In 2 weeks I will be heading out again with a new squad. There will be 20 of us going into the 10/40 window to preach the gospel to people who may have never heard the name of Jesus. Sometimes I think it’s just a simple task because I enjoy it so much, but there’s actually a lot to it.
We are traveling a lot. We need to be flexible and willing to ride on whatever mode of transportation fits into our budget. Sometimes that looks like 48 hour bus rides across crappy roads or long train rides sitting on a wooden bench.
There is a language barrier that we are constantly facing. We speak English and often we can find English speakers, but with minimal ability so we have to dumb down our words and simplify our message.
With Expedition we sometimes don’t have hosts, so as we arrive somewhere, we have to look for lodging and somewhere to live for the month.
We live off donations and don’t make anything extra. This means we are often Support Raising and may not have anything extra unless someone donates to your personal account or you saved up something before you left.
Living in community. This is one of the greatest things about the Race and one of the most challenging. Being around the same people 24/7 wears on a person after a while. Especially the introverted ones! (Thank God I’m very extroverted!)
We are encountering cultures and people that are so different than what we’ve known our whole life. We have to learn quickly to adapt to them so that we don’t offend them and so that we can open them up to a place where we can share the gospel and they receive it.
We are managing money in many currencies and being wise stewards with how we spend it. Often times it is deciding as a team what is best for the group and having to agree with one another. This is hard when coming from individualistic North America where we each get to pick out whatever we want individually.
The foods are often so different than what we have here in North America. A lot of times we can pick our own food, but there are many times a local will put food in front of you and you are expected to eat it. Sometimes it’s great. Sometimes, not so great.
I say all these to share with you some of the difficulties of the job. Often the pictures I post on Facebook seem so glorious, full of fun and adventure. And many times this life style is, but it comes with hard work and focus.
Lately, since being back in Canada, I’ve had many people tell me how I’ve been growing up and becoming a man. I’ve been back and forth from home over the past 5 years since I started Bible College. Each time away I am learning new things, encountering bigger challenges and being stretched in whole new ways. Every time I overcome a challenge, I grow.
It’s like working out. If I lift weights for 2 hours, I’m going to be sore when I’m done. But at the end of the day, I am stronger because of it. If I do it over a longer period of time, people start to notice the bigger muscles. That’s what’s happening in my life recently. Because I’ve been going out and being stretched in many ways over the past few years, it’s made a slow impact on my life where people are beginning to take notice and comment on it.
I believe there is a difference between being proud and being prideful. I can look at my life, be arrogant and think I’ve made it here all on my own. Or I can recognize that I did play a big part in getting here, but it was also the help of many others and especially God who got me here. That’s where I am at.
I am so grateful for the many people who have invested into my life over the years. I am also very proud of myself for going through the hard times and persevering through it all.
God is so good and is not finished with me yet. There is much more growth to come and I am ready to fight through the hardships that this life brings. I will not give up. I will not slow down. His Kingdom is advancing and I want to play my part in it. I am His warrior son who is going to take back what the enemy has stolen. Nothing can separate me from this love.
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Thanks so much for your support!
Your brother in Christ,
Jordan Tarant
