Some basics for those of you just now dropping in: My sister and I are on an 11-month Christian mission trip to 11 different countries across 4 continents. We’re headed to: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Cambodia, and Thailand. The work will range from country to country in partnership with established ministries in each area.
It’s month 7. My team is in Craiova, Romania.
We’re working with a mission center.
Every couple of months our squad gets together for a debrief. We all cram into a hostel and cry and laugh and catch up and, well, debrief. This journey is a lot to take in, and those times of rest and processing are so vital.
At our last debrief in Serbia our squad mentor Jeremy posed a few questions.
(A bit about Jeremy: he has been leading squads ever since his race three years ago. He speaks Indonesian, eats the cores of his apples, and is getting married in May. If I was asked to further describe Jeremy I’d direct you to this video of him preaching the Gospel on an airplane.)
We’re past the halfway point now, and Jeremy asked us to stop and reflect. Here are his questions:
1. If the World Race ended tomorrow, am I satisfied with my experience? Why or why not?
2. What can I do to take greater ownership over my own World Race journey?
3. Do my daily rhythms consist of abiding time, listening prayers, feedback, and following the Holy Spirit?
4. What things can I grow in during these next five months?
5. How can I step up to contribute more to my team, my squad, and my surroundings?
On the World Race, we are expected to grow. Squamates, teammates, leaders- they’re all constantly asking you questions like these. It’s part of our “World Race intentional culture.”
We debrief our days, our conversations, our ministry. We meet to do check-ups and feedback. We say things like “where’s your heart at in this?” and “tell me what you just heard me say.” We are hyper-intentional and kind of exhausting. But we are growing.
I think before the Race I was a pretty big scoffer. I would have rolled my eyes at a lot of these phrases. But now I’m sold. I’m all in. Not because somebody told me how important it all was, but because I’ve now seen the results. I’m a person that cares about effectiveness. And this is an effective way to live.
It’s working.
Stopping to ask these questions does affect our Race. It makes space for personal growth. Having intentional team times does create better community. One-on-ones work; my friendships here are strong and healthy.
I’d love for you all to share in this.
If you’d like, you can practice World Race intentionality right now. Here are your processing questions:
1. If my life ended tomorrow, am I satisfied with my experience? Why or why not?
2. What can I do to take greater ownership over my own journey?
3. Do my daily rhythms consist of getting alone with God, listening for his voice, being honest with my community, and following the Holy Spirit?
4. What things can I grow in during these next five months?
5. How can I step up to contribute more to my family, my friends, and my surroundings?
Yeah, I know. They’re doozies. You can thank Jeremy for that.
Update: I realize that this blog title may have been misleading…. this is obviously not the Q&A blog Miranda and I are making… That’s coming soon. Sorry!
