I’m sitting at Casa Shalom, surrounded by the 53 members of O squad. It’s an absolutely amazing feeling to be in the middle of this atmosphere. We’re coming out of a month (or three weeks) of ministry in drastically different environments. We’ve come through different challenges in our teams, grown in many ways, and collected crazy stories.
*Team Jubilee leading worship at church last Sunday*
Last night was the first time O squad was together by ourselves. Training camp was done with P squad and the arrival into Kiev found teams scattering all over Ukraine as soon as they hit soil. So as soon as the Cheetahs arrived last night from Ukraine and joined the seven teams already at Casa Shalom (Jubilee, Shofar 1:5, Umoja, Koinonea, GLOW, Lovesick 514 and L’Chaim) we all gathered in the chapel and had a time of some sweet worship. (Ok, well actually we all chowed down on some pizza, but worship was soon after).
If this isn’t already mentioned in earlier blogs, our squad was definitely put together by divine design. Training with P squad definitely portrayed the fact that squads are not random collections of people who decide to leave the country at the same time. One of the jokes from training camp was “where’s O squad?…check the back wall.” The tendency of our squad was to end up chilling at the back of the room. We’re the pensive group, the ones who may not just jump into something at the drop of a hat, a group operating with a bit of caution and taking time to feel things out. But we’re being called out, challenged, moved. There’s a TON of stuff I could share about how God is working in my life, what He’s pointing out, how I’m being stretched, victories and struggles I’ve fought through these last few weeks. I’ve filled up one journal so far and I have barely skimmed the surface. My perspective is changing and God is rocking my world. I’m excited. Next month is going to be amazing and hard and a challenge…more on that as it happens.
Until then I’m extending a heart full of thanks for those of you who are and have supported me. Financial blessings, blog comments, prayers and news from home have been an amazing blessing for me in this time. As I finish this blog, I’m hearing stories about how God’s working in the life of fellow O squad members. Peace and grace.
