Hello Friends, Family, and Loved Ones!
June 1st I returned home from an incredible, amazing, life changing, growing, hard, wonderful, God ordained season of my life… Squad leading C-squad. (I plan on writing a blog about those 30 incredible individuals after I visit them for month 7 debrief on the field, so keep an eye out for that blog around the beginning of August!)
I have to admit, I was very ready for some rest, but I also felt it was time for me to get a job, my own place, etc. So I made plans, I had a tentative job in D.C. area and an apartment set up for my future. I had a plane ticket to take me to Ohio on the 6th of June, and plans to pack my things and move to Maryland the 7th… but, again, notice how those were my plans…
Before heading to OH, us SQLs had a leadership debrief at the Adventures in Missions office in Gainesville, GA. It was there, on the 3rd of June that Bill Swan, head of the World Race department, told our group: “I feel like Jesus is telling me that there are some of you that don’t need to unpack your bags, and join us for training camp… on Monday.”
My stomach dropped. My heart stirred. My spirit felt so excited. Then, I was over run with anxiety and, honestly, fear.
I couldn’t squad lead again. I had plans. I was tired. I had plans. I needed to earn money. I HAD PLANS. I wrestled with this for to long. I knew in my heart that I wanted to squad lead again… that I was CALLED to squad lead again… but I had plans…
I talked to people I love. People who know me better than anyone. People who are wiser than me… and I prayed, man, did I pray… and you know what I heard???
“Molly Fae, you may have plans, but I now the plans that I have for you…. and they are so good… and they include you squad leading again.”
And, my friends, God’s purpose isn’t an interruption. It’s an opportunity. So I committed to Squad leading, knowing that the plans God has for me are way better that anything I could arrange for myself. And 6 days after I returned to the states, I jumped head first into training camp for J squad.
Here is a little picture book about that little adventure:
In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety. -Abraham Maslow
Guys, training camp is exhausting. Gratifying and humbling, but exhausting, mentally and physically. There were moments when I was tempted to only give 25%, but then I remembered who I was 2 years ago and the way God changed my life with the people he put in it. God doesn’t need me to extend His kingdom, but He has called me anyway, and I want to serve in a way that exudes joy and brings Him glory. I want to “grow” with Him, not be “safe” alone. Through Him, I can not only give 100%, but 734%.
Be weird. Be random. Be who you are. Because you never who would love the person you hide. -C.S. Lewis
Meet my dream team! Team Undignified Pursuit: Teresa, J squads mentor, and Tera and Andrew, my co-leaders! They are crazy, and weird, and full of Jesus, and passionate, and they love so well, and the best kind of people, and I can’t wait to do life with them these next 5 months. (If you want to hear more about our team name or the story of how we came to be, click here: blog coming soon…)
Be the type of person that makes everyone you come across feel perfectly okay with being exactly who they are.
These incredible individuals were the training team for J squad. With them, we lead J squad in training scenarios, team formations, vulnerability discussions, a 3 mile hike, dance-offs, some really hard conversations, and a hundred things more. Jesus knew what He was doing when He blessed me with those humans. An eclectic group that consisted of 2 additional AIM mentors, MY alumni SQL, an awesome squad administrator, and a friend who has (literally) saved my life and been on a training team with me before. To say I was well taken care of is an understatement.
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me. -2 Timothy 4:17
Just a quick, fun, picture. Cali, Mark, and Myself are the 3 SQLs who just returned from the January launch and are heading out again this August (a one month turn-around)! This picture was taken the last day of training camp! All a tad tuckered out. They will be leading separate Gap Year Squads (9 months with 18-22 year olds), pray for them.
The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. -Eleanor Roosevelt
Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for J squad! 56 racers from all corners of the globe going out to all the nations expanding the kingdom and spreading the love of God!
Jesus has some insane things planned for this next season, do I know them all, HECK NO! But He will lead me that way anyway, no matter what I think my plans are! And for that I am so thankful.
Love well,
Molly Fae
