So
what’s next for me? Now that I’m finished with the World Race, and
I’ve been back in the States for a few months, what’s my next step?
Well, I’m glad you asked:)
I
have had the chance to talk to some of you about this, but there are
many that I haven’t, and even for those who know, this blog might
give you a little more insight into why I’ve chosen to do what I’m
doing.
Let
me start by saying that my year on the World Race was life-changing
for me. It’s hard to put into words everything that happened over
the year or what it meant to me (although I tried in my previous
blog), but the fact is that going on the World Race impacted me
greatly.
I
experienced different places and cultures, did things I never thought
I would be able to do, and ate things I never thought I would eat.
I
built deep, lasting friendships with my teammates and people in some
of the countries we went to. I experienced the challenges and,
ultimately, the beauty of true community.
I
saw God work in incredible ways, performing miracles, transforming
hearts, and being glorified through the power of love and lives that
were surrendered to Him.
I
discovered my identity as a child of God and how the truth of that
impacts the way I live my life.
I
found freedom from fear, control, lies, my expectations, others’
expectations, from living the life that the world around us says we
have to live.
I
changed and grew so much because of the time I spent on the World
Race. And I want so badly for other people to be able to change and
grow and develop and discover and be challenged by going on the World
Race too–which has led me to my next step, which is (drum roll
please)…
Being
a Squad Leader for an upcoming World Race trip!
Ok,
so let me explain how this works. Every group that goes out on a
particular route is called a squad. Each squad is about 50-70 people
who all go to the same country at the same time. Within the squad,
everyone is split into smaller teams of about 6-8 people, who live
and work together each month at a particular ministry. Now there are
team leaders for each team, but there are also squad leaders for the
whole squad. Each squad has 2-3 people, Squad Leaders, who have done
the Race already and come back to lead a new group of people out.
Squad
Leaders have a different role on this, their second time on the Race.
This time out, it’s not about the trip necessarily. It’s about the
people on the squad; they are the ministry this time. Squad Leaders
have the privilege, and responsibility, to set the tone for
what the Race will look like for their squad. As a Squad leader,
I’ll have the chance to pour into a whole new group of
people, to invest in them and challenge them, to speak
life and identity into them, to guide them and
disciple them, and to push them even further and deeper
than my squad or I ever went.
And
it doesn’t stop there. Not only do I get to do all this, but I also
get to help raise up new leaders who will do the same things.
I will be on the field for four months with my squad. During that
time, my other squad leaders and I will raise up new leaders from
within the squad who will then take our place at the end of those
four months, and we will leave the field. We’ll still stay in touch
with our squad after we leave, though, and we will have the chance to
go back out to visit, challenge, and encourage them at their month 8
and month 11 debriefs.
I
can’t even tell you how excited I am about this opportunity!
Squad Leading is something God started laying on my heart back in
month 7 of my trip, and He has confirmed it time and time again, so
it’s something that I absolutely know I’m supposed to do. My heart
is already tied to my new squad, and I don’t even know who they are
yet! I can’t wait to get to know them and start pouring into them
and watching them as they “get it” and start growing! This is
such a huge privilege to be able to do this, and I am so humbled and
honored that I have the chance to do it.
So
now you know what’s next:) But here are a few more details to pull
it all together…
When
are you doing this?
I
will be leading a September 2012 squad. So I will be leaving
sometime around the beginning of September, and I will be back around
the end of December/beginning of January. Then I will also be gone
for about a week at the end of April 2013 and July 2013 to join them
at their debriefs.
Which
squad are you leading?
There
are three different September squads going out on three different routes,
and I don’t know yet which one I will be leading. During the next
few months, as the leadership at AIM continues to choose other squad
leaders, they will determine who will work best with whom and with
which squad, and they will place us with our squads. So I’ll keep
everyone updated as I find out more.
Will
you be going back to the same countries that you went to before?
I
have no idea. Some of the routes do go to some countries that I’ve
been to, and some don’t. We’ll just have to wait and see!
Do
you have to raise support for this trip?
Yes,
I do. I need to raise around $6,500 to do this. I know that many of
you supported me financially last year on my race, and I am so so so
thankful for that. Thank you for believing in me and my heart and
for sacrificing to help make the World Race possible for me. Now,
I’m asking if you will consider supporting me financially once
again. Will you support me and my heart to invest in a new group of
people who are hungry for the things of God?
If
you would like to support me financially, you can do so by clicking
the “Support Me” link at the top
left of this page. That link includes instructions for making
donations online, as well as through the mail.
Thank you to everyone who
has been a part of this journey with me. I’m excited to continue
this journey, and I hope that you will keep walking beside me in it:)
