I am finally, finally sitting still.
Let me summarize my last 2 weeks in Thamel, Kathmandu for you:
Haggling, errands, spreadsheets, worship, coffee, illness-from-drinking-unclean-water!, team changes, affirmation, new leadership, minor-mental-breakdown, delicious food, and dear, dear friends.
Team Leaders and the Logistics Trinity (which includes me) arrived to the debrief hotel early to prepare. One of the first major changes announced was who our new Squad Leaders would be. Andrew and Alys – the wise and wonderful pair that have led us so far – are going home at the end of Month 5. They chose three members of the squad to be raised up to take their place in leadership. (As a result of that change, all the teams will be shuffled and reformed – that was the other main topic of this debrief.)
These new Squad Leaders are… drumroll…
Colleen, Doug, & Audra! Gettin’ close
They couldn’t have chosen a more perfect trio! Doug is my former team leader, and Colleen and Audra are two of my good friends. These three will be amazing at guiding the squad for the rest of our Race.
SO. A couple of days later, Andrew and Alys asked to meet in my room… long story short, they asked me if I would be willing to become a Team Leader.
(I was very surprised, because normally the Logistics team remains the Logistics team throughout the entire Race. I thought I was safe from change in that regard. However, squads also normally only have a Logistics team of two – we have a team of three.)
I’m incredibly honored that they offered the position to me. I’ve watched as Andrew and Alys pushed people to do things they never knew they could do. They have such wisdom and insight – in many ways, they see us more clearly than we see ourselves. I trust them. So if they think this would be the best next step for me in the World Race… I’ll take it.
I was certainly sad to step away from Nathan and Ali and all the logistical adventures we’ve had, but I accepted the Team Leader position. A few more days after that, team changes were announced, and I met my new team: Relentless.
Dave Smith, Ali Watson, me, Stephie Johnson, Melissa Johnson, Stephanie & Cody Stutzman
You might notice some familiar faces! Dave, Stephanie and Cody were on team Entrusted with me. I’m so grateful for their presence as we move forward 🙂
One more change to announce: our route has switched! Instead of going to Turkey in October, we will be heading to Moldova.
You know, I didn’t really trust this whole Adventures in Missions organization when I signed up for the Race. They seemed vague, sentimental, and overly-charismatic. I was prepared to be cautious about how much I’d buy into their reckless passion. But after serving with them for just 4 months and seeing the inner workings of how they lead…
I know without a doubt these people pursue what’s most important. Everything they do, every decision they make, is to help us know Jesus’ love for us more fully, so that we can live life more abundantly, and reflect the image of Christ more clearly.
Somehow, clearer vision has crept up on me – AIM has helped me get to know myself better in the last 4 months than I have in the last several years. One of my favorite feelings is when someone tells me to do something I never knew I could do until I had to… and the World Race has definitely done this to me.
Unceasingly.
(But seriously – I’ve never been more consistently uncomfortable in my life.)
But of course I’m so incredibly grateful for these chances, and these people that see greater things for me than I see for myself. Being a Team Leader will mean lots of “I’ve never had to do that before” and “I don’t actually know what’s going on” and “How in the world am I supposed to respond to that?” Bring it. Let’s continue being uncomfortable. I’m changing, and I can feel it.
This World Race thing is freaking wonderful.
B – Squad, Month 4 Debrief
FUNDING UPDATE: I must be fully funded by July 1st, and I am currently at 81%. I’d like to invite you to help me continue this Race by donating financially, spreading the word, and/or praying with me for provision over the next two months. Thank you!!
