Pour It Out
April 2016 World Race Expedition
If you have been keeping up with me and the work that I am doing here at Adventures in Missions, you may be familiar with my efforts in making this April Expedition route a possibility. This particular trip focuses on going to places that other people won’t go. This route will be serving in the 10/40 Window, the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia that contains almost 3 billion “unreached” people who have never heard the name of Jesus or of the freedom that His love brings.
I had the privilege in stewarding the participants preparing for this trip over the 8 months prior to their departure. A few weeks before these 21 participants launched for their trip, I could be found pouring over statistic sheets, updating observation notes, calling each participant to check in and encourage them, and verifying fundraising efforts and statuses. To say it was a busy time would be quite the understatement.
A picture of the background of my desk at work. I have each participant’s picture printed so that I can be in prayer for them daily.
Launch/Travel
April Expedition Squad launched onto the mission field on April 3rd! They had the opportunity to receive world class training in Spain before heading out to their first month of ministry in Morocco. BUT first, they had to get there!
(Left) One of the many connecting flights during my travels. God’s beauty is very real! And it reminds me of why I do this job—for His glory! (Right) Quick selfie for Mom and Dad during the craziness of travel days!
That is where I stepped in for my secondary role with April EX (as I call them!). Someone needed to lead the squad through their first official travel day of the World Race and get them to Spain to start their training. With my travel itineraries printed and my Adventures company credit card in hand (hey… it’s just in case of emergencies, right?), I surprised the squad and met them at the JFK airport in New York. Thus began our travel day(s). We flew from NYC to Moscow, Russia, to Barcelona, Spain. Yes, you read that correctly MOSCOW. And we made it! With only one almost no-show, two almost lost wallets, one passport almost left on the plane, and a VERY close call of almost missing our connection in Moscow! With their first travel days under their feet, April EX walked the streets of Barcelona anxiously awaiting the Lord to come and move. As Paul says, they were turning to the Lord and lifting their veils. Paul goes on saying, “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:16-18). This is what would begin to happen over the next few days.
Training in Barcelona
The squad spent three days and four nights in the vibrant city of Barcelona. Keep in mind, this group didn’t know each other before this trip. They connected on Facebook and had a text messaging group, but no real connections until now. We, as their trainers, had to not only train them content-wise, but also facilitate bonds within them. The mornings and early afternoons were spent hearing our team speak on leadership and making connections through testimonies and life stories.
Our squad coaches, Gary and Lisa Black, share personal testimony of the Lord’s provision in their lives. Intergenerational fellowship is key to the Christian walk!
Our leadership training focused on the power of positivity within leadership, encouraging the squad to take time to acknowledge sabotaging patterns that the enemy uses to make us static: laziness, distraction, lies, anger, bitterness, etc. Our participants started to recognize that intentionality within all things (emotions, actions, thoughts, habits, etc.) is the source for real change and growth.
In the afternoons, we ventured out in the vast city of Barcelona, taking in the culture and bringing what we learned out into the world. Our group would walk the city streets, praying for each other and people the Spirit would lead to us.
Some of April EX praying for healing for a man who walked into our training!
I loved chatting with my participants. Our relationship shifted from that of a friendly and encouraging voice on the other end of the phone to that of being a real presence. I loved listening to their fears, their desires, their hopes. Having gone through the World Race, I see this group with different eyes. I know what is ahead of them, if they are only willing. And it gets me AMPED just thinking of what God will do in them and through them on this journey.
Our group walking the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona
The Struggle to Stay
When my days with the squad ended, I wanted to stay longer. First of all, it’s Spain! Who wouldn’t want to stay longer? Am I right?? But mostly because I felt that my presence could be of more use. I wanted to continue to pour into these people, my first ever squad to mobilize! There were more conversations to be had, more truths to be shared, and more experiences to relish. But that wasn’t meant for me at this time. After I returned home, I sought answers within the scriptures, and this is what I found:
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” -1 Corinthians 3:5-7
I have to offer over to the Lord what is already His. This Expedition squad has been in His hand since Day 1. He called this group of people, He allowed me to be a part of the process, and He will continue the work within them. I am thankful for this position, that it allows to me to journey with people, pointing them to grace, truth, and freedom.
What You Can Do
Pray: Please be in prayer for this Expedition squad as they enter their first month of ministry, Morocco, on April 23rd! Pray for me as I continue my work with other squads preparing for their launch onto the field. Pray for God to continue to stir up passions within me for His glory.
Give: My job requires me to fundraise for Adventures in Missions. I am in need of monthly financial supporters. Can you please pray about supporting me? I need to fundraise $500 monthly, and I currently have $300 out of my $500 coming in every month.
You can:
Visit my blog lauraficken.theworldrace.org and click “Donate”
Visit “www.adventures.org” and under the DONATE tab, click Adventures Staff. Enter my name and your amount!
Email me at [email protected]
(Left) Making connections with some April EX girls! (Right) Our leadership team exploring public parks in Barcelona
