New month. New Continent. New Team.
It is month number 5 on this journey… almost half way. Can you believe it?! New Month.
After 3 days and 4 layovers (one was spent in LA and I was able to see my family! A HUGE gift from God!) we have made it to Thailand. New continent.
With much prayer and conversation, our leadership has put all of us into different teams. It is that time for our current squad leaders to leave us, and 3 new squad leaders to be raised up. I have been chosen along with 2 others, David and Erica, to lead our squad for this new season. New team.
God continues to put me in leadership positions, which I am excited about and honored that He trusts me to lead and serve his children. At training camp back in October I felt God tell me he was going to put me in a leadership position. I didn’t know what that would look like or how long that would be. It was confirmed when I was asked to be a Team Leader, and now I am a Squad Leader.
My team now consists of 3 people Erica, David, and me. I am so excited for this position and the challenges and fun that will come with it. My main focus now is on each individual in the squad. This is perfect because since being on this journey I feel like God is giving me more of a desire to minister and walk alongside people who love Jesus but need a push and an encouragement to dig deeper. And that is what I get to do! I get to be a support and mentor to the 40 other people on my squad. A prophecy was said over me about 2 years ago that I am a shepherd and a pastor among people encouraging them and sharing the joy God has given me, and that prophecy has been proven true over and over again!
As squad leader I will be moving around from team to team being a support to them, and making sure they are doing well in all areas. I am the liaison between all of us on the field and the leadership in the states. The dynamics of my race are changing, but I am excited for this change. And I am so happy for the 2 other squad leaders who will be working with me. I couldn’t have asked for a better team in this position.
The squad has been super supportive of us as the new squad leaders. Many people in the squad have come up to me and have told me how happy and excited they are to have me as one of their squad leaders. No pressure…. : P but seriously, it makes me feel loved, a little less nervous, and so very excited.
This month will look different than the rest. We started in Bangkok and are now in Phuket doing training with the old squad leaders. They will be leaving us the end of this month so we have to get all the knowledge we can from them before they leave us (I don’t want to think about that right now…sad day). After training we will be heading to 2 teams to work with them in their ministry called SHE who works in the Red Light district empowering and mentoring women in sex trafficking.
It’s going to be a great month full of good changes.
Some things I have learned about Thailand so far since being here…
- I cant understand the language…not even a little bit
- Fish is everywhere : (
- It’s hot and humid
- Green and tropical
- The ocean is clear and blue
- They drive on the opposite side of the road
- They bow when saying thank you
- Strange smells (no wonder some people wear masks)
- Despite not knowing the language smiles are universal
- Buddha
