What does discipleship look like for you as a Squad Leader (SQL): Me Pouring out:
.Walking with my girls through difficulties and the good times, being a friend and just doing life with them!
.One on ones (spending quality time with one girl at a time)
.Facilitate talks throughout the 9 months that help racers walk through this 9 month journey in a healthier way
.Give encouraging/ constructive feedback. As a leader sometimes you have to say the not so fun things to help push them and grow them! Correction is never fun but some times you have to do that! In life correction is vital to continue to grow a person. Then I’m here to continue to help them walk that out.
.Encouraging and empowering them.
.Modeling what we are asking them to do! As a leadership team we would never ask them to do something that we aren’t willing to do ourselves! So cleaning along side them, not dating along with them, going to ministry, following the buddy rule and so much more!
.Making disciples who make disciples. So I’m on the field pouring out and helping to equip and push them so they can go out and do the same!
.In everything we do we are pointing them back to Christ first and foremost.
Receiving:
.Jodi (mentor) and the Duffy’s (Coaches)- they are our leadership state side! We check in with them 1-2 times a week! They make final decisions for the squad, but first and foremost they are my teammates! They pray with me, cry with me, laugh with me and always push me back to the Lord! They check on my physical, mental and spiritual well-being. They help me grow in my walk with Christ!
.Guidance and wisdom- they are not on the field! So when I am stressed and overwhelmed or homesick they often bring a perspective that no one on the field can give! They see things without, “world race goggles” on. They shed light on situations and encourage me to take everything to the Lord before I act!
.Letting our teammates in to pray and hold us accountable to the things we are struggling with! Even as leaders we are human! I still struggle with missing home, I still struggle with community, I still struggle with getting enough time with the Lord, patience, fear and everything that everyone else struggles with! My teammates: coaches, mentor and fellow squad leaders can’t help me if they don’t know where I’m at or how I am feeling! Vulnerability can breed accountability, which a lot of people don’t like but that’s what we need to keep growing!
.Point each other to Christ- I’ve touched on this above but often times when we have a conversation about being stressed with each other, something or someone my teammates or even myself always ask each other, “have you prayed about it?”
What has God been teaching me since the New Year started?
Since the New Year has started the Lord has been teaching me a lot of things but here are a few:
.I know that I want to live fearlessly for the Lord in pursuit of whatever he has for me! That can be hard, the fearlessly part so I’m working on pressing into what that looks like.
. Making sure that the Lord is in me always not just I in him
.a session I recently set in on talked about how often times we treat the Lord like a vending machine. We ask him for things like, “ give me patience” or “give me joy” etc.. instead of realizing we already have those things! The Lord is our peace, patience, kindness and joy! So changing the way I pray and saying, “Lord thank you that you are my peace!”
How big has my heart felt in leading these amazing teams?
I mean my heart is huge lol
Leading my girls has been an absolute pleasure! I have loved being their leader but in the process becoming their friend!
What is my heart saying for months ahead?
For months ahead while still on the race I think one thing I am really focused on is being present in the moment! Soaking up all the time I have left! I think often times on the race we take the time for granted and sometimes wish it away by focusing on how many months we have left til, family, Chick-fil-A, our beds, our closets, our cars! Atleast I did this on my race! I lived the race out and loved every second but there were so many times I could have seized the little moments like, walking somewhere with a teammate, staying up to make a teammate happy by watching a movie or having a more fruitful conversation! So I think I am trying to soak up all of the little and big things!
As for months when I get home, I’m not sure but I know that the Lord will show me when it’s time!
What has been the biggest surprise I have encounter while being a Squad Leader?
One of the biggest surprises I have encountered as a Squad Leader is how much they truly do want to get to know you! They want to be your friend and know my stories and my heart and how I’m growing and what the Lord is teaching me! They love just being pursued as a friend! Obviously there are moments that I still have to be their leader but if I can build that friendship and invest in just quality time it makes the times I have to present them with the hard stuff smoother!
What is my favorite thing that has happened thus far?
One of my favorite things that has happened thus far is Christmas time! It was completely different than what I am use too! No big live tree, no Christmas lights, no 12 days of Christmas gifts from my momma, no biscuits and gravy Christmas morning or no driving around looking at Christmas lights. But instead it was filled with new memories. Buying a little bitty table top Christmas tree and the ornaments on the tree were pictures I had in my backpack of people on the squad, baking christmas cookies, making our own stockings out of material we found, watching Christmas movies and everyone blowing up their sleeping pads and piling in the floor Christmas Eve, making brunch and playing secret Santa! We were all missing Christmas at home for the first time but together we made some really awesome memories!
What are some of the best outreaches or ways to love people I have been apart of?
Beats and books is a ministry that I just partnered with in Jeffrey’s Bay. They provide tutoring to kids, music lessons, they worship and teach them a bible story! The way they reach the kids is in such a unique way. It really touched my heart!
But one thing I have learned about reaching people is just loving them! Figure out what their heart needs and meet them there! Meet them in their comfort zone instead of in ours! Just loving them! Jesus is love, that is his character! Being able to do the same is awesome! You might not always see the fruit right away but the seeds are being planted!
What is my favorite place I have been so far on the World Race and why?
My favorite place I have been on this World Race journey is South Africa! I am currently at a ministry called Global Challenge! They send out teams just like the world race all around the world! I have gotten the opportunity to work with so many ministries, I live in a log cabin, I’m near the ocean and our hosts are literally the best! But none of those reasons are why it’s my favorite! It’s my favorite because they embrace the community like nothing I have ever experienced! They press into the people God has given them! Every ministry in Jeffrey’s Bay partners together in some way or another! They aren’t competing for more people, money or attention! They find ways to help each other out and they work together in any way possible to further the kingdom of God! Their goal being to love and serve people and they do it so well! We are here to work and partner with Global but they are so willing and excited to loan us out to all the surrounding ministries to lend a help in whatever ways they need! I have felt well loved and taken care of by the Global community and I am so beyond thankful that the Lord placed me here in the beautiful community of Jeffrey’s Bay!
