as i write this im heading to Changrai..on a 12 hour bus ride..we are heading to our ministry contact for the month..which is going to be an orphange with around 100 kids who have been rescued from sex trafficing or have been orphaned from their moms dying or working in the sex trafficing industry…
asia is a whole new world..unlike the first 3 countries coming here we are completely lost! the lanauage barrier is hilarious..its a constant battle of charades! but its also great to have new challenges and for once i enjoy the challenges because i feel like they encourage me to be bold!
the first three months were hard for me..they were times where i wanted to give up and go home..but through all of the struggles:the tears, the smiles, the laughter, and the arguments-team ignite brought me to a new place..a place that was hard for me to step into..
i will miss team ignite! but i know over anything that each one of us are in a better place we are with people who are going to take us to the next level with daddy as well as personal accomplishments…
which leads me to my new team-TALITHA KOUM i know right now in your head your thinking say what?!?! but just let me explain it a little bit 🙂
(from left to right:Leanna, Me, Kenra, Caitlyn, Heather, and Melanie)
i am on a all girls team for the next 4-8 months..and we first had team changes i automatically thought…WHO IS GOING TO CARRY MY BAGS?!?!?! but after the shock & saddness of team changes passed i really started praying into what daddy has for me through this whole experience..and let me tell you that its alot easier to say through it all god your good..and actually apply it..but i sought God and he showed me that this team is exactly what i need.
this team is full of encouraging, uplifting, selfless, beautiful, strong, and prayer warrior women! this is a time for me to be blessed and to be poured into while pouring into them as well! we are ready to take the nations on by storm! and to be completely sold out to God and what he has for us! we want to take full advantage of the world race and what waiting for us over the next 8 months…we have decided we havent come here to just exist but rather live life to the fullest!
-mark 5:40-42 ( the message)
But when he had sent them all out, he took the child's father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child's room. He clasped the girl's hand and said, "Talitha Koum" which means, "Little girl, get up." At that she was up and walking around!
Talitha Koum means little girl arise! and thats exactly what we are doing..we are arising from little girls..to women of God..we are walking in the truth of our heavenly father! we are walking by faith and allowing him to be our refuge and strength! im excited to see where daddy is going to take us together! its going to be so amazing to be surrounded by women all the time..
so here they are…
kenra–our leader!
kenra and i met back at training camp and daddy gave me a word to give her..and every since then i knew there was something about her! i knew daddy had big plans for her..so when i realized that she was a team leader i was so excited and then i realized that she was MY team leader! thats when i became estatic..this woman is full of encouragement and life..she is the perfect example of being salt and light to the world! she brings her smile, her wisdom, and her beauty to the dark and empty places and shines light:daddy's light! im so proud of her and i know she will do an amazing job leading us around the world!! i feel priveledged to be under her!
heather–our finance person!
heather is a prayer warrior..she never questions getting on her face before the lord and seeking her abba! its so encouraging to hear her pray and to be prayed for by her! when she speaks people listen..her voice is one that matters and is appreciated! she is so beautiful-and her positive attitude towards life is so encouraging! i was priveleged to work with her old team in nicaragua..and now she is on my team! 🙂 i cant wait to see how daddy uses our relationship for his purpose! its going to be amazing!
caitlyn–my carolina girl!
caitlyn & i are so much alike..its hilarious..im not sure the squad leaders know what they did yet! we are loud, we like to eat, we laugh at EVERYTHING, & we try to find the best in every situation…caitlyn is the kind of girl that makes your abs hurt just being around her..everything is hilarious and the fact that she is from north carolina and has an accent like me..makes me appreciate her that much more 🙂 but besides the laughther and craziness..caitlyn is a worshipper! that girl can usher in the prescence of the lord in 2.5! i love to watch her worship..because she puts in everything she has and focuses on what daddy wants her to do and sing! i have watched her go from not wanting to play guitar and sing in front of people to leading worship while we were waiting on the boat because she knew we could praise the lord rather then complaining on the time we had to sit there! im so proud of her..and the woman she is becoming..the fact we get to grow together makes my heart smile! im blessed to have her on my team!
melanie–our firecracker!
melanie is bold! and i love that about her! if she doesnt like something she tells you..if she isnt happy you know…and i know sometimes thats not always a good thing..but to see her speak her mind in a loving way..encourages me to learn to do that…its hard to be confrontational..but if you have the right attitude its accepted as its supposed to be..and i feel like thats what i can learn from her! she has a huge future ahead of her and i know daddy is going to do amazing things in her life! im excited to see where our relationship will go…i know we will both use it for the god's will and not our own..im excited to travel around the world with this woman of god! we will all learn so much from each other!
leanna–little girl, huge smile!
leanna is the short, cute, giggley girl! the precious one! her heart is so pure! and she always has other people's needs in front of hers! her encouragement is so uplifting..it goes beyond-"your hair looks good today" she speaks to your soul..she pulls on your heart strings! she allows daddy to speak through her..and as she speaks the smile that is constantly on her face…transfers to yours..because you know that when she speaks..its not her speaking..its the Lord speaking through her! i cant wait to start this journey with her! because i know that if i ever have a bad day..she will be the one to dry my tears and help me work through it! im so thankful for her cute self!!
so this is team talitha koum! pray for us as we travel around the world..bringing the nations the lord's comfort and strength! we can do this..but only with the lord beside us..keep us in your prayers..and follow our journeys..check out their blogs by clicking on their pictures on the left!
love yall, xoxo
ERICA LEIGH FLOYD
