I have to admit: Launch was hard for me.
I arrived in Atlanta, GA on January 2nd for Squad Leader training a little shell shocked, not believing my 6 short weeks home were already up.
I was overwhelmed as Q squad, my new squad, arrived on the 8th.
I felt lost.
I didn’t know a single name or face of the 54 racers I was about to lead.
You see, they all met for training camp in October, but I was still on my race and didn’t have the opportunity to meet them until this moment in Atlanta just 3 short days before leaving for our first country. No name tags, no matching shirts, no way to tell who “my people” were and who were a part of the other 3 squads launching at the same time.
Being at launch exactly one year to the date of my squad’s launch in January 2016 was also hard.
Reminiscing about how I felt: the anxiousness and excitement surrounding the final preparations before leaving for 11 months, saying goodbye to my parents and my dog, making last minute calls to friends…
I was reliving it. But this time it was different.
My A Squad family wasn’t there.
The only people I know how to do this crazy Worldrace life with were missing.
Then it hit me. They were all coming into town for a reunion of sorts called “Project Search Light” to share about their experiences since getting home at Thanksgiving and to discuss what’s next: life after the race.
Only, they weren’t arriving in Atlanta until the exact day I was leaving with Q Squad.
They would arrive at the airport just mere hours after my plane took off.
I wouldn’t get the hugs I so desperately needed and encouragement from the people I spent the past year traveling with who had become my family.
I felt so alone.
But there I was, at 3AM on January 11th, standing in the hotel with 54 brand new racers and 2 co-leaders ready to head back out into the unknown…
“I trust you, Lord.”
View of Bello, Colombia
Fast forward to today…
I’ve just completed month 2 in Ecuador with Q squad.
It was All-Squad month so we were all together.
I can now safely say: I know the names of every racer on this squad! And – dare I say – I can recognize their voices as well!
So far, I’ve served alongside half the squad (4 out of 8 teams) and had countless amazingly intentional one-on-ones with even more of them! My love for each and every one of them grows deeper every day. I’ve learned so much from them. I’ve been challenged and encouraged by them and I thank God every day that He’s given me the opportunity to be on the field with them in this capacity.
Q Squad in Ecuador at our ministry: Inka Link
So what does this role as Squad Leader (SQL) look like?
I can tell you for certain…
I’m not a racer anymore.
The biggest shift from finishing my race in November to coming back onto the field is that my ministry focus has changed.
My ministry is Q Squad.
The squad and the individual racers are now my ministry.
Yes I get to travel the world with them, experience the same conditions as them (sleeping in my tent or hammock, eating local food, cold showers, etc.), and I get to serve with them at their designated ministries, just like last year.
But now my priority is them.
I join their “team times,” pray with them, guide and encourage them, have one-on-one conversations with them, answer questions, share my experiences and lessons learned, and check in with the team leaders and racers I’m not with for the month.
I do this to ensure they have the best Worldrace journey that they can, full of great experiences and as much personal growth as possible.
And I’m loving every minute of it.
And I get to do it with 2 of the most amazing co-leaders I could ever ask for… Danae Englund and Cameron Naylor.
They are so easy to love and serve with. They are so passionate in their walks with the Lord and have such amazing hearts for this squad! Doing life with them has been such an honor and so much fun!
Financial Update: Thank you to all of my supporters! I’m blown away by your generosity and willingness to give. I still need $2921 to be fully funded. Would you please consider making a tax deductible donation? Any amount will help me reach my goal and stay out on the field with Q squad!
