Updates from life on the field!!
Last month we served in Bolivia with World Mission Prayer League and left Bolivia with a new family. Our hosts Juan and Anna made us feel like their cared for and loved daughters. One thing Ive learned out here, is that the smallest acts make the biggest differences. Juan and Anna showed what hospitality looked like by showing up to our door with a frying pan, providing hot water, tea and coffee the moment we got there, taking us on a family road trip to serve a church in Apollo, cooking us traditional meals and gifting us with their favorite chocolate and coffee. The list could go on, but one of my favorite moments was when we were in Apollo and we were talking as a team about the image of God in each other. Juan happened to be there and became even more a part of our team when we shared with him how we saw the image of God displayed in who he is. Bolivia was a good month.
Then we made our way to Argentina! It was a 40 hr bus ride that went relatively smooth. The border crossing took quite a while, we waited a long time, had to get on and off the bus with our big packs multiple times, but eventually made it through. We started Argentina off with a squad debrief in Mendoza. This is when our mentor Fran, and coaches Doug and Kris fly in from the states and we spend 4 days debriefing- individually, as a team, as a squad and with Fran, Doug and Kris. It’s a time of needed rest and reflection. These bigger debriefs happen 5 times throughout our time on the field. So with debrief, came team changes! For the first 4 months all 4 teams stayed the same and grew in incredible ways. We pressed into vulnerability, challenge, family, freedom and was able to see the Lord reveal and start to heal lots of things. Team changes can happen for a multitude of reasons and are heavily prayed over to allow us to step into a new chapter.
We also have had 2 amazing alumni squad leaders with us these past 5 months- Jenny and Hannah. A squad leader is someone who has done the race before and travels with a new squad for the first 5 months of their race. They understand the process, have incredible insight and wisdom, mentor us when we need help and come alongside each team as an extra tool in the Kingdom. Jenny and Hannah are powerful tools and I’m lucky to call them friends and sisters.
With team changes and with Jenny and Hannah going back home to the states, 2 new squad leaders are raised up. Our leadership team prays and prays over who the Lord wants to raise up and follows His direction and guidance. Our squad mentor Fran, called me one afternoon in Bolivia to check in and towards the end of the conversation asked if I would like to step into this new role.
I took some time to think and pray through it and started to see a prayer I’ve had from the beginning unfold. It’s a question that a lot of us ask and I think will continue to ask as we move in and out of seasons in life. What’s next? Where and I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do?
When I first was thinking and considering doing this 11 month mission trip, I thought team changes happened every month. I thought every month we get to be with new people from the squad and I was so excited about it. Then I learned team changes maybe happen 2 or 3 times, which I can now wholly see the benefit of. It would be crazy if all teams changed that much, but the sweet part about it, is that through a simple little desire of mine, I can see the love I have for relationships and connections.
My ministry focus has shifted from country to country ministries to now the squad. I’ll join a new team each month and get to do life and come alongside them. I’m so excited for this. I love my squad and I really can’t wait to spend ample time with each person. It will be very different from the first 4 months, but I’m seeing my prayer unfold from the beginning.
When I was thinking about it all and considering my inabilities and ways I wouldn’t meet the challenge, Psalm 23 came to mind “The Lord is my Shepard, I lack nothing.” I lack nothing. With Him, I can ask, I can seek, I can knock and He answers. My helper who sustains and provides. I can rest assured in my weakness and inabilities.
It’s a new season and chapter I am walking into as squad leader with my co-leader Cam and we could use your prayers! Prayers for all the new changes- new teams, new roles and new dependence and trust. You can read Cam’s blog over on the side of this page and Jenny and Hannah’s too! Here is a picture of my new team below! Jenny, Doug, me, Cam, Kris, Hannah, and Fran!
Thank you for reading! And THANK YOU for all your support and prayers. I am FULLY FUNDED and could not at all have done this without you. It you would like to still donate, Jenny is still fundraising! Her page is to the left. It means the world. <3 Sara
