A new month, a new team, a new role. After tearful goodbyes to the beautiful children of the Potter’s house, our Contact for Romania and adopted dad for the month, Dwight, dropped us off at the train station and waved us farewell. The surviving four members of Team Z’Man boarded the rusty European train with all of our belongings strapped to our backs just as the sun crept over its horizon. We knew that not only was this the end of our time in Romania, but it was the end of us as a team and a World Race family.
Since three of the seven of our initial teammates had to leave the race early, and two of the eleven team leaders would be risen up to be squad leaders, we all knew that our team would be split up. As you might remember from the beginning, we named our team ‘Z’man’ because it means season in Hebrew. From the start we surrendered our team to the Lord for a season, no matter how long that season would be.
Along with the news that our team would be split up, a “new coat” was put on my shoulders, if you will. My current squad leaders asked me if I would be willing to step into a new role as a team leader. I was given a couple of days to pray about it and through seeking the Lord’s voice in this decision, I knew that this is what He had been preparing me for over the last three months, and I was SO excited to step into this role!
When I was given the list of names of my new family, my heart began to open up and overflow with love for these people! I cannot tell you how it happened, but God ignited a flame in my heart for this new team. As I began to pray over each name, the Lord gave me a word for every person on my team. Without further adieu, I would like to introduce to you my new family! I am a proud mama!
Kam-diddly-Kam! I don’t think anyone has made me laugh harder than this young man. His dramatic reactions and dry sense of humor constantly has the team rolling, and often leaves him with a puzzled look on his face as he wonders what we think is so funny. Along with laughter, he also brings a servant’s heart. Just to give you a picture of this, on the 12 hour bus ride to our month-four destination, he said he would sleep hunched over with his head in-between the two seats in from of us, just so I could have enough space to rest my head comfortably. And he was completely serious. Can you just picture how funny this looked? Kameron has been anointed and chosen to pray fervently for us as a team and for the nations. He has a heart for leading worship, and for staying in constant communication with our Father. All I can say that adequately describes my excitement to have this brother on my team is, “What the CRAP!”
I honestly cannot tell you how blessed I am to be serving alongside this young woman and have her as a support on my team. The Lord gave me ‘Undivided’ for her because of her ability step into that chasm between believers and nonbelievers. Her beautiful smile welcomes any stranger and automatically causes you to feel at home. She has a mother’s heart and is always looking for ways to serve the members of this team. Her joy radiates throughout any room and has already captured the children we have started to work with, causing them to bring her a different sweet treat every day. Mama Milroy, how can I jump onto the receiving line of these gifts? 😉 It is truly an honor to eat, sleep, live, and work with this woman of God. I’ve already learned so much from her!
My journey with this young lady started on the beaches of Panama City when she joined my family for our last vacation before I left on for the race. A jack of all trades, Ms. Hume is readily available to pull out any one of her skills to amaze and draw you into her warmth. Whether it be photography, writing, or just plain attentiveness to the Spirit, she will blow you away with her knowledge and insight. Plop down next to her and immediately her dainty fingers will find their way to scratching your back or just resting on your shoulder; as long as she is physically near someone, her heart is content. Each day I am more and more impressed by her leadership skills and her fervency to pray a protection over each person she meets. She is a warrior and is walking into a new season of joy and laughter. The Lord has called her the Beautiful One, which I think is very fitting.
Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. A man after his mother’s heart, Tommy is a man of integrity and truth. Fresh out of seminary, he can slam down any verse you would like to hear with a little rhythm and blues to give it flavor. His feet are always moving to some beat in his head, and his eyes are always open to any opportunity the Lord opens up for him meet and minister to a new person. Relationship is his game, and he has his sidekicks laced and ready to come alongside any ministry and spread the Kingdom. He is a solid foundation of truth and just thinking about learning the word from him over the next few months gets me super jazzed.
As I look at the descriptions of each member of my new family, I can’t help but think of one word that we as a team embody; JOY. Everyone of us has the extraordinary ability to bring laughter into any atmosphere and make the mood light. The more I thought about it, I felt the Lord telling me that he wanted our home on the World Race to be a place of joy and that should somehow be encompassed into our team name. After a lot of discussion and prayer, we came up with the name “Walking Third.” Living in the essence of the word Joy, we want to serve Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself third. We are constantly choosing to Walk Third in every situation, looking to our needs last. Its a pretty tall order to stand under and a dangerous name to proclaim over ourselves, but I’m pretty stoked to see where the Lord takes us and how He grows us in this new season.
So proud of my team!!!
