it is something so foreign in our culture.
Along with these two things we also get to be the “face of AIM” on the field. We meet with the contacts and figure out ways we can improve as an organization, and make sure that we are serving them as a squad well.
We are the support for the team leaders. The team leaders do ministry with their team everyday, they never really get break from their teams. They work tirelessly at balancing ministry and their teams. As you can guess this can be exhausting, Christin and I, pour into them as much as we can and provide them with support that loves and cares for them.
Needless to say it’s a 24/7 job, but it has been a blast so far!
What have I learned so far?
OMG, I never knew I could be stretched so much, not in a spiritual way, so quickly. Getting thrown into the mix of a squad leader life I had to learn a ton really quickly. It has been really cool how God has helped expedite the learning curve so that I can better serve the squad.
Organization.
-I have a never ending to do list, I check off 1 thing and 5 more come up.
Communication.
-While working in a partnership you realize very quickly the other person cant read your mind. I have to share all of my thought process and feelings with Christin in order to work well with her. It is definitely a new experience I’m not used to.
Team Work.
-This month we had a team consisting of 4, Joshua and Megan(ex-squad leaders) and then Christin and I. I have realized that I had no idea what real team work was like. You learn to be aware of other people and to ask why they are acting out of character. I also learned that I am much more an individual worker and so have had to work to be a team member, it has been a great learning experience though!
Working with a girl.
-I’m sure some of you are chuckling at this one, but it is a real learning experience. It is a lot different working with a girl than working with another dude. Christin is awesome though and has helped me grow in so many ways. It amazed me how different it is being good friends with girls versus working closely alongside one.
Time with the Lord is unique to you.
-I’ve learned that when you are busy your time with the Lord is a treasure. It doesn’t and can’t always be an hour long quiet time and I have learned to grow and talk to Him in 15 minutes. The growth has been quite a revelation to witness how the Lord has met me with what I have time for.
All this to say… God is pushing me harder than ever before and I love it. This journey has already changed the course my life was heading. Pray for a continued open heart, and the words to speak into the lives of my new found “children”.
