I have some exciting news! The Lord has taken my gift to write one step further in that I now get to encourage my 54 squad mates to blog and share their stories as part of a leadership role. My dear friend and teammate Laura was our storyteller leader going into the race, but God called her home in February. This of course left an empty space on our squad. I really didn’t want to believe that God would call me to fill her shoes even though other people around told me I would be perfect for the position. But then after our woman’s bible study one of our squad leaders approached me to say that God placed me on their hearts to take the storyteller leader role. In that moment I realized it was only natural, as I love to encourage people to share as I have seen the power our words and stories can have.
Part of this position entails that at the end of every month I will share a blog compiling some of the amazing stories from Q Squad to give you a little glimpse into our month on this crazy adventure called the World Race.
First let’s back up a little to month two in Kathmandu, Nepal. What a month it was! There were 54 of us squished in a building meant to house maybe 25. There were four bathrooms, and three kitchens. Not only were many of us pushed out of our comfort zones as far as our living situation, but also in ministry. We spent the entire month going out to the streets to find people to love on. Somedays that meant playing soccer with the street kids, other days we hopped on a bus to go to the Hindu and Buddhist temples, and then there was the day where they sent us out with nothing.
Most of the month we were with kids and people who had very little. It was humbling to say the least, especially like this story of a little boy who had nothing yet put Katie in front of himself:
http://katiekuehn.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=the-street-boy-who-stole-my-heart
Scott, Sarah, and Morgan went as a group to the cabin restaurants one day to share Gods light…even though it was uncomfortable they knew God had a purpose in leading them there:
http://scottspafford.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=afternoon-tea-with-a-pimp
For most of the month we had a lovely little parasite that went around our squad. Here is a story about how God can use something awful for His glory:
http://amandanylin.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=what-a-parasite-taught-me-about-the-cross
The world race opens your eyes to so many flaws in your life. Here is a beautiful story of learning to overcome judgment:
http://sarahbohlman.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=the-devils-tool-of-judgement
Then there was the infamous day where they sent us out with no food or money. It was called faith day, as we had to rely on God to provide everything. Most of us like Josiah were proved stupidly wrong:
http://josiahclagett.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=the-time-god-proved-me-stupidly-wrong
Going into month three we found out that for the first time on the race each team would be separate. We had all gotten so used to being together as a squad that it seemed odd to be spread about, but I know many of us were also ready to have a little bit of space to breathe. From the Johannesburg airport we spread out all around South Africa. One team had a short hour car ride to Pretoria, two teams hopped on a bus to ride 6 hours to Durban, and then four of our teams packed on to a bus for a crazy 20 hour bus ride to Cape Town.
We had two teams who did Unsung Heroes where God brought the ministry contacts to them. They didn’t know what would happen, but for both teams God showed up in some huge ways. Read more about their months here:
http://jackieparker.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=unsung-heroes-i-care http://tylergoeglein.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=a-true-unsung-hero
Another one of our teams in Cape Town lived in one of the townships. Here is a peak into the reality of what living in a township looks like here:
http://oliviaosley.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=faith-day
Want to know what a day in the life of a racer looks like? Read Heather’s hour by hour blog of their time in South Africa:
http://heathertobey.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=hour-by-hour
Sometimes pictures can say more then words. Here is a look into my teams afternoon with the township kids:
http://andreachvatal.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=an-afternoon-in-mamelodi
And then there are times when God teaches you little lessons when on the beach in Cape Town, read all about what Emily learned:
http://emilymcalister.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=footsteps
I cannot wait to share what God does in our squad this month in Swaziland!
