WOAH! So much has happened since I’ve been back in the USA. Okay, I’ve spent most of my time visiting friends and family across a few different states.
Two weeks ago, I went down to Georgia for Project Searchlight. PSL is a week-long retreat/ reunion/ debrief after the World Race.
It was an awesome opportunity to get together with my squad to worship, talk about the transition home, listen to a few different speakers, and pray about what comes next.
And that’s where God got me..
Squad leading..?
“Squad leading” kept making its way to the forefront of my mind and I kept ignoring it.. until the bittersweet moment when I finally considered that the Holy Spirit might be telling me something.
I was instantly stoked and leaped for joy!
Actually.. not at all.
I’ve been in a wonderful season of surrender, not knowing where God was leading me but excited for the adventure ahead. I made up my mind about what I wanted to do in the mean time, but every time I shared my plans of moving, I made sure to specify that they were MY plans and that God could change them whenever He wanted..
But squad leading? I was horrified.
I broke down and cried.. and then tried to ignore it until a few days later when, again, God placed squad leading on my heart during worship.
This time I asked myself why I was so upset. I knew my plans were temporary.. so why did it hurt so much?
I then realized that I was afraid. Not just of squad leading in general, but I was terrified to even tell anyone that I felt like it was what God was asking me too. I was afraid they would laugh a little on the inside and think of a hundred reasons why I’m not fit to lead on the World Race.
It sounds stupid looking back, but it was very humbling experience for me. It took a lot for me to share with my friends and leadership but they were so incredibly supportive and excited for me.
Anyway.. I can trim the story back and announce that I have been accepted to squad lead in October.. yeah, THIS October.
WHAT’S THAT?
Squad leaders are individuals who go out on the field and start the race with a squad to disciple the other Racers and serve in any way.
ANOTHER 11 MONTHS!?
Not quite. I will actually only be out on the field for the first 5 moths with my squad. During that time, we will be discipling our squad, helping them navigate life on missions, encouraging healthy communication in teams, and leading in any way possible!
DO YOU GET PAID TO DO THAT?
Ha! No.. Actually, almost every staff member at Adventures in Missions is a support raised position.. So, I would need to raise approximately $6,500. $3,500 covers my first 5 months on the field and there are additional opportunities for me to go out to serve my squad throughout the remainder of their race. Each of those trips costs an additional $1,500.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
As of now, our route is:
Philippians,
Thailand,
Malaysia,
Lesotho,
Swaziland,
South Africa,
Nicaragua,
Costa Rica,
Panama,
Colombia,
Ecuador.
And I would be leaving after our month in Swaziland to head back to the US.
It’s been a wild, quick tempo journey in these 2 months back and today I’m finishing up my drive down to Georgia to meet my incredible squad at their training camp! WOW!!
Please pray for for me, the rest of our leadership team, and my squad for God to use and grow each and every one of us in this next year. Like I said before, we are all fundraising so please keep that provision in your prayers and consider donating!
Above all else, I purely and simply need the Holy Spirit and the Joy of the Lord to guide me and be my strength in this next season. I’m pumped to step into this new role within the Body of Christ, to step out to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to meet and love the incredible men and women of O-Squad!!
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
Psalms 117:1-2 ESV
