I encourage you to read through Exodus 16 before continuing.
After two taxis, a sixteen-hour overnight train, a hostel shuttle, and crossing two borders our team finally reached month two's destination in Lezhe, Albania; for all squad month at LightForce International. We quickly dumped our bags on the unclaimed bunk beds, visited the pigs that lived directly behind our bedrooms, found wifi at the end of the long driveway, ventured to the beach (3 miles down the road) and settled into our first week of World Race debrief. Debrief brought some healing to individuals and teams, offered numerous opportunities of vulnerability, telling of testimonies, leadership trainings/sessions and ample time to spend with the Lord.
Although our week was filled with “R & R,” many of us did not feel like it was well deserved, causing the air among the compound to be filled with restlessness and eager attitudes towards jumping into ministry. George arrived later and did what all well experienced 60 year old (or as he likes to believe, 30 year old) pastors do best – demand respect and talk for two plus hours, only causing us to become even more excited about what the rest of the months' ministry was going to look like. Eventually, the 50 of us were divided into teams/work stations and our first camp began. But as expected with so many of us work wasn't so readily available and the restless attitudes still filled the atmosphere.
“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you (directed towards Moses and Aaron the community's leaders) have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Ex. 16:2 & 3
Throughout this month I have heard, or heard rumor of, grumbling against leadership/the AIM organization and World Race not being what was projected and promised. Much like the Israelites, our squad is developing an attitude of dissatisfaction with the timing of what was promised and what has been received. We easily could have stayed in the States and pursued local ministry opportunities, gone on emotionally heart wrenching/hard working short term missions, or dive into deepening our knowledge of the Lord… A.K.A. “…we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted…” But instead, we heard a call from the Lord, obeyed it, and are now along for the ride – wherever it stops. But just as Moses, their leader, addressed the community “Who are we, that you should grumble against us? …You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” Ex. 16:7 & 8
I once had had a boss who instructed me to allow him to assist me doing the “dumb” work so that I can do what only I can do – which is exactly what we are here to do for George – the “dumb” work. Dumb work would be things such as standing around and supervising student activities, gate guards, kitchen help, bathroom cleaners, nurses and gardeners. We couldn't see it until our squad leaders pointed it out to us (Ex. 16:16) but this was giving us opportunity to pray over the students at our stations, potentially share the reason behind us traveling to 11 countries in 11 months and seamlessly manage the camp (glorified hospitality). Our itch for dirty and difficult ministry has still yet to be scratched and we may still be in a waiting game to get there but needless to say we are being used here and ministry is provided everyday, whether it be through George himself or the Spirit.
“This is what the Lord has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.' “ Ex. 16:32
The first morning we met with George he mentioned a previous squad having been his favorite, so naturally we took on the challenge to change that. We want for the coming generations of World Race to know what the Lord has done with and through E-Squad. Waiting in the desert isn't an easy task but through the eyes of our leaders and communication with the Father we're seeing our hands be of use here.
