Names hold incredible meaning. The names children are given today more often than not are simply because they sound cool or are rare. That isn't how it always was though. Many times in the Bible you read about children receiving their names because of the events that were taking place around them. Isaac being one example of receiving his name because his parents laughed at the idea of having a child at the age of 100.
So the other day during team time Emily our squad leader asked us about our team name. Where did it come from? What does it mean to us? So I thought about it and God revealed something cool to me though our name. In order to explain it you need to know where it came from.
Summit 121
Thailand was coming to a close and MANistry was over, everyone knew that team changes were coming. We waited till the second last day of debrief and finally the new teams were announced. Coming in to this I thought I would be fine with whatever happened. That no matter the changes I could handle it and enjoy whatever God had for me.
Then one by one the team leaders got up and called out their new teams.
Jason went to the front and started calling out names,
Brendon Woodall
Sarah White
Mary Smith
Jamie Henley
Savannah Howard
To be honest once he finished I had no idea whose names he had said. The only thing I could think of was "I haven't spent time with any of these people. I'm starting over again…"
It hit me so much harder then I ever thought it would. The fact that all the safety nets I had, the comfort of familiar faces was once more taken from me.
Anger didn't overwhelm me but frustration and despair did. After all Thailand had for me this was the breaking point. I sat there fighting back the emotions wondering why they would make this change. Trying to be excited when no part of me wanted to be.
We got up to pray over the new leadership team and I didn't want to move. I did my best to restrain the tears that were trying to pour from my eyes. Some made it through anyway.
To be continued in part 2
P.S. here are some pics from Vietnam
