One of my favorite things about my dad is how talented he is at fixing things that break around the house. Anything from a stove, to a chair, to a window, to a radio can break and his first thought is “Give it to me, and let’s see what happens.” It may take longer than expected (I can’t count the number of times a “30 minute job” has taken all afternoon) but he almost always figures it out in the end. He can take what’s broken, make it new, and keep using it; he fixes it and continues to give it purpose.
This Race, my Heavenly Father has shown me how he is the world’s best at fixing things and making them new. Before the Race, I thought I was rock solid in my identity. Now, every time someone asks me what I have been learning on the Race, my answer is all about identity crisis and identity reclamation. I was broken, I am still broken, and I will always be broken, but the Lord continues to fix me and make me new and give me purpose.
Yet my God doesn’t need me to be perfect in order to use me or give me purpose. He is so big, so powerful, so magnificent and so full of love that He can use me in whatever state I am in. A broken chair is useless to my dad, until he fixes it completely. A broken person is limitless to God, and He is always faithful to be enough.
At the start of the Race, God was using me in my brokenness as Team Leader. I had the incredible honor, challenge and privilege to serve Kaci Eccles, Allison Edwards, Kelsey Kirkpatrick, Andy White and Beth Montgomery on Team Trust Without Borders. God amazed me in the ways that He used them in my life and how He used me in their lives. Team Leading was one of the most fulfilling things I have done in my entire life, and I will never forget the lessons, stories, challenges, celebrations and victories that came from being with my team.
At this point in the Race, God is calling me to a new purpose. Currently, my squad has three alumni squad leaders (they have all previously done the Race), Paul, Amanda and Erin. However, at the end of next month, Amanda and Erin will be leaving the squad, while Paul is staying out for a few more months. To replace their leadership, the alumni leaders raise up three Racers from the squad to become Raised Up Squad Leaders. Graciously, the Lord has calmed myself, Christian Yoder and Becca Mussatti to this position for this season.
As Squad Leader, our role is to serve the entire squad; we are to serve through prayer, counsel, discernment, logistics, communication and love. I’m still not sure about everything that I’ll be doing, and it will for sure be a gigantic learning process for me.
I’m still a broken person, and I still have many things to walk through. I am as far away from perfect as the next person, but that is the beauty of our King. He uses people that are broken to glorify Himself and build His kingdom. If he can use me in squad leading, then He can use you in your daily life. I am beyond excited for squad leading and for this new season of seeking the Lord. I’m ready to love my squad, to seek His face for the squad, and to be a tool through which He can glorify His name. The God of all of creation wants to use me in this role just like He wants to use you in a very special role.
I appreciate all of your prayers for myself, Christian and Becca as we step into these new roles and learn all that He wants to show us. My God is so good and so patient and so gracious, and I am so excited to experience Him in a new way.
