Every World Race Squad is launched with three alumni racers who have finished the race themselves. Their role as a Squad Leader (SQL) is to encourage and guide the squad as they start out and disciple the racers on their journey. However, another one of the SQL’s roles is to raise up leaders at the end of the five month mark before the alumni racers go home. The raised up Squad Leaders will then lead in their place for the remainder of the 11 months. I have had the honor of taking on this role to serve M-Squad along with my squad-mate and dear sister, Karissa Rodriguez.
During the month of May we have spent time training and shadowing our Alumni SQL’s throughout Panama. I spent my first few weeks up north in Caizán with Las Libertadoras (Mel Jo, Katrina, Charis, Sara, Ashley and Betsy) painting, tearing apart a stage, putting together bags food to pass out and alongside our contact, minister to the local indigenous group, the Ngöbe. For the remainder of the month I will be serving on the opposite side of the country, south of Panama City, in Chepo with the team Hola Ola (Leah, Patrick, Justin, Amanda, Missy and Claire).
Accepting this role has changed what I expected “my race” to look like but I am confident in what God has planned for me. No two individual’s race looks exactly the same. God calls us into different roles and positions to challenge us in the way we need and to depend on Him more than we had before. I am so honored to be able to walk in this role and serve our squad and the Lord as we continue throughout South America. If there’s anything I love, it’s to love on and serve others. And this is one of the reasons why Karissa and I chose our team name, Furious Love. God is calling us out of a place of comfort and ease to pour out lavish love amongst the squad and the people we serve in ministry. We want to love furiously until it hurts and then love some more. It’s a love that can only come from our Father and be done not of our own strength or abilities but of His. Because:
“…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God; and God is in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment.”
1 John 4:16-18
Will you keep both Karissa and I in your prayers for this new path and position we are serving in? We ask for prayer that we seek the Father more deeply and intimately, hear His voice more clearly, ask for wisdom and to know how to minister, serve and disciple our squad as well as partner with our contacts over these next 6 months.
Thank you for your grace as it’s been nearly a month since I’ve updated you. Thank you for your continued support: in prayer, in encouragement and for your financial support. My heart rejoices to witness the Body of Christ worldwide, to be able to fellowship with and serve alongside them sin fronteras.
With love, laughter, joy and gratitude,
Allison
Las Libertadoras getting creative when limited to 3 paint brushes
