So…
Squad leader.
Being thrown into the icy deep end of a pool. Not fun at
first, slightly shocking. Considering how well I do denial, this may not be a
fair analogy for becoming a team leader at training camp in May. But we’re
gonna go for it.
Slowly easing into the warm shallow end. Best description I
can give of how God opened up my heart to being placed in the position of squad
leader.
When I first committed to serving in overseas in missions
for a year, it was done out of obedience.
Paradigm shift happened when my ideas for serving as a nurse
in a clinic somewhere for a year didn’t pan out and I realized I was totally
operating out of my own power.
World Race came up and God started to build this excitement
and desire in my heart to serve, as well as growing an awareness that this was
going to be a life-changing year for me and my relationship with Him.
Paradigm shift happened when I fought with God in a field in
Georgia and accepted the position of team leader.
This position put me in a place of more dependence on God
than ever before. And my teammates stole my heart.
Slower paradigm shift, the easing into the shallow end,
happened during the first three months of the Race. My heart, my desire, my
love shifted drastically to the 50 people on my squad. Honestly, it kinda
freaked me out. Wasn’t part of the expectations I had for this trip. Didn’t
really know what to do with it. God did.
Our last night in Ireland, Nathan Salley, Sydney Sample and
I were commissioned as the squad leaders for O squad. Honestly, it’s still
overwhelming. I have no idea how to describe it. I’m entirely humbled to be
allowed in this place where that shift of my heart, my desire and my love actually
makes sense.
For the moment, I’m gonna stop trying to figure out how to explain it, because I’ve started and erased about fifteen sentences. More will come.
To sign off, I’m gonna borrow thoughts from some of my O squad fam. Check out Nathan Salley’s (fellow squad leader) and Courtney Hess’ (my team leader’s) blogs.
P.S. Quick location update: I’m currently in Nairobi, Kenya. Tomorrow morning Team Shiloh will be boarding a bus for Jinja, Uganda. We will meet up with the squad on Friday, raft the Nile on Saturday :D, hang out with the squad on Sunday, and head to our ministry contacts on Monday. Don’t know what internet is gonna look like next month. THANK YOU for all the love and prayers.
