My goodness. There have been a LOT of changes over the past 2 or 3 weeks. One change is that I am writing this to you from The Philippines! Originally, our race route was to be in the country of Thailand for month 4, but because of the extensive flooding happening there we have been moved to the Philippines. We will actually be in the Philippines for 6 weeks instead of the usual 4 weeks, which will probably mean a few more changes in the rest of the route as well. I have come to see these types of changes as pretty exciting, because it makes our race all the more unique.
A second rather big change is that we got new squad leaders and new teams! Our squad leaders (the people who step up to replace the alumni leaders returning home) are Mike Desmond, Andrea Garcia, and Kevin Buzzie. I am so excited for what all God is going to do through them and how He will grow them in this new chapter of the Race. Making the switch to new teams has been exciting, but also a little hard in letting go of our old teams. However, I am absolutely in love with each one of my new team members on Team Cannonball. They are Allie Elliot, Carl Prox, Liz White, Sarah Ball, Tommy Chapman, and Jenny Meunier! (please feel free to check out their blogs, encourage them, and pray for them.)
A huge personal change for me beginning this month is that I have become a team leader. Being asked to take on this role is both exciting and very humbling. It definitely stretches me in new ways and causes me to step out in faith, knowing that God has called me to this for a purpose and that my adequacy comes directly from Him. I know God is going to do great things in and through each one of us on this team. We are jumping into what God has for us, and although cannonballing may not always be the most graceful and elegant, it certainly makes a splash and causes some ripples.
This month in The Philippines we (four of our six teams) are working with Kids International Ministries (KIM) which is run by Jeff Long and his family. Their ministry and vision are just incredible. We have the opportunity to work with a children's home and nursery, a boys home for ex-street kids, and a girls home called Josie's Angels. We also get to do construction, neighborhood feedings and spend time with street kids. There are so many amazing opportunities to share God's love, to encourage one another, and to pursue our passions, which is such a big blessing. It already is and I know will continue to be a wonderful and growing time here in Asia!
Thank you, again, to each of you for your support, prayers, and encouragement. You bring encouragement even just by reading my blogs. I am so blessed to have so much love and support coming from back home. I don't think thank you fully expresses how grateful I am to every one of you.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13
