Stability. Community. Belonging. Investing.
I was ready to partake in, live in, grow in these things as I transitioned home from the World Race 11n11 program last November. I was ready to have a stable life where I was in control of what I did and how I got there. Ready to build a new community to sharpen and be sharpened by. To belong with family and friends I hadn’t seen in a while. To invest in building the kingdom at home with the dreams I have and the education and experience to support them.
This was all before the morning of the text message. The text message that changed everything. Darn technology and the way the Lord uses it to connect us with other believers.
I had been back in America for 2 months when I started applying for jobs in my field of nutrition. After a month and a half of nothing I remained faithful that the Lord had something for me in New England and I had peace with remaining rooted in my home town (something I probably never would have said pre-world race).
I kept in contact with some of the Alumni Squad Leaders (meaning they’ve done the World Race before) on my World Race that were on the field with us for 5 months, mentoring, leading, listening and teaching us along the way. I get a text message one morning from Kate saying, “Can you pray about something for me.” I settle into my comfy couch spot, I’d worn in pretty good at this point after 2 months of being home, with coffee in hand.
Kate now works in the office at Adventures in Missions as a Mentor, meaning she oversees one “squad” of people at a time that are on the mission field. I thought there was something going on with a squad that needed prayer, or it was something personal. I did NOT expect the text I did receive that read, “Would you prayerfully consider Squad Leading for me in September?”
Quickly my head was filled with 1000 “no’s” and lots of good excuses as why I couldn’t. See this wasn’t a 5 month go lead and raise up Squad Leaders to take your place such as the World Race 11n11 program ages 21-35. This was a whole new ball field. World Race GAP YEAR. Ages 18-21. For 9 months. A position that would set me up to lead, teach and walk along side participants for the entire 9 months they are on the field. There is no leaving. No way out once you’re out. God dropped a huge open door in front of me.
“What about the jobs I just applied to?”
“What about all the things I want to do as a Dietitian?”
“What about how hard it is to be a missionary?”
“Haven’t I sacrificed enough?”
These questions ran through my head as I processed through the thought of leaving again for 9 months. Along with a lot of tears. Unexpected, because I rarely get emotional about anything. Oswald Chambers said, “If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins.” The thought of leaving again was painful. It’s not easy leaving close family or friends and now a 6 month old nephew. You miss a lot of big events! This will be the first year in 26 years that I will miss Christmas with my family. “Every door you take means leaving something and arriving somewhere.” – J.O.
So after prayerful consideration and talking with a few mentors my defensive no was turned into a heartfelt yes.
“Open doors in the Bible never exist just for the sake of the people offered them. They involve opportunity, but it’s the opportunity to bless someone else. An open door may be thrilling to me, but it doesn’t exist solely for my benefit. An open door is not just a picture of something good. It involves a good that we do not yet fully know.” – J.O.
Oh the places you will go. So off I went last week to Training Camp in Gainesville, GA at the Adventures in Missions campus. For a few days I received leadership training before the rest of the participants arrived.
For those who are unfamiliar with the World Race program let me break this down:
The World Race Gap Year program has 6 squads launching this September. Each squad has their own separate route to different countries. Each squad also has their own group of Squad Leaders (2-4) that have done the World Race before and choose to go back out along side participants.
There are between 40-50 participants on each squad. There were roughly 250 participants at this Training Camp.
My squad, Route 5, “Squad O” has a total of 42 participants.
We will be traveling to 5 different countries broken up this way over the 9 months:
1. Dominican Republic – 1 month
2. Haiti – 1 month
3. Botswana– 2 months
4. South Africa– 2 months
5. Philippines – 3 months
We already broke the squad up into 6 teams where they will serve across the country at different ministries. As a Squad Leader I will be spending time with the different teams each month. I will help facilitate communication and hard conversations and teach them all the essential steps in making stove top popcorn (a gift I got from my dad). I will communicate to the ministry hosts and set up transportation. I will have opportunities to teach and invest in relationships.
I will also be traveling with 3 other alumni squad leaders Lucie (from New Zealand), Courtney (from Canada) and Zack (who is still currently on the missions field with 11n11). And our Mentor, Kate, who’s employed through Adventures in Missions and wears a multitude of hats for the squad, but she’ll be our anchor to the office, support and communication while we’re on the field.
I’m still blown away on a daily basis at the opportunities I have to do missions and the people I get to do it with. Going back to what I said at the beginning of this blog I’ve realized a few things about what I wanted upon returning home and how the Lord has transformed them. That no matter where I am I’ll always have stability if I rely on the Lord. Community is everywhere if I’m willing to seek after it and invest with all my heart. I already belong to the kingdom of God with a large network of brothers and sisters in Christ. The Lords given me the opportunity to steward and intentionally invest into 42 people for 9 months.
There will always be an excuse to hinder you. Abram’s excuse was “I’m too old.” It doesn’t matter. When you get the divine, “go,” you resist and persist. You go by faith. – J.O.
I would love your prayers as I walk into this next season of Squad Leading. I have no idea what’s in store but I know it’s going to be good, that this is just the beginning. I can also use prayer for some financial partners as I again have to fundraise for this trip and continue to take ownership of responsibilities I have at home as well. If you are at all interested in hearing more of my story or ways to get involved specifically please email me at: [email protected]
References: Ortberg, John. (2015) All The Places to Go:How will you know? Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
