Some of you have been asking what I’m doing now that I’m home. If you talked to me within two weeks of me being back, I probably said something like “well, I’ve got a few options in the works just waiting on which one is best.” Which is true, but there was one specific thing I was waiting to hear back about…
Back at the beginning of Ecuador (Month 11/August), my squad mentor, Amy, called me and told me she was taking another squad out in January. And she wanted me to squad lead for it. I cried as she told me. I had been praying for months for an opportunity to lead with Adventures in Missions and prayed specifically for a chance in January, where I wouldn’t have to miss the holidays at home.
I got to work on my application for squad leading, and once I got back home to Minnesota, I had two phone interviews and found out about a week ago, I was officially accepted.
(Side note: What is squad leading?!? I’m sure some of you are wondering. Squad leading is when an alumni World Racer goes back on the field with a new squad for typically five months. During months 1-4, we spend time pouring into our squad, and through prayer and discernment, we ask the Holy Spirit to identify who we should “raise up” as new Squad Leaders. During month 5, we train those new people, and we say our goodbyes to watch them step into new roles and responsibilities! Squad leading is an overall excellent opportunity to disciple the next generation while also serving through international missions. It’s the best of both worlds if you ask me.)
Currently, I am in Gainesville, Georgia for PSL (Project Searchlight) I’m honestly not sure why it’s called that so I say it is a final, final debrief. Not everyone from my squad is here, but it’s been a great reunion. After this week, I will fly down to Orlando to spend some extra time with my old teammate Krista and her family. They’ve graciously offered for me to join in their family vacation at Disney World. I am so excited. After a few days at Disney, I’ll fly back home, spend eight nights in Minnesota before flying back to Georgia, where I will spend two weeks training, and meeting my new squad. I’ll get home on the 27th of October. During November and December, I plan on making money through subbing at a local preschool, dog sitting, babysitting, and hopefully some other things as well.
You’re probably wondering how I’m feeling about this (since that’s written in the title of this blog).
I feel incredibly grateful to have each person reading this blog, standing in my corner, ready to cheer me on and pray for me through the next five months on the field.
I feel a holy sort of anticipation standing in this moment, ready to see what God does next. His provision over the last year was more than I could have ever asked for, and I’m confident in Him providing again.
I feel humbled that I’ve been called to a place of leadership; I feel grateful for a platform to share the words God has given me.
I also feel some other things too, sad that I’ll be packing up and saying goodbye to family and friends again. I get butterflies in my stomach when I think about leading a group of 40 people spiritually. I still kind of think that’s crazy.
So, there’s a quick recap about what is happening in my life. I would love to share more of this story with you in person over a meal or a cup of coffee. And along with this trip comes the opportunity for more fundraising (you can read more about that here.)
There’s a lot of people I wish I could have told this to in person, with the craziness of my life, it didn’t work out. If you’re one of those people, please know I’m sorry, and I hope no feelings were hurt in this announcement. I love you all.
Also, I would love to have feedback on how to interact and tell the stories from the field this time around as well as fundraising options you’d like to have, so please comment that below! For storytelling, did you like blogs? Would you prefer a weekly vlog? Did you like the monthly recaps? More pictures? Did you like the podcasts I did with my friend Morgan?
For fundraising: did you like the adopt a jar? Should I design another t-shirt? Another Chick-fil-a night? I want to hear your ideas!!!
Scripture of the Day: Romans 12:3-8 “Humble Service in the Body of Christ”
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Song of the Day: Bigger Than I Thought by Passion
