A: Great! First month is done! We leave on Wednesday (10/4/17) morning to go to debrief, and then onto Ukraine. Time has flown by, and while the ministry this month has been some beautiful moments, one thing that I loved about this month was community.
We had all squad month this month. That means that all 33 racers and our 6 leaders were in one house. That’s a lot of people under one roof, you might say, and I would agree with you?? But, I am going to miss seeing all 39 faces every day! And walking downstairs into the kitchen and hearing 75 billion different conversations going on. Also, I’m going to miss the way we have all been able to provide for each other in those moments of confusion and tiredness and adjustment and lack of organization, and all the other ways we need help.
Just the other night, one of my squad-mates came in while I was watching a movie with a few people. She wasn’t feeling too well and was spiritually tired and worn out. We paused the movie and all took turns praying over her and uplifting her. The next day she felt rejuvenated and restored.
One day, during a worship session, the same girl came up to me and said she wanted to pray for me. She sat next to me for that song and prayed promises from the Lord over me.
One of my leaders, Amie-Beth, who I have not gotten to know super well, walked up to me with a sweet and encouraging note for no reason other than kindness. And the more I get to know her, the sweeter she gets.
My team was at a café at the beginning of the week, and in middle of team time, one of my teammates got a text with some bad news from home in it. And she needed prayer in that moment, so we put down all our work and prayed over her.
Sara Mac, who is another leader who I have not gotten to know super well, came up to me because we haven’t talked that much and just asked how I was and about me. She sought me out and was purposeful in trying to get to know me.
Our host this month had His anniversary and His wife’s birthday on the same day, so one of the teams on our squad planned a prayer time and our whole squad got to pray over their marriage and then some people washed their feet.
I have never lived in a community quite like this. We all want to lift each other up in Christ and we all genuinely care for one another. We are willing to take a break from whatever we are doing to put someone else’s needs first. There are so many more situations I could list, these are the kinds of people I live with, and it’s awesome.
Thanks for reading!
This is my team in Craiova, after we talked to the teenage boy about the Bible. It was a great day of ministry!
(Left to Right: Elizabeth, Christiana, Me, Haley, Teenage boy [whose name I can’t remember], Lucian-{he works with our host and was our translator})
