Dear V-squad,
I am SO ready for the journey of a lifetime with you in just a few short weeks. I CANNOT wait to see all the ways that God will work through you and in you during the next 11 months.
I hope that you enjoy time with your family and friends and know and feel, with absolute certainty, just how loved and supported you are. I pray that you can put aside any worry and fear and instead remain mindful and FULLY present in the current moment, knowing full well how much you’ll miss this in a few months. I pray that these next two weeks will be filled with sweet memories with family and friends paired with personal confirmation and reassurance of your place on this race. I pray for peace in the unknown and joy in the waiting. Know that I am with you and I am for you. I understand what you are going through. I get the challenge of packing up your life for a year. I relate with the tears and the difficulty of goodbyes.
I pray that you are letting God prepare your heart, mind, and soul for what is to come. Lean into Him and trust His plans. Do not give in to fear. Do not entertain thoughts of backing out. Trust that you were called for this. Go into this trip with no expectations and great expectations at the same time, knowing that God will go above and beyond anything you could ever ask or imagine. Come with no agenda but ready for God to work. Keep your eyes and your mind open. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you will go.
There will be days on this race when you are struggling, I hope you that you find faith. When you feel weak, I hope you turn to Jesus to be your strength. I pray that we can be open and vulnerable with one another, always speaking the truth in love. I hope that we can build one another up daily and to encourage each other always. I hope when things are hard we will lead each other to the cross and remind each other of why we are here. When you cry, I hope I will be there to comfort you. When you stumble, I’ll be there to help you up.
V-squad, I can’t wait to make memories with you. I can’t wait to cross borders and to move mountains together. I can’t wait to watch you grow and change and be who you were made to be. I can’t wait to do life with you. I know we will be together in some of the greatest moments of our lives and that together we will see and do amazing things. I pray that we can always find joy in the small things and excitement in the ordinary. I pray that every day is an adventure and each morning a brand new start.
My team, my friends- I apologize ahead of time for the moments when I will make you mad or the times I’ll let you down. I apologize now for the things I may say during those long bus rides or short nights, please give me grace in the moments of my weakness. I pray that you can show me the areas in my life where I need to improve as I can do the same for you. I pray that we can disagree respectfully and challenge each other appropriately. I hope that you will call me out when need be and stay quiet if needed. I hope that in all ways we can point each other back to the truth.
Squad. Let’s do this thing. I’ll see you in 22 days.
