More team changes??? Yup, it’s time to mix things up again. We have ended Month 7 of our Race, and Month 8 is going to look quite different for a couple teams. Every once in a while the staff at Adventures in Missions sets up a “manistry” (AKA: all-men ministry) month for the men on World Race squads. The men join together to do ministry together in a separate country from the women. There are five total teams on D Squad, with two of them being co-ed , mine and Hugh’s team. Therefore, the women on both of these two teams have been combined. All the women will stay in Kenya for another month due to the Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda, while our six men, Nathan, Dan, Chase, Hugh, Mark, and Wes, are in South Sudan (Fun Fact: South Sudan split off from Sudan in July 2011 to become an independent country).
D Squad at Month 4 Debrief in Bucharest, Romania
As most of you know, I love Team Intimate Grace and am in mourning over the breakup of our team. Additionally, we aren’t guaranteed that we will be back together at the end of Month 8 ministry. On top it all, the challenges and struggles of the past 7 months have finally caught up to me. Many of us had thoughts of wanting to go home in Months 6 and 7 based on health, emotional, and/or spiritual struggles. It hit me one day last week; I was sitting on my bed and memories of boring ministry, difficult ministry contacts, team issues, etc. flooded my mind. I shared with Priscilla, one of my squad leaders, and she gave some great words of wisdom and encouragement. After praying about it, I have peace and am reminded to enjoy this 11 month journey for ALL its challenges and celebrations. Don’t get me wrong, some days are worse than others, but I am in control of my attitude and how I choose to react.
The women of Intimate Grace (with Earnest and John at Deliverance Church)
All in all, I know God is going to do awesome things to our six men in August as they do ministry, community, and life together. And, I know my new team of 7 ladies is going to go deep quickly and provide new, fresh perspectives for this last month in Africa. Who knows? This may be a huge blessing to me as I pray for renewed energy to journey through these last 4 months. I have to choose joy and perseverance each and every day so I may finish The Race the way God intended me to.
Team Graceful Avalanche
