BUTTERFLIES.
ahhhhhhhh. as i am writing this, knots are in my stomach. i am sitting in an airport in Seoul, South Korea. I have given some of the most gut-wrenching hugs of goodbyes to 20/35 of the people i have been living with the past year.
There are a couple blogs in the making to share with you all about some of those very special people, but until then..
I wanted to share a very exciting announcement about what’s written in the pages to come.
over this past year, God’s led me to a place of humility. He’s shown me that i have influence in my words & presence because of His spirit that is present within me.
-In Peru, i felt like God was calling me to be His ambassador. I had to think about what that meant.
Ambassador means “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.”
-in Guatemala, there was wisdom poured all over this. we read over philippians 3:20-21
“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control”
so if i am a citizen of heaven, and God calls me an ambassador, and currently i am on earth…
i am official representative of heaven!
-I got an email from my very loved Squad Mentor, Kate.
she told me i have the gift of generosity. to give out what i have. i love that, and have been striving to let that grow in me more and more.
with all these things and many more stirring within my heart, i felt like God had pulled me up and had led me to a place of leadership.
Specifically, I felt the same type of gut-wrenching pull that led me to go on this race-the best decision i had ever made.
So, for the next chapter, following this call to leadership will be Alumni-Team Leading for a new squad!!
This looks like going back on the field for 3 months to encourage,guide, push, and show racers the way!
in good ole’ dad-fashion of questionnaires, here are the w’s &h!
WHO?
new born racers like myself 9 months ago. 18-20 year old’s who are taking a leap to do it!as of now, i will be leading along with 4 of the other racers i have lived with ( and love so much) over the past year.
WHAT?
Alumni Team Leading looks like joining the Gap Year for the initial 3 months!
with my past TL Alyssa, she walked us through it. her mission was pouring and giving everything away.
she walked and ran WITH us. all of it- living with so many, learning what healthy communication looked like, being comforted in the transition away from home, and being the soldier on the front line to give feedback. she encouraged the heck out of me.
I wouldn’t be where or who I am right now if it wasn’t for her example of following Jesus with obedience.
WHEN?
september, october,november of 2019.
joining the 10 day training camp this summer will take place in july!!
WHERE?
as of now, the squad that i am blessed to be with and lead will be beginning their journey in Romania. ah!!
WHY?
when i think if why an alumni team leader would be needed, i think of running track the first years at Antonian. i remember prepping to be in the 4×400 relay with the Varsity team.
i couldn’t really pace myself. shoot, i didn’t even know what pace was. or proper breathing.i just ran.
i had to practice pacing and running and breathing with Aly and Mary, junior and senior at the time.
i remember physically feeling the tug line that tied her back to my stomach as we ran. it pulled me. it kept me close to keep the pace, until i got the hang of it, muscle memory, and confidence to pace myself.
through alyssa i learned how to speak with a bold heart. she taught me to love my family with a God-kind-of love. He’s transformed my family. she showed me the beauty of the present, and the power of weakness.
i hope to lead like that. to go with them. and to be the one that i needed and was so so blessed to actually have.
will it be hard leaving my family again? yes. will it be worth it, again? i have faith to say yes.
HOW?
that blue/green line at the top? that’s what is needed to get there.
3,000 covers all flights, food $$ and lodging to pay our hosts.
..so, this is where my trust lies!
i trust that God will be faithful to bring what’s needed to do what He leads me to. He did it the first time with 16,000, and i trust He will do it again, but He couldn’t do it without you.
before the race, fundraising was daunting. it felt like begging, pleading, being selfish.
now i know the truth. if i have learned anything over the past year, i have learned that this thing is way way more than about me. He leads me to places for the sake of others. He’s reaching out to all of us. God has things to do, man! He’s restored families and healed broken bones and hearts. He makes a way so people can realize He is the way.
I have also learned that while my identity isn’t dependent on others, that doesn’t mean that i am without need for the body. for others. God uses the hands and feet and mind together.
each piece is significant.
ah! i am so glad that i am able to share this news with you all.i am so excited for this next season, because i know what can come out of it.
*if you’d like to donate and be a part of this next mission- the following blog will have a guide to two simple ways!*
lots and lots of love!
cami <3
