Changes have come!
**unfortunately no photos**
We recently finished our Leadership Development Weekend in Podgorica, Montenegro a week or so more ago. LDW was seeing the whole Squad for a weekend while we transitioned into new leadership. We worshipped, we prayed, we danced, we watched Han Solo: A Star Wars Story and we simply did life together. New teams were up and Team 43:19 came to a close and I am now with Team Boundless! During this weekend I was honored by given the role of Team Leader.
After LDW me and Team Boundless left to Kotor, Montenegro which is where we are still at. Team Boundless consists of 5 beautiful people. I was excited to find out Jackie and Alex would be with me for another go! I was super pumped to be reunited with Jesse! And last but not least, I was very much excited to be with Haley. She has that older sister vibe and we always had great conversations when the whole Squad was together so I was very excited!
Soo… This last week with Team Boundless has been crazy.. I’ll keep it short but unfortunately Alex while hiking on our Sabbath day of rest fell and fracture her back and sprained her thumbs and wrist. So 2 days into this new Team and everything just got crazy. Being at the hospital and trying to figure all that out in a different language was a difficult task. All the little details like travel and expenses was just crazy. So jumping into this new team was: Ready. Set. Go!!
We never had an official Team Meeting before Alex fell. So it has been a process of becoming unified as a team. Through it all though, it has been a very rewarding and amazing process. God has surely showed up with His love. This leads me to explain our team name.
If you describe something as boundless, you mean that there seems to be no end or limit to it.
Our heart has been one believing there’s no limit to what God can do in us and through us for His glory and our good. I believe Our name is prophetic and God has led us to Ephesians 3:16- 20. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” We are believing that God’s love is what changes and transforms all things. We have invited Him into our situations and it’s been amazing to see us and the people around us change. God has shown up in all the little things and I believe He’s showing us are we being faithful with the little.
Alex is doing well and the team is getting in a groove. Alex’s mom has come to help take care of Alex and it’s been a blessing. Our time here has been traveling to and from the hospital like 30 minutes away often.. We have met some locals.. Nicolas our savior Taxi driver who set us up and was a huge help, translating and giving us discounts and just being available. We have seen familiar faces that soon we are going to build more relationship with like the bus attendant guy.. Anna, who works at the grocery store we shop at. And the little boy Evan who watches me workout everyday. I met his family and hopefully maybe something can come from it. What’s been a huge connection is the Global Church. The support that has come in for Alex has been incredible and soon we will be meeting local pastors who are visiting Alex.
It’s not been the process I would have chosen but God has been faithful to meet us right we are… I think what has given me life is Alex’s response. She hasn’t become a victim and she hasn’t been reactive but she’s been proactive. Rather than choosing for this to be an interruption she chose to take it as an opportunity. Here are some of her words…
“I’ve been laying here for hours, I just need to go to the bathroom.
“Alex, its not about you”
I’m in pain, surely they can hear me hollering.
“Alex, its not about you”
I’m hungry, I’m thirsty
“Alex its not about you”
I’m lonely.
“Alex, its not about you”
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds.
Never in my life have I been in a place where I cant do anything for myself. Where I have to fall on my face and cry out for something as simple as water.
Maybe its time I learn to lean on the lord in everything.. even the things ive never thought about before.
Maybe instead of crying out in vain.. I will cry out to the Lord. I will ask him to fill my cup, ease my pain and comfort me.
What an honor to be able to call on him. I am not worthy to be served by him.. yet my glass is full and I am comforted by his presence.
I spend way to much time thinking about me me me.. my needs .. my wants.. if he is already doing this for me.. why am I so concerned..
My self centered mentality is shifting from “me me me” to “lord lord lord” he is my provider. My comforter. My present help in time of need.
What a beautiful place to be..
I am not bound to my pain, my discomfort or loneliness because my help comes from the Lord.
Boundless… I like it”
I mean… it doesn’t get any better than having a heart of worship like that.
I’m excited and I’m ready to continue inviting God’s love into my heart and this team. We are hungry to see God do more. Please be in prayer for Alex and Team Boundless as we are preparing for what’s next. We want to stop and listen to God’s direction. We went to stop and love those in front of us and we want to shop and let God Father us. Let Him be our Shepherd.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:1-6 NIV
