“I want to extend the invitation to you all to walk into team leadership…”
It’s New Year’s Eve and our squad leaders have extended the invitation to Lindy, Erik, and I to be team leaders. After praying about it, we all say yes and in comes the nervous excitement.
New Years Eve consisted of our last time as Team Chainless and then at 6:45, we (team leaders) found out who our new teams would be. When I read the names on my paper, I was ecstatic. I was screaming with joy on the inside, but I didn’t want to be insensitive to the other team leaders who may not be loving their teams like me, so I stayed silent. Then, during prayer time, I pretended to be super spiritual, but really I just kept staring at the names on the sheet of paper and smiling.
For our first memory together as a team, we headed off to the zoo and after a few hours with these fine ladies that involved jumping onstage and performing, holding snakes, and jumping in fountains, I realized that I was in for quite a treat!
Photo Courtesy of Bailie Pedigo
Then, after leaving Bangkok, heading out to our ministry site in Pattananikom, and praying at a house church with them for the first time, I was blown away by all the freedom and acceptance that oozed out of these women, and I realized that I was about to be radically changed.
Then, standing in front of over a hundred Thai children proclaiming the gospel and teaching body parts and singing “Waves of Mercy,” I realized that if our team stayed focused on the Lord and really pursued Him, not only would we be changed, but so many around us would be changed.
Photo Courtesy of Bailie Pedigo
Our team name is Pneuma. Pneuma is Greek for breath of life; the Holy Spirit.
One of my favorite definition describes it as the life-giving Spirit of God that awakens the believers.
The Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead is living in us and you can see it.
I have only been with these women for 9 days and I have laughed so much, I have experienced so much joy, I have had so many great conversations, I have seen God through their testimonies, and I have been pushed to new levels of vulnerability. I have literally felt new life surge through me and I know that the Spirit is alive and well in this team.
Photo Courtesy of Bailie Pedigo
I find myself chanting, “Pneuma! Pneuma! Pneuma!” under my breath and praying for the Spirit to wreck our team and change our lives.
I am so hopeful and I am so excited.
Team changes hit all of us very differently and as humans, we are still rightfully grieving our previous teams/families and we miss them and their many quirks and mannerisms, but man oh man, God did something awesome when he put Alana, Cara, Dara, Skylar, Jenny, Rachelle, and Bailie together.
I’m not sure why I get to be on this team, let alone be the team leader, but let me tell you, I am excited to start this new year with a new team and see what the Lord has in store for us.
PNEUMA!
Photo Courtesy of Jenny Gage
