I could write a really long blog about everything that happened today, but I’m tired and it’s late, so I’m going to stick with just a snippet of my day.
I was part of something that our media team is putting together. I have been able to talk to many people about obstacles that they have had to face to get to this place in their lives. It is hard to change your entire life to go to 11 countries in 11 months to strange places where you live out of a backpack, with people you don’t really know (yet), and love on people of foreign cultures. Most people get the fact that the actual GOING is hard, but the story leading up to the going is sometimes even more of an obstacle to face.
Last week I was given four topics: Finances, Parents, Careers, and Doubt. These are some of the more common struggles amongst Racers who are getting ready to launch. So I thought about all the conversations I have had with participants in the past few months. Some names popped right into my head and others came a little later.
Today was the day that they told there stories. I don’t know if we actually stuck completely to the four topics I was given, but man was it good!
We heard stories of finances not coming in quickly, but God showing up just when the money needed to be there.
We heard about a participant leaving her career and hearing how crazy everyone thought she was for it, but she KNOWS that this is what God wants her to do.
We heard from a married couple who have the opportunity to live the American dream, give up what they had been heading towards to leave everything behind and live out of their backpacks instead!
We heard from another participant who has worked through her fear because she will be going out with Rheumatoid Arthritis without the medication that has worked for her for so long. Even though she doesn’t know what the result will be, she has chosen to have faith!
Another participant found out that her mother had cancer. She had to decide whether or not she would stay with her family or continue. Her mother will be receiving treatment while she is out, but her family has insisted that she goes now! I can only imagine how hard it is for her to start this journey with so much going on at home.
And still another participant who has had death and lies spoken over her for the majority of her life. She was told over and over in life that she wasn’t good enough and that this is not something she could do. Then she came to training camp and she was told that she was loved and that with God all things are possible. The lies that were spoken over her were not from God and she has a chance to walk in freedom. She is learning to walk in that freedom everyday.
I walked with people through these though things. To see them now starting the journey that will take them even farther into the heart of the Father is what this is about for me! I am able to see these people being loved by people I love so much…my P squad racers are leading these squads! God knew exactly who each of these people needed to lead them, to pour into them and to love them!
I am excited to see the continuation of these stories as these Racers embark on this crazy adventure!
This week we are launching Z and A Squads. I got to hang out with the squads today and hear some teaching and take part in one of our media projects. It was a good day!
