Well, this is after debrief—about a week to be exact as I am writing this—and I have a new team and a new ministry location. Let me just explain a little bit of what debrief actually involves. So, three times during a Gap Year Race, we have a week of rest, regrouping, and time for our leadership to pour into us. During this time, leadership from the states—our coaches and sqaud mentor—come visit and pour into us, challenge us, and really just encourage all of us. During this time we have sessions, time for adventures, and plenty of time to process our last month or so. We have had two debriefs and have one more right before we go home in month nine.
My latest debrief in Northern Tripura, India, was complete rest. We went to a place where we could find ample rest and really just get ready for our next season. Now, the next big part of debrief was team changes. During the World Race we have several team changes between co-ed-teams, all girl, or all guy teams. On our race we have almost 40 girls so all girl teams are very popular. Up to this point we have not had an all guys team… However, all that changed recently. At debrief, myself and five other men were told that we would all be on a guys team (Nick Loper, Jared Cellose, Ryan Griffin, Robbie Sanderson, and Joesph Simpkins).
I love several things about this team. I think the first one being that from the get go these men talked about what kind of men they want to look like and then actually pursuing that. Each one of us told the team our hopes, wishes, and dreams for where God could bring us together. I am absolutely pumped for this team. As of right now we are the only guys team and are ready to step up and be men of God. These men are so passionate and ready to step into what God has for them. This next season—however long it may be, one month or five— we are so excited to pursue each other and Christ. Because of our desire to grow, seek the Lord, and sharpen each other, we thought it best that our new team name be The Forge. A place where iron is made malleable and ready to be beaten or pressed into a mold.
Our newest ministry location in India is Muolhoi, Assam, India. We are working with a school, teaching, and helping build another school, as well as other ministries.
Prayer Requests:
1)That our last month or so in India would go well. We leave for Zambia around the end of March.
2)That no one else would become sick
3)Overall growth of our team and the team we’re with.
