We leave tomorrow for what will be my last destination on this section of my second World Race. I am committed to this squad until May 2010 but will do the majority of my work after October through correspondence via email, blogs and the ever so lovely SKYPE. I will get to come back out to the field twice to visit the squad for debriefs, just not sure when and where yet.
It has been an incredible journey thus far. One of my main goals in coming was to learn to lead and teach to lead better. I have gotten so much practice leading and empowering other leaders, it has been really neat. I have loved watching people flourish as they step up and out and serve others through leadership and whatever other giftings they are growing in.
In coming out I knew that I would not be staying through the whole journey with this squad but I didn’t know how long I would actual be out. As a need arose I ended up staying a month longer than my co- leader Gretchen, who is now back in Arizona. Since she left we have been in Turkey doing ethnographic on unreached people groups, specifically the Gypsy people. It has been so interesting to learn about Turkey, the Muslim culture and the different people groups that reside here. With the work we have done people in the future will be able to better reach the people of Turkey for the Kingdom of God! SOME INCREDIBLE WORK HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE KINGDOM HERE IN TURKEY!!!!
At this point I have transitioned out of leading the squad almost completely. Part of my job for this squad was to train up new leaders to replace me and that has been done in the last month. Tiffany and William are now in full swing leading the June Squad and my job is to sit back and enjoy the ride. It has definitely been a crazy learning experience to go from being upfront to barely even being seen and heard. There is a saying that “your greatest strength is often your greatest weakness”, that is so true for me. Sitting back and letting someone else run the show is hard but I know it is ultimately what I came for.
I am excited to be headed to Israel, it looks like we will be working along some incredible people who are expanding the Kingdom in some unique ways. Please keep praying for us, pray that we would be the LOVE, TRUTH and PEACE that Israel needs.
