The other night our squad mentor posed several questions to our squad to journal about during worship. The goal was to begin reflecting over the last 8 months of our journey. Below is what I wrote about. I linked a few of my other blogs if your curious about some of my stories.
What did I see?
I saw deaf ears hear. I saw hearts touched. I witnessed the persecuted church. I saw the enemy for what he was. I saw beautiful landscapes and amazing creations. I saw earnest worship of hungry children, and saw prostitutes worshiping before Him. I saw myself for who I had been, and I saw myself for who I truly am/could be.
What gripped my heart?
The girl in the flower dress. Cliff jumping in Sri Lanka. The lost in search. The love in Indonesia. The seeking and encouragement from my squad.
What did God reveal about Himself?
His heart for the nations. That He seeks to know each and every person and will use whatever means necessary to do it. He is a God of miracles, a God who wants to love us, but also a God of wrath. He is a God of all things righteous, and when we seek Him we will find Him.
What have I discovered?
That I am loved. That I do not want to be a man pleaser, but a God worshiper. That I am redeemed. That my identity is first and foremost rooted in Christ. That we are all searching for Him even if we do not know it.
What have I let go of?
I’ve let go of my redeemed past. I have let go of bitterness and fear of love.
What has been most impactful?
The vulnerability of others. Experiencing other cultures and seeing the way Jesus is reaching out to them. Red-light district ministry in India. Archeological dig in Kazakhstan. Meeting friends of my grandparents along the way and hearing stories of their incredible faith. Throwing my rocks in Australia.
What needs to continue?
Edification. Digging into the word. The vulnerability. The pursuit of others, and the pursuit of the father.
Some pictures from our debrief in Azerbaijan below. Two are with my squad mentor Stephanie and the other is with my leadership team.
