I am back. I am back to walking everywhere instead
of using a car. I am back to being
satisfied in taking a cold shower. I am back to living out of a pack and sharing everything with
everyone.
I am back to having to
be aware of who is around me and watching. I am back not being able to flush my toilet paper. I am back to not having adequate internet. I am back to seeing poverty at every
street corner. I am back to having
a language barrier.
I have now been back in the third
world a little over a week. “S”
Squad officially started their race this past Wednesday. By 11am we had all nine teams on the
road headed to their ministry site for the month. 61 racers fully equipped to be challenged and challenge this
place we call the world. Before
launching we had a few days focused on what a healthy community looks
like. What it means to live out of
a safe place, to prefer one another, to have high consideration for those
around you 
and high courage to live alive within their community. We finished our time together hiking to
the top of Pacaya Volcano declaring to Guatemala what “S” squad is about to
bring to this world.
Sitting among these new racers the
other evening during worship the saying “I am on the race again” repeated over
and over in my head. At first I
think there was some fear every time it was repeated in my head. Just remember two years ago I began
this same journey. I was in the same
shoes as these 61 racers and was more then scared. But as I began declaring these words the love for these
racers began to grow. Each time I
repeated these words. Chains
within me began to break for these racers. And then Lord just broke me there. My love for these people was no way equivalent to the love
of the Father for them. 
The things
I want to see these racers walk through this year is not close enough to what
the Lord wants them to walk in.
As soon as I was realizing this
Caroline came up and asked us to raise our arms. She was explaining that hands raised were a sign of
surrender. She then proceeded to
ask what is the Lord asking you surrender as we begin this journey. And right then, I broke. I knew right there 
that these racers
weren’t mine. That I had to give
them to the Lord to see them grow in the ways of the Lord. It wasn’t a easy decision and will be
something I will have to continue to lay down my expectations but I am excited
how the Lord reveals himself.
So after a great time of launch we
commissioned this wonderful “S” squad out into the country of Guatemala, El
Salvador and Honduras. I could not
be more excited to see who these people are to who these people are going to
become. Please join me and praying
for these amazing racers as they experience their 11-month journey.
