There have been a lot of great things happening here in Peru, but if there is one thing that I would feel comfortable betting on, it would be that I will eat rice (and lots of it!) for at least one meal each day. (Well, that and 1. I will probably sweat each day 2. I will be covered in dirt/dust more often than not and 3. I will acquire at least one new sand fly bite each day, but those have nothing to do with this post…) The great thing about having rice with every meal is that we get lots of it! I always leave meals feeling stuffed because of the portion of rice that we get (that, combined with other people’s left overs that they always lovingly hand over). But here is the thing with rice…it has no substance. It fills you for a short amount of time and tricks your body into feeling full, but in an hour or less you are very hungry again! That, combined with doing construction work or playing with kids all day leaves me drained by the end of each day (and usually results the consumption of many clif bars.)
In a similar fashion, the same has been true for my spiritual life since arriving in Peru. Being here in Peru with the entire squad has been great and has led to many opportunities for the Holy Spirit to work in and through me, but at the same time it has left me drained. I have often found myself pouring into others’ lives (both here and back home) while not being able to find much time to refill and recharge. While I have been able to find time to get into the word and spend some time with Jesus, this often isn’t enough for my extreme extrovert personality to get reenergized. (I need people yo!) And not just people, but people who are willing to be bold in the Spirit. People who are willing to have intentional (WR jargon is starting to have an effect!) and meaningful conversations with one another. I see friendships forming all around me, but I want more! I want to challenge not just N squad, but everyone to be bold in the Spirit. Get deeper. Not just within your own team, but within the squad. With your friends and family back home. With the people you randomly meet during the day. Don’t just stay on the surface. Dig deep! Get dirty! Ask tough questions! Get uncomfortable! Don’t be afraid for things to get messy, because that is where true growth and healing thrive! That is where the Holy Spirit works! Let’s see just how many people can we truly know at the end of this year! Who knows how God can strengthen and use our squad in huge ways if we truly get to know one another and combine our stories to do the work of the Lord!
