Living in community is a big part of the World Race experience. The World Race is designed so that you are always doing life together with your team – you do ministry together, share meals together, sleep in the same place, and are generally just with each other 24/7. Living life constantly with 5 other people is an experience that is unique, tough, and wonderful.
This month, we’re not just living in community with our teams. We’re living in community to the max – with our entire squad.
52 people.
Together.
Every day.
It’s been a little crazy and a lot of fun. It’s not typical that an entire squad would spend a whole month together, so I count it a special blessing that we get this time as one big family. It presents very unique blessings, opportunities and challenges. Here’s a peek into the community of B-Squad this month:
Our living space consists of a large concrete building that used to be a night club. This building serves as a bedroom for many people (others use their tents), our living room, dining room, game room, closets and more. We pretty much just have stuff everywhere.
There are also people everywhere, and there is always something going on. A game to join in and play, music to listen to, songs to sing together, a conversation to be had.
With the limited space and number of people there are not a lot of opportunities for alone time. Oh, and did I mention we have one bathroom with 2 showers and 3 stalls? Yep, for 52 people. So no privacy there, either.
But there are a few places you can “get away.”
Some people escape to their tents, where at least you can’t see anyone else, even if you can hear them.
Another popular place is on top of the water cistern, a great place to journal, listen to music, and watch the sun set.
Or, there is always the trusty ipod. It’s like magic. You’re in a room full of people, then you put in your ear buds, close your eyes, and suddenly… you’re alone.
My location of choice for escaping this month has been my hammock.
It has been such a blessing to spend a little time alone outside, under a tree with the perfect vantage for watching the sunset. It’s been a great place to read, journal, pray and just be still.
While the alone time is necessary and good, I am loving this time in extreme community. I get energy from being around other people, and I desire to build relationships. So having people around me all the time is so great!
There’s something really special and important that happens when you’re living in community. When you have people walking beside you every single day. When those people see your highs and celebrate them with you. When they see your lows and call you up in encouragement. When they see a need and fill it. When they speak truth to you when you need to hear it.
We were never meant to do this thing called life solo.
Community.
It’s hard. It’s messy. It’s complicated. But it’s so good.
