Our squad came together in Victoria Falls last week, after 4 months on the field, to our second debrief. Debrief is a time of rest for the squad where our leaders poor into us and where we process through what we’ve experienced thus far.
This one was a little different, though. We had all been anticipating what was coming during those few days. Something that is always for good, but never feels comfortable.
Change. Team change.
Every World Race squad has at least one (usually two) team changes on their Race. Typically after month 4 and month 8. We all know that it’s part of the process. Change helps us grow, so why would they keep us on the same team for 11 months?
We only have 21 people on our squad including the squad leaders, but they’ll leave us at the end of this month. During this team change, they raise up two new squad leaders from within the squad to replace the alumni squad leaders for the rest of the Race. They also choose new team leaders and new treasurers when teams shift. The only role that typically stays the same for the whole Race is the logistics leaders, which is me and my co-leader, Jessica.
So. Much. Change.
We had all been talking about it for weeks. We had so many ideas and thoughts around what the new teams and roles would look like. Knowing that my role stays the same, I anticipated the one change I knew was inevitable. Who would be on my team? Would we work well together? Would we click instantly or would it take a little more time? Thoughts continued to swirl as we imagined what might be.
My team was with the alumni squad leaders in Malawi while they made multiple calls with the leadership team back in the States to create new teams. We saw first hand how much time, effort, and prayer was going into these team changes.
Watching their process actually gave me so much peace in the midst of unknown. They sought the Lord in this, and the five of them (our two coaches, two alumni squad leaders, and squad mentor) agreed on a set of teams and roles that they believe is the Lord’s will. Regardless of whether it logically makes sense in my mind, I knew I couldn’t refute what the Lord put on their hearts.
The whole squad finally arrived around dinner time on a Monday, and based on the schedule, we knew we wouldn’t find out all the changes until Wednesday. Torture, really. We all were so tired of the anticipation and expectation of what was to come. We just wanted to find out our new teams.
If only I knew that evening what I would find out the next morning. A day early than learning the team changes.
I walked up to the morning session just a few minutes before it started. Just as I was setting down my things, I hear Amy, our squad mentor, call out my name. I look up to see if it’s meant for me. One of our alumni squad leader’s name is also Lindsey, so I constantly think people are calling for me when they aren’t.
My eyes skimmed the group of people from the direction I heard her voice. I found her and realized that she was looking at me. She asked if I could walk with her for a second before the session started. That’s odd.
We started walking, and my mind was swarming with what it could be about. What is this? What is she going to ask me?
And then she asked me to pray and consider a new role. A new role with a ton of responsibility. A raised up squad leader.
What. Co-leading the entire squad? I’m pretty sure I told her to shut the front door, but I can’t fully remember. It’s still a blur. My role wasn’t supposed to change. I was supposed to stay in logistics for the entire Race.
I sat on that proposal all day, thinking through what the rest of the Race would even look like. I wouldn’t go through any more team changes. I wouldn’t be on another team at all. My team on the field was going to be a party of two for the next 7 months. Me and my good friend, Chels.
Even in the shock of being asked such an outrageous question, I almost immediately knew that I’d say yes before I had even prayed. I knew how much priority our leadership puts in the will of the Father, which by default felt like my answer. I had a peace that the Lord for some reason thought this was an okay idea. I genuinely don’t understand why, but I am confident that 5 people probably didn’t simultaneously hear the Lord incorrectly.
So here I am in Botswana, currently being trained to squad lead an amazing group of peers. Chels and I are learning everything from the practical to-do’s to the big picture vision for what we want to see in our squad over the next 7 months.
I’m intimated. I’m not that confident. I don’t fully understand why I’m in this position.
But I’m also super humbled and honored. I’m eager to take this role on, even though I have no idea what I’m doing. This is my new season of the Race, and I’m excited (and terrified) to see what the Lord has for me and for B Squad.
Please pray for Chels and me as we try and learn how to do this squad leader thing!
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