Hello friends and family!
I am currently in the country of Kyrgyzstan. For the past 2 weeks I have been staying in a place called Karakol. It is beautiful town with mountains all around and attracts tourists from all around the world. The team I am with this month has been partnered with 5 local pastors and we have been serving them in various ways. We taught Sunday School, led youth group, visited local believers in the villages, and more. In a few days we will be moving to the capital city called Bishkek where we will be serving with another ministry there. There I will get to visit one of the other teams and check and see how they are doing as well.
After Kyrgyzstan we head to Kazakhstan for 1 week to debrief. This is a really important debrief for a few reasons. I have only 1 month left after it and have to choose some people within the squad to take mine and Natalie’s place. (Natalie is my co-leader) We will be choosing new squad leaders, team leaders and treasures. We will also be making new teams to go into our next month which is Mongolia. During our time in Mongolia, Natalie and I will be training up our new squad leaders. This will be a time of lots of 1 on 1 discipleship, which I love! Lately someone spoke a word over me that I am a leader who trains up leaders. I’ve seen this for a few years now, but it was never said out loud. I truly have a passion for this and believe my future will consist of a lot of it.
After Mongolia, the squad will head to China. Me and Natalie will be heading home after this, but first we will debrief. We are still in the works of figuring out what that will look like, but it will most likely be us flying to Atlanta and spending some time in Gainsville, Georgia where the World Race base is. We will be debriefing our time on the field and sharing what went well and what didn’t. This way they can change and adapt the program to make the discipleship process most effective.
I enjoy being a part of new things. If you didn’t know, I am doing a newer version of the World Race called World Race Expedition. It’s very similar to regular WR, but it is taking it up a notch in various ways. I am discovering more and more my passion for pioneering and can see a lot of that in my future as well.
For where I am at now, I am doing pretty good. As always, God is doing an inner work in my heart and mind. I have been learning so much more about leadership this year. One of the more recent things has been finding a balance between living by the law/rules and living in freedom/spirit of the law. I am wrestling with these questions. Is there a place for ‘rules’ when leading others into maturity in Christ? Or do I share with them the spirit behind the rule, but never really enforce it in hopes of them getting it right after failing a few times? Do I only put rules on the spiritually immature? How do I gauge who those are? Paul put rules over some of his churches, so is there a place for them? And if so, how long do we force people to live under them? Until they are responsible enough to live righteously without it?
All these questions I am wrestling through and seeking others thoughts on the matter as well. I’d really appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this subject. I would love to hear what you have learned.
Prayer Requests!
I am starting today to go without sugar for at least 1 month. I am wanting to take care of my body in a physical way because I believe it’s important and affects my spiritual life. I am also wanting to do push-ups every day. I am not a very disciplined person and desire to be. So prayer for help in all of this would be awesome!
In preparation for coming home, I want my heart to be in the right place and for me to spend these last few weeks pouring out all that I have and “leaving it all on the field”. I don’t want any regrets coming home.
God has been speaking to me recently about my plans for going to school for agriculture. I am trying to discern His plan for this, and would love prayer for clarity. I haven’t been at peace with going lately.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and reading my blogs. I am truly blessed by all the amazing people that are constantly cheering me on as we journey together to bring God’s Kingdom to earth.
In Christ,
Jordan
