We are the guinea pigs. This is the first time on the World Race that a whole squad has lived together for an entire month. People have said our squad is different. One person used the word “raw” and said we understand what community really means. I guess when you put 52 people on a 2-acre property equipped with one bathroom (that frequently runs out of water) you get close really fast. On top of the physical closeness, there is a sense of honesty about everyone here. Everyone wants to grow and everyone wants to pour into each other. The “B Squad family” that everyone spoke of at training camp is really coming into its own this month.
While the squad is growing together as a whole, we all have to fight for personal time with the Lord. In moments of doubt and uncertainty I find myself questioning God’s purpose for me. It’s in the times of questioning when I have to get away from the noise and seek the Lord’s voice. “IPod engage” is a common phrase used on our team, that basically means “Don’t talk to me, I need some alone time.” You’ll often see people sneaking away to their tents, climbing on top of the water supply shed and retreating to the far corners of the property to find some precious one-on-one time where they can simply breathe the Lord in, talk to Him or read His word.
God is also teaching me a lot about the spirit of comparison this month. Being around 51 people of strong faith can make you question where you are in your relationship with Christ. A hard lesson to learn, and one that is a constant struggle for me, is finding my worth in who the Lord says I am instead of in who the world says I am. It’s easy to look at my squad mates and wish that I had some of their gifts, but thankfully we are not all wired the same. God speaks to each of us in different ways and because of that we are all able to bring something special to the group.
One thing we all have in common is that we are constantly desperate for the Lord’s voice and the presence of the Holy Spirit. During Launch, Michael Hindes spoke to our squad about “this” versus “that.” A “that” encounter is knowing God is omnipresent in our daily life, while a “this” encounter is having the presence of God. As believers, we have the “that,” but we long for the “this.” He described the “this” as something tangible that when it lands on you something inside of you changes. I think our squad has had some “this” encounters and now that we’ve had the taste, we want more. Here in Honduras, we are living in what used to be one of the worst bars in Tegucigalpa. If there was ever a place that needed God’s presence, this place is it. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that “All Scripture is God-breathed.” We are looking to breathe God into this place just like He breathed life and truth into the Bible.
This month is about life and experiences and living in the moment. This month is about God bringing our squad together, seeking His voice and bringing His kingdom to Honduras.
