Here we go: lots of changes have happened, but I’m confident in that I want to trust this is what God has chosen for the squad and I. It’s really hard right now, because two of the closest people to me have left the race. Here we are in Africa, of all places, and they concluded that it was best to leave. I think one of the reasons it hurt so much watching these two individuals go home was because they were on my team, I trusted them so intimately, hoped the best for them and cared for them so dearly. These two girls were quality-girls, like sisters having good heads on there shoulders. They were easy to talk to, and shared a mutual understanding with me. Another reason this is so difficult is that it doesn’t just effect the individuals who left, or our team, but it effects the whole squad. So fast forward and now, I’ve been really bad at being consistent in blogging, but I’m going to try my best to get back on top of things and blog a bit more.
I’m now on a team called “Jubilation” inspired by two words: jubilee and generation. The idea behind this is that we will be a new generation striving for jubilee, a time in the bible that returned people to their families, erased debts, and allowed everyone to start over with a clean slate so to say. We also want to inspire the generations living today to break chains and let go of regret and shame and live under the hope of Jesus’ love.
My team is now made up of:
-Cody O’Donnell
-Becca Diederich
-Emily Lane
-Erin Olson
-Rachel Balson
-Josh Garrison
These peeps are pretty swell, and I can't wait to get to know them all better in this coming season!
So it had been a rough week, and I’m still settling into this new team, but I feel this is best for right now. I mean, when I posted my last blog I felt like everything that was stable was crumbling around me. My friends who I thought were staying decided to leave, to my surprise, and it seemed I was being tossed around to-and-fro. Everyone else had a team but there Josh, Jill and I stood, wondering what our destiny would be. Since 2 of our team mates went home, it just didn’t make sense that we would stay together. And after all we did get separated, but thru all the turmoil it in fact brought us closer together. And to the 2 individuals that left, it’s not “goodbye, it’s just see-ya-soon.
It seems that the end of one chapter has just occurred; with one of the most frustrating and difficult endings. But the beauty of all this is that the book isn’t finished and as I turn to the next chapter it’s exciting and comforting to know that God never puts food on my plate that I can’t swallow. In other words, God won’t ever put you in a situation you can’t handle.
“So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
-Isaiah 41:10
Thanks for reading!
