As we sat down for the first time together, minutes after our final team change, I could feel the tension. Girasoles, my previous team, had been split between four new teams. For a lot of the teams changes happened like that. For the new team that I was now a part of five of the members had been together previously. In fact, their entire team, minus one, was still together but now with the two new added members, Lydia and me.
The tension came from that. As a team before they felt that their time together was finished. They had asked for a change. The change that they got was not one that they were expecting but it didn’t come as a surprise to the Lord.
Our team was brought together for something. God has a plan for each of us-something tomorrow us. And it is going to be beautiful and probably a little hard at times but it is going to be worth it.
The next afternoon we sat down to discuss our ministry in Honduras and what our new team names was going to be. One of my teammates, T.J., suggested “Pirates” because she always wanted to be a pirate. (There will be mire one this later, I promise!) As more ideas were thrown out a theme began to be circled of restoration and redemption, as an action outflowing from our team as well as what we desired for ourselves individually.
As a team we want to experience those things, redemption and restoration, for ourselves and for others as well. As I originally was writing this blog out Isaiah 61 continually came to mind (as it has continually over the Race whenever I’ve considered what my squad and I are on this Race for), especially verses 1-7.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them,
though they have been deserted for many generations. Foreigners will be your servants.
They will feed your flocks and plow your fields
and tend your vineyards. You will be called priests of the Lord,
ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations
and boast in their riches. Instead of shame and dishonor,
you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
As mentioned above, T.J. wanted to be a pirate and in a sense she has become one. How do pirates speak? They begin and end their sentences with an “Argh” and we are the /Argh/ and /Argh/s
And so, our new team name may read like “Rest and Relaxation” but our Rs stand for something a little different.
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