I’ve been thinking a lot about change recently, but I was struggling to define that word. Seeing as I am living with 57 other people, I decided to ask them to define it for me. Here is what we got:
“To be transformed”
“Hard work.”
“To gain a different perspective,”
“The World Race.”
“To go from one state of being into another.”
“Coins.”
“To be made new.”
“Exciting. Also, terrifying.”
“My life…?”
“Switchin’ it up.”
“To be made different or to not be the same.”
“Something that goes differently than what you expected.”
Interesting, huh? They are each accurate and – had you had the privilege of knowing the hearts behind the voices – they each come with a story that helped write the definition. None of us escape the challenge of change in our lives. Without change, the opposite of those definitions would be our lives. Think about it. We would be…
Stagnant.
Lazy.
Stuck in our worldview.
Not on the World Race.
Never changing.
Bills.
Old.
Bored. And, comfortable.
Dead.
Remaining in place.
Always the same.
Just as expected.
Looking at this word in reverse helped me to think through the coming months. The first change that we embrace this month is a change in our route. Remember how my sQuad is going to Burma? Turns out we are going to Laos! To be honest, I don’t know much about Laos, but I am excited to learn! There were several factors involved in the switch, and as I learn more about our new country I will be sharing more details. Ultimately I know that when we each applied to Route 5 for January of 2015, He knew we were going to Laos. God’s plan is perfect and I cannot wait to see what He does in month 9!
The second change that I want to tell you about is a little more immediate. At the end of this week I will be switching from my current team, Daughters Ablaze, to a new team, Restore Amor. The stories of two of my sQuadmates who are now back in the states are great examples of following God’s leading and making a change. As these women have left the Race, their beautiful team went from six women down to four. Our squad mentor, coaches, and leaders prayed and discussed what this next season would look like for Restore Amor. They came to me and one other and explained that they are confident that the Lord is directing the two of us to make the switch. I am in complete agreement with them. God has prepared my heart in countless ways for this new season and I am so looking forward to getting to know my new teammates.
At the same time – as is often the case with change – this switch is definitely bittersweet. I LOVE MY DAUGHTERS ABLAZE SISTERS. I love praying with them and crying with them and sharing clothes with the two other 5’2” girls. I love eating peanut butter out of the jar with them and hearing their testimonies. I love doing ministry with them and seeing them each walk more fully in the gifts that God has given. I even love searching for bathrooms and cramming stuff back into backpacks with them. I am comfortable with them.
I do not doubt for a moment that I am going to share wonderful memories and sharpening moments with my new teammates, but it will not be the same. And you know what? That’s ok. That’s life, that’s being transformed, that’s the World Race, that’s God. As we each continue to experience seasons of change in our lives we can rest in the full knowledge that God is never surprised.
Here are a few ways that you can be joining me in prayer as I head into month 3!
– Pray for unity of mind and spirit in my new team – Restore Amor!
– Pray for our first Unsung Heroes teams, for direction and connections. (This will be my first active month as an Unsung Heroes coordinator. I am excited to update more about this soon!)
– We are thankful for continued healing, as many of my squad mates were sick this past month. Please pray for continued health and energy as we head to South Africa!
Thank you for you constant love and support. I am so grateful for each of you and for your partnership in what God is doing around the world. It’s such an incredible privilege to see this first-hand, and I love sharing these moments with you all.
