Month 5 – Japan
The New Year has definitely brought on a new set of challenges and changes. Not only are there new teams, a new country (we were the first WR squad to ever go to Japan!) but I have also stepped into a new leadership role.
The set up of the World Race is for each squad to start with 2-3 alumni Squad Leaders. These are people who have done the race before and are asked to come back to lead another. Zach is one of the U-Squad leaders who will be staying in Japan after we leave at the end of January to start a discipleship house. Hailey is our other Squad Leader who will be staying with us through month 6, and will then also return to Japan to do ministry. Part of their role is to raise-up new Squad Leaders to take their place.
At the beginning of December, Zach and Hailey started talking to me about Squad Leading and after a lot of prayer and discussion with our coaches back home at AIM, it was official.
It’s an understatement to say that there were a lot of emotions attached to this change. Squad leading means no longer being part of the Peculiar Treasures team that I loved, joining a new team of squad leaders and building relationships with them, stepping out of my role of Logistics Coordinator while still helping to train the new one, and Squad Leader training, training, and more training.
January in Japan was definitely a transitional month with all of this happening. And it’s safe to say that it has been the most challenging month for me so far. But in that, it is also the month where I have seen God move the most in my own heart.
To start with, I have seen God completely change my heart for this new ministry. When I applied for the World Race, I had the expectation that my main focus would be serving in ministries and partnering with organizations sharing the love of Jesus around the world. And although I still get to participate in those things, my squad is also my ministry now. God has given me such a deep love for every single member of U-Squad, even the ones I don’t know as well – but I know the Lord is asking me to cultivate that love.
A fire has been set in my heart to serve the people who spend their lives serving Jesus. To love and pour into the people who are constantly pouring out. Squad Leading is the perfect platform to do that.
Being in this role also means being completely open…with everything. There is no room for secrets, for issues that aren’t dealt with, for dishonesty. This means digging up the dark places of our hearts and exposing them to the light. And although I strive to do this daily in my life, being in a leadership position brings on a whole new set of fears and insecurities that need to be crushed. That means trusting that the Lord put me in this role for a reason, but also knowing that I can only do this though His strength and grace, not my own.
So this month has been a process. A process of grieving the first season of my World Race and embracing this new one, a process of hearing what the Lord has for me and for U-Squad, and a process of walking in the confidence and boldness the Lord has given me as a leader.
Please keep me and my co-leaders in your prayers as we step into this role, and for U-Squad as we all step into this new season.
Albania here we come!
I’ve been so blessed by the overwhelming amount of support I have received. I am now over 90% funded, but still have over $1,000 left to raise before our final deadline in just a few short weeks! I ask that you will please prayerfully consider supporting me financially so I don’t have to come home from this amazing journey prematurely.
