Man month, manistry, beauty for staches..whatever you want to call it, month three here in Zambia has definitely been a different experience than my first two months here in Africa. I’ve definitely said it before, but this month has stretched me in new and extreme ways. Coming into this month with just the boys by my side I can say I expected a different level of intentionality for sure. However, I didn’t realize that “intentionality” and “brotherhood” would become the interchangeable key words for the month, and that they wouldn’t come easy.
Brotherhood was, at least in my mind, a guarantee when I learned that month three would be man month for my race. After all, the seven men of x-squad have made it a point to be close since we all met at training camp. Little did any of us know that it would be a battle, and that this month would truly test our desire for brotherhood and our willingness to fight for intentionality with one another. Many circumstances worked against our team unity this month. We started off our time by being split into two houses separated by about a thirty minute walk. While this seems simple, this may have been one of the biggest challenges to our pursuit of brotherhood this month. With everyday jam-packed with ministry, there was very little time left to pursue intentionality. Throw in a struggle for access to drinking water, dehydration, low energy food, rampant stomach problems, malaria, and many nights where sleep was compromised due to the heat and you’ve got a decent amount working against that brotherhood cohesion. However, the men in my squad would not be deterred. Whether it was carving out time to fit in our Hebrews Bible study, staying up late after a long day to hear testimonies, making time for one-on-one walk and talks, or worshipping as a team in the pitch black, my brothers and I were committed to fighting for intentionality with each other. Access to things considered fun would also be limited this month. I can’t emphasize enough how important true fun is for brotherhood and luckily this group of guys can always find ways to pass the time with smiles and laughter. Whether it was cracking jokes or scenario games, watching Dan the Man chase down all the local animals (chickens, goats, and pigs), fitting in an ultimate frisbee game, or screaming at the top of our lungs to some of the least manly songs you can imagine on bus rides, this group definitely knows how to create fun. As exhausting as this month has been, I can definitely say I and this brotherhood are better for it. I’ve known these men for about four months now, and i can honestly say these are some lifelong brothers even after such a short time. It’s refreshing to see true men of God who are not just here to build brotherhood, but willing to fight for it when it’s hard. The pursuit to call each other higher, the love to not let each other celebrate or suffer alone, and the drive to seek intentionality are all things we had all hoped for coming on this adventure. I can’t express how thankful I am to be surrounded by brothers who are also warriors!
Just to clarify, the purpose of this blog is not to come across as complaining or negative. While this month has been the hardest so far, it definitely showed the heart of every man on this squad. As we prepare to split back up and reintegrate the girls back into our teams, we are definitely better off having had the month we’ve had here in Zambia. My team moves to Malawi next to round out our 4 months here in Africa. Prayers for focus and a willingness to finish strong would be greatly appreciated.
