During our mini debrief in Iquique, around two weeks ago – SO much changed! Debrief is a time where our whole squad and leadership meet up in one place and just reflect on the past few weeks, through sharing testimonies, and what our teams have experienced individually. On one of our last days of debrief, the Lord threw a curve ball and we got new teams! These are the people I will be living life with for the next few months! They are all so incredible and I have already seen so much growth in not only as a team but individually. Being a leader for this team, is so much fun and I can’t wait to see where the Lord takes us! (Meet SaVanna, Michael, David and Josh – ugh wow, I love them so much already)
Learning to live a life of ministry has sometimes been difficult, but there is so much beauty and freedom in growing in who the Lord called you to be. As a team, one of the first things we talked about was how much excitement and opportunity there was for our team – we could all see it so clearly. One of our team cultures is intentionality, which can look different each day – as we can be intentional in different things. As we were in Iquique, we prayed for our next location as a team. One of my teammates, was then led to a pastor in Calama. After resting in this possibility of traveling to Calama, we felt like the Lord had so much opportunity and growth here for our team – which is what we saw for our team. We had the opportunity to be intentional in not only our time but in relationship with the local people, so we traveled to Calama!
The hospitality that our team was met with during our time in this city was out of this world. The people of Calama are strong, kind, hospitable, compassionate and so much more. Pastor Sergio, the one who welcomed us in, is such a blessing to not only us, but the church and the city of Calama. He provided our team with housing, food and honestly made our team feel like family within their community. We were able to join the church in a few activities such as morning prayer and community prayer in the Plaza. One of my favorite moments from our time in this city, was when we were invited into a local’s home, which is where we met Aida and her family! She taught us so much about living in joy and in strength. She also taught us how to make empanadas (they are muy deliciosa), which we were then able to help her sell them to people in the community and by the river!
Spending time with Aida and her family, was such a blessing to our team. They brought us so much joy and laughter! I am SO thankful for the time that we shared with them and the relationships that were created and were then blossomed. We played, we laughed, we cooked, we shared meals, we learned. UGH wow, I love them so much! The Lord has wonderful plans for Aida and her family, and His light is so evident in them. They showed me the power that is held when welcoming people into your home and loving them so strongly. To Aida, thank you for all you have done for my team and I. You are deeply loved and appreciated.
Oh yeah, while in Calama our team was also asked to speak on a radio station about what we are doing on the World Race! We were able to each introduce ourselves, say where we are from, our age, explain what our journey looks like and give encouragement to the viewers listening! And to those who are curious, my encouragement was this, “The Lord doesn’t look at age, He just wants your obedience. Sometimes it might be difficult to step out of your comfort zone, but that’s where growth happens!” This was such an incredible time for our team, and we very much appreciate the opportunity that was given to us – on such a platform as this!
This journey so far has been incredible, and I’m often left with no words to describe it. We are two weeks into month 2, and there has been much reflection, growth, opportunity, love, curiosity, fellowship and so so so much more. During debrief I was asked to lead a devotional and speak on what the Lord was laying on my heart, and I also feel like I need to share this with you all. I ended up speaking on the thought of how He creates new wine within us and it’s seen through John 15: 1-8,
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
During this process, the Lord is getting rid of branches inside of us that don’t produce fruit, so that He can create new fruit, new wine. And through our journey it may not be easy and sometimes we might feel crushed, but through that He is producing new fruit that will also produce new wine in us – and where there is new wine there is new power and freedom. And He does this because He is our gardener – He loves and tends to us perfectly, and He wants us to bear the best fruit, so that we may be disciples for His glory. This journey we are all on, is all about surrendering what we have, so that the Lord can do so much more in us and through us! And that is where I am learning. That is where I am growing. Lord, I am ready for new fruit. I am ready for new wine. I am ready for new power. I am ready for new freedom. Lord, I surrender what I have to you. Make me who you want me to be.
With love,
Denae
