America is hard. Coming back from the race I wanted to pour into my siblings here as much as I could and be a better brother than before. In my mind I thought I would spend a bunch of time with them and go do fun stuff and talk a lot with them, but that is very hard to do here.
On the race we lived a relationship oriented life, the only constant was our squad, everything else changed. We were urged to build deep relationships with the people around us and to seek the Lord together. In this community I started to see things in an eternal perspective. God showed me his heart for his people and the people of the world, and now I know what loving people really feels like. God showed me how to be a better brother to those around me and an ambassador of heaven. He showed me that our home is not here, and our family is not just people with the same last name. Home is heaven, and the only part of heaven we have here are the people who are going there. Those people are family, The Church is family. I believe ‘The Church’, ‘The Kingdom’, ‘Home’, and ‘Family’ are all different words for the exact same thing. Coming back from the race I wanted to build this tight community and Love on my siblings and share this new-found perspective. The thing I was looking most forward to was building a deeper relationship with my siblings.
So I landed in NYC, stayed for a couple of days with some squad mates, and then landed back in Minnesota. Four days later I started a full-time job as a laborer at a concrete company, and then suddenly life was no-longer relationship focused. I have not really been able to spend time with my siblings at all, they work nights and I get up early so sometimes we go days without even seeing each other even though we live in the same house! I just want to grow in relationship with people like I did on the race, but America is a busy culture and everyone works.
So that is where I am at right now, I work weekdays and do my best to connect with people on the weekends. I find that I am missing my siblings even though I live with them, and I am missing my squad more and more every day. But there are some things I am looking super forward to. Next month, Caleb and I will record a full-length album and a worship EP! And I AM SUPER EXITED FOR CGA!!! It is in October, but even though it is a ways away I can’t wait! At CGA I will be trained in field leadership, and discipled. It will be a year of close community, intensive Bible study, and growing in my faith, and ability to lead people. Then after CGA I will (Lord willing) lead world race trips! Being a squad leader will be an opportunity to come alongside other believers as they see God’s heart for the world and grow in their faith. It is on my heart to be a brother to those around me and love them as family. As a squad leader, I hope to be a brother to squads as they go through their race.
Support would be greatly appreciated. Prayer is powerful, if you would keep me and those around me in your prayers that would be awesome! Also, CGA is a fundraised program. I need to raise about $6,000 before October. I am working full time to cover as much as I can but any financial support would be super appreciated.
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