Wow! I can’t believe that it has now been three months since I have been home! It is so crazy to me how fast these past months have just flown by. Some days the world race seems like yesterday and others it just feels like a crazy dream I once had. Since being home I have done so much processing about what happened the past year of my life and the Lord continues to give me such a thankful heart for this last season.
The past year of my life was probably one of the hardest years I have ever had but it was also one of the best. It was nothing at all what I had pictured but in the mist of all the crazy that happened so many beautiful things happened as well. God transformed my life in radical ways that will stay with the rest of my life. He showed me the world in ways I could have never imaged. He used the past year to really shape my identity and make me more confident in my identity as a daughter of the King. Most importantly I was able to be apart of building his Kingdom here on earth. How could I not be thankful for that amazing opportunity!
So with all that I have learned this past year I needed to share it with the world again. This journey was not over and since being home I have realized it is never going to be over. God is still working and that means I am not done working with him. I knew that I was going to just have to trust him to lead me wherever he wanted and man did he surprise me!
I had no clue when arriving home what I was going to do next but I knew one thing, I was going to go where Jesus was going. So I began praying, asking the Lord where he was working and where he wanted me to work. I had just turned down an amazing opportunity at one of my favorite pastors church’s. Even I thought I was crazy at times, but I knew the Lord had something better for me. Right after turning down the job at the church Asia kept coming up like all the time! Every where I looked someone was talking about it, or I was reading something about it, or even seeing pictures of it. I mean I loved Asia on my race but I was not thinking of going especially right after just getting home. However God was making it really clear that he is building his kingdom there so, that is where I needed to be. I was thinking maybe raise support for a year then go back. Little did I know at the time what was next.
It wasn’t until I went to Project Search light three weeks after the race that I clearly knew what the next steps were for me. God clearly revealed to me that I needed to do the race again but this time as a squad leader. I was in shock! There was no way I was doing the race again. At this point I did not even know if I liked the world race.It was such a hard year and the thought of having to do it all agin made me sick. I just had arrived back in the states and God wanted me to leave again and so soon! What about Asia? All these thought of why I could not do it or why I did not want to do it rushed to my head. They were all the lies from the enemy trying to get me to stray from the best God had for me. God clearly said thats this is what he wanted so I said yes, applied, and soon got accepted to squad lead in September.
I rushed back home packed my bags, spent a week with my family, and moved to Gainesville, GA where the AIM’s offices are. Here I have received training for this up coming season and continued to live in great community. It has been a wonderful time to really get to know the heart of AIM and what they stand for. They are building Gods Kingdom around the world and that is what is important to God so, it is important to me. It has also been great to be in such a healthy community since I rarely got to experience that on my own race. I have learned so much just in the few weeks that I have lived here that I know it is going to help me as a squad leader.
I will be leaving for the world race on September 9th with an amazing group of 29 people. We will be heading to Asia! Isn’t God just so amazing in how he fulfills his promises to his children, especially when we choose to live out of obedience to his calling. At the time I committed to squad lead I had no idea where I would be going but God knew and he was getting my heart ready to go back to Asia. My awesome co leader Myles, my amazing squad and I will head to China first. We will then be traveling to Mongolia, Japan, Nepal, and India. I am so excited that these are the countries that I get to squad lead in because 4 out of 5 of these countries are countries I went to on my own race. This means I will be able to go back a visit the people that I met over the last year. After India I will then be leaving the squad on the field as we raise up leaders with in the group to take over the squad leadership role. I will still be in contact with the squad as they travel to 6 more countries. I will also go visit the squad month 7 and 11 to make sure all is going great on the field.
So, you may be wondering what does a squad leaders do? Squad leaders are there to support the squad as they experience the world race for the first time. This mean I will be traveling to the 4 different teams each month and doing ministry alongside the racers. I will do everything they are doing from ministry, team time, and even feedback. I will also be there discipling the racers and encouraging them in their own walks with the Lord. I am really there to empower them to make the race their own wonderful journey with the Lord. My main role is to love my new family of 29. To love them by serving them. To serve them by humbling myself beneath them so to lift them up. To lift them up so that they may hear the voice of God say, “You are my children with whom I am well pleased! My son, my daughter, welcome home.” To hear that voice so that they may be free to fall more in love with Jesus. This truth will propel my new family around the world as they bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth. I am so privilege to get to walk this journey with them.
A few weeks ago I was able to get to meet my squad and they are so amazing! After just spending 10 days with them at training camp I love them so much already. Each person brings something great to our group. The Lord has already started such a great work in them and I am so privileged to be apart of it. I know we are really going to have a big affect on Gods Kingdom as we serve people in Asia.
The word I got from God for my squad was mighty warriors. I know the Lord is using this time to prepare them and me for the spiritual war ahead. That this squad is the mighty spiritual warriors that Asia needs to overcome darkness and bring the Light of God into the dark places. The Lord has already promised us great victory as we bring his Kingdom to the lost people of Asia.
*To be a squad leader I do still need to raise money and I also really need prayer warriors back at home. The funds raised will cover all my travel to each country, food, and lodging for the 5 months. The money we raise will purchase a flight home and two flights to Cambodia and Indonesia to visit my group. I need to raise $6,500 to cover these expenses. This is where I need your help! Without my supporters and prayer warriors I would not have been able to go on my race and I will not be able to lead this trip. So I am asking you will you prayerfully consider supporting me in finances and prayer. Last year I raised over $16,000 with my supporters help so, I know we can raise $6,500. I still need to raise about $6,300 to go and you can be a big part of making that happen. I am so thankful that you are considering being apart of this amazing Journey that God is bringing me on. Please pray about supporting me in this next season that the Lord is bringing me on. God can do amazing things with your donation. You can follow my trip here on my blog for monthly updates. You can also give by going to the support me tab on the left hand side. You can give a one time donation or set up monthly giving. Thank you for all your prayers and support!
