Hello Faithful Readers,
This month has been a whirlwind. It stated off rather slow and has been nothing I expected but, so good.
For the next few days E squad will be hanging out in Nelspurit, South Africa at the peaceful little hostel unpacking and processing the next month, resting up and recharging, and preparing for the next month of ministry and the last three months (days) of the Race. This will be our last debrief before Final Debrief in Month 11.
Ministry
This month the men and women of E squad split up into separate ministries for manistry and womanistry month. We worked alongside Adventures in Missions Swaziland at the care points and doing sports ministry. The month started out really slow. All 48 members of E squad as well as all 28 member of World Race: Gap Year and, I think, a Passport Team. So needless to say there were a lot of missionaries and not a lot of work to do. However we made the best of what we had and it ended up being really great.
At the end of the month some of us were met by our parents to participate in a Parent Vision Trip (PVT). For this we our parents would join our teams and do ministry alongside us. They would get a little, very little, taste of what it was like to be on the World Race. The week was exhausting but really good. It gave us as racers a chance to get some much needed or wanted things from home as well as a small taste of re-entry. To say we were overwhelmed a little would be an understatement. But I think in month 11 we will be thankful for that small taste.
Challenges, Lessons and Goals
This month’s main challenge was the lack of organized ministry. You would think that too many missionaries wouldn’t be a bad thing. There were only a few hours of organized ministry a day and a lot of down time. This was at first really challenging for me. But eventually the Lord showed me that He was working in the waiting and there was a lot of waiting. I got to know our contact Xolani really well and hear his heart for sports ministry and for Swaziland. We got encourage Him and listen to Him when he was stressed about something. I got to love a little boy whose mom had recently passed away. I got to push him on a swing, have him sit in my lap and read to him. These things would not have happened if our ministry schedule had been super packed.
My goal for this upcoming month is to intentionally seek out the moments of life ministry. Those moments that are not necessarily ministry that is on the schedule but you happen upon because life just takes you there. I don’t want those moments to pass by unnoticed because those moments are just as important as what is on the schedule.
Botswana
Our ministry in Botswana will be evangelism. We will spend 3 to 4 days in training on how to evangelize and learning about the culture in Botswana. Our contact challenged us with the goal of finding two people this month to build relationship with and share Jesus with.
I don’t know exactly what everything is going to look like this month but I have a really good feeling about this month. I am really excited and looking forward to building these relationships and seeing what the Lord has in store.
Please pray for my team as we explore and get to know the people and the town of Verda. Pray that Holy Spirit would guide us to the people Lord wants us to get to know and share the Love of the Father.
Fundraising
I have received another extension from the World Race for my next fundraising goal. The next deadline is March 16, 2015. I have to have half of my remaining balance in at that time. I am currently $823 from being fully funded. Over the next month I will have little to know internet access so I will be unable to check up on my support account until the end of the month.
Thank you so much for all the ways each of you have shown support to me. All of your prayers, donations, words of encouragement, and keeping up with my blogs and posts mean so much to me. I have been so encouraged and humbled by your support.
The Situation
Some of you have read the blog I posted a little while back about what happened on our squad at the end of our most recent debrief. Losing four of our brothers has shaken our entire squad and leadership team. There are a lot of feelings and emotions that are being processed on all fronts.
Please be praying for all of E squad and all of our leaders during this time. Pray against the schemes and attacks of the enemy which are already being felt. Pray that our squad would seek the Lord in all of this and that we would show a measure of love and grace that is far beyond our abilities. Pray for us as we grieve and move forward. Please pray that no matter the outcome of future conversations that E squad would be a squad that fights as strong for each other for the rest of the race as we fought for our brothers that we sent home.
Pray that we wouldn’t be house divided but that we would be united and that we would finish this our time of the World Race strong, fully running after all the Lord has for us during this time.
What’s Next: After the World Race
At this point I am not ready to announce what I will be doing after the World Race. I am praying about three options. I would love it if you would be in prayer with me as I seek the Lord on these options.
