Well I’m back!
For those who do not know, Vietnam is a closed country to missionaries so we had to go “underground” and lock our profiles and refrain from certain social media posts.
But that does not stop me from sharing about it after the fact!
So Vietnam.
One of the best experiences of my life. We started by arriving in Ho Chi Minh city. We spent a couple of days debriefing with our whole squad. Our leaders flew in from the States and spent their time pouring into us and loving us.
Oh yeah, we also had team changes!
So our new team LIT (living in transparency) is amazing. Of course the three guys did not change, we are kinda stuck together for the rest of the Race. But we have two new women on our team, we decided to keep Chelsea for another round, Hannah and Liv!
But we knew this coming into this debrief. We knew teams were going to change and that Squad Leaders would be raised up from the ranks to take the spots of the Alumni Leaders who would be heading home at the end of Vietnam. What I did not know until the week before that God had chosen me for team leading.
It was the last thing I expected.
My mentor Alissa called me in our last week of Indonesia to ask me to Team Lead for our next season of the Race, and I don’t think I actually said a word, more of a “ugh” mixed in with a “what”, and I told her with the all too familiar cliche “I’ll pray about it.” But this time I actually did.
The Lord took me to 1 Corinthians 2: 4-16, 1 Corinthians 4: 6-7, and finally Psalms 28.
I’ll wait for you to turn there.
I had been going through the book of 1 Corinthians in Indonesia and that morning after my conversation with Alissa, my reading was chapter 4. Here, Paul says “(6) I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (7) For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
The Lord told me that though I was not boasting, I was pushing away the gift he had given me for this next season of life and why did I have the right to push away what he was given me and why was I questioning his choice. I went back to Chapter 2 and just reread where Paul talks about our lasting wisdom does not come from us but from the Holy Spirit. And after literally flipping to a random chapter in Psalms, 28 to be exact, He showed me how He is my strength.
I looked up to Heaven and said, “Fine”.
I was extremely nervous and not quite sure of myself as a team lead. But when I told the Lord I am not ready, he said “I know, that’s why you have to rely on me.” I only felt a little bit better.
When we finally received our new teams, I was excited, ecstatic even, but more nervous then before. Our new team was a team of leaders. I asked the Lord how do you lead a team of leaders. And he said “with me.”
And that became my month, through mentor talks, discussing with other leaders. They all said the same thing the Lord did, “Team Leading will bring you to your knees.” Not in a bad overwhelming way, but it forces you to come to the Lord, sometimes on your knees, in prayer and humility. The Lord has taught and is still teaching me what true reliance on Him looks like. And it is a beautiful thing to know that you have the God of the Universe on your side.
It has been difficult and there has been points where I failed but the Lord still trusts me and loves me in this season. I have learned what it looks like to let go of anger and unforgiveness and asking for forgiveness from others. I have learned what it looks like to really sit with the Lord and enjoy his presence.
Psalms 37. Another good one, I recommend it. Talks about in verses 3-8 the importance of Trusting, Committing, and Delighting in the Lord and how through that we find abundance in him. When you get to that point and truly believing the Lord loves you and trusts you and delights in you, your life changes. The hard tasks, leaderships opportunities are no longer overwhelming because you realize you are not doing them alone.
That’s all folks
Actual ministry post coming up soon!
Thank you for all that have supported me in all ways possible. I have $2,500 left till I am fully funded! That is crazy! If you feel led to give or no someone that is please go to the link below to help me reach my goal.
Also, if you have any questions you want me to answer about the Race, I will be doing a blog answering those questions. Just facebook message me or email me at [email protected]
Y’all are amazing!
Love you and God Bless!
