I landed on US soil two days ago. Crazy! The last 11 months I’ve been traveling with a group of people who were then still very unknown to me. Now, I feel like I’ve left some of my closest friends. It’s not a new feeling for me. I’ve been here before. I’ve stepped into the unknown and said some hard goodbyes. Still, this is different.
Last week I was in Shanghai, China for final debrief with M squad. We laughed and cried over shared memories and the realization that we are all heading in somewhat different directions according to the Lord’s call on our lives. Thankful that we were brought together for this radically life altering year of learning to tune intimately into God with a community on fire to see the fulfillment of the great commission, we capstoned our time together with worship, fun, difficult conversations, sharing Jesus together, and ultimately saying goodbye. Still, I have love for these people. I wouldn’t be who I am without their impact on me. Each person on M squad plus our leadership and coaches – they’ve all gone deep with me. Even people I never was blessed to be on a team with – I’ve seen a group of people live their lives in such a way that their relationship with God was always the priority. It’s impactful. More than all the things I’ve seen, places, activities, it’s the people, and these people are amazing. So, thank you M squad and for those that can come I cannot wait to see you at PSL. For those that can’t come, I am glad that we have the internet!
The boys and I.
Some Ultimate Frisbee at final debrief. Good times.
Now, to my supporters, my friends and family back home. Thank you. I really am so grateful. God has been so good to me, and I see you. You played such a part in our squad’s success. If we are changed in anyway, if people we met were changed in anyway, if the Kingdom of God gained any ground, if any captives were set free, if any people were clothed, any sick healed, if anyone received the Good News of Jesus and their lives changed through God using me or my friends on M squad – truly it was also you. What you’ve done in battle through prayer, and what you’ve done through the giving of finances, the words of encouragement sent to us along the way. It’s all important and valued. God has seen the sacrifices you all have made for me and He will bless you so that you can continue to support the work of the Kingdom.
So, I’m in the US but I’m not quite home. I’m currently south of LA. My squad mentor Jeremy’s parents have opened their home to me and my friend Jelly. We drove down from the airport together and we’re greeted with a dinner of ribs, salad, and potatoes already prepared! Then we ate icecream and talked for a while. Jay and Karen Devers are so kind! They had a room set up for each of us with goodies and a very kind note. They are such sweet people and they just get it! They have been missionaries themselves for around 26 years in Indonesia and now work for an organization that plants churches around the world. So, I’m soaking this up and learning all I can.
Some of my welcoming
Day one, I got to go to their office for a prayer meeting in the morning and pray for all the work they are doing with the workers there. Afterwards, Jelly and I went to the beach to relax. We came home and again had dinner with Jay and Karen. Jelly left because she has family here in California. We are both flying out of LA on the 28th of June. So I’ve been going strong with the Devers! Together, we have been doing some outreach together at a kids event at their local church, and also at the local pier when we’ve enjoyed the beach. We’ve been having conversations with people, still sharing the gospel and encouraging local believers, it’s a lifestyle thing.
Jelly and I at a viewpoint
Matching outfits!
Bracelets we’ve been making that help to share the Gospel.
I will get home late to Atlanta and my little brother Jacob is picking me up. I’m pumped to see him. It was his birthday on the 18th and I was in China so we still have to celebrate! The 30th, I’m going back to my home church in the morning and my friends are putting together a coming home party later on and so, I’m excited to see most everyone at once!
Here is a list of good questions to ask about my time if you’re interested in sitting down or having a chat. I really want to catch up. So much happened, I usually don’t know where to start. So maybe this can help us both…
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What’s a fun story from X country?
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Did you see anyone come to the Lord? How’d that go?
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What are your squadmates like?
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What are coaches? Who are they?
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What was the hardest part of your race?
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What was your biggest lesson from the year?
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Do you have any pictures of x country?
Ask anything you want, I’ll do my best. I hope this just helps 🙂
I want to know what your last year was like too, and so I’ll be asking you all what the Lord did in your life this past year! 🙂
Ok, so there you go. I will be in GA soon. Then going to Orlando on the 10th of July to see family then I’m back in GA on July 22 for PSL. Then, I leave for South Africa in August. I’m currently raising support for this next round. I only have $2,960 left to raise! Praise God! If you’d like to be apart of investing in this next round please feel free to reach out I’d love to talk about what the Lord has been doing in my heart and what I’m praying into for this next season with X squad!
M squad Alumni soon to be X squad (Shanghai)
X Squad training camp video
Oh yeah and my phone is working again so feel free to give me a call!
770-296-8242
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Daniel
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”
Philippians 2:1-15 ESV
