Our time in Turkey is wrapping up and we’re enjoying some time together as a squad. Emotions are running high for me this week. I’m entering my first holiday season away from home, which makes it not feel much like Thanksgiving. However, I’m extremely blessed that I get to experience Thanksgiving with another family. I’m a part of the cooking team for our feast and let me tell you it is no easy feat on a World Race budget but God loves to multiply food whenever we’ve had endeavors of these sorts. This has been the last month our amazing squad leaders, Brian and Stacy Alonzo and Caitlin Woodward, will be with us. They’ve been such a blessing and have been there to encourage me when I felt like quiting and to inspire change. They will be leaving us Saturday and I’m emotional about it. They will reunite with us in 7 months at our final debrief in Thailand. It will be so cool to see them then and see how much more we’ve grown, but as Shakespeare says parting is always such sweet sorrow. As I previously mentioned, new squad leaders from K Squad have been raised up and they’re stepped into their new roles with incredible God given grace and confidence. I look forward to learning from and following them as they follow God this year too.
I’ve enjoyed my month and Turkey and God has revealed himself in new ways, I’m beside myself about experiencing a Christmas in Israel next month. My squad flies to Tel Aviv on Saturday afternoon, I never thought I’d be excited to fly, but after lots of trains and buses I’m happy with flying! We aren’t sure our ministry assignments yet, but like this month, I can’t give you much information in order to protect our contacts. I’ll share stories and pictures with you when I can.
During our time in Turkey we had some ministry stuff fall through so my team prayed about where we felt God leading our team. My incredibly talented teammate Birkleigh felt called to use her creative talents on a media project. We met some really awesome people this month and Birkleigh and Bethany set out interviewing a lot of them. Bambi used her mad editing skills and I like to think I supervised, but really just watched as this project came together. It’s a bit hard to hear but it’s worth taking the time and listening to it because it’s awesome. Please be in prayer for the people in this video, we’ve formed relationships with many of them this month and it was totally God ordained. Got to love divine appointments!
Last but certainly not least, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Please eat as much sweet potatoes and pumpkin as possible in honor of me. They don’t have those in Turkey!
