A little while back, we introduced you to Julian Williams, the raised-up Squad Leader for January 2013’s P Squad. He and his squad are in Eastern Europe right now and will finish up their Race just in time to head home for the holidays. We caught up with Julian to ask him a few questions about his time on the field.
Tell us a bit about your time on the field.
My Race has been quite interesting. I started as a Racer and then was called to Squad Lead. God hasn’t wasted a single moment of this year of obedience. From cutting grass and laying concrete in Mozambique to performing church visits in India to helping write resumes in South Africa to working in rice fields in Thailand, I’ve had the most eclectic experience showing others love in every way possible.
It’s been exhausting, affirming, exciting, frustrating, and absolutely glorious all at the same time. The beautiful chaos of missions is a complete joy, and God never ceases to blow my mind in the most interesting places on earth.
How has the transition between Racer and Squad Leader gone?
The transition was pretty simple. My entire time with P Squad has been focused on forming relationships with people. Squad leading has simply allowed me to do that with more people than I would have been able to as a Racer. Obviously there are more responsibilities and stresses associated with squad leading, but this is something that the Lord laid on my heart after Month One.
The biggest difference is not having that “team” experience. It is amazing to be able to move so seamlessly between all the teams, but it is a challenge not seeing my own team members on a regular basis. It can get tiring for sure, but God has been faithful to give us time to just be together as friends without having to always wear the title.
How has the Lord healed you while on the field?
This is kind of difficult. I am actually waiting on a physical healing that I have been praying about since before the Race began. It’s a struggle, but I’m still holding onto hope that God will do as he said and heal me before the end of the Race.
As far as my heart, I’ve learned a great deal about turning hurt into forgiveness and turning that forgiveness into genuine love and deep care. I’ve learned to pray for and call a man “brother” who I would have once called an enemy, and that has been revolutionary to the way I see I can love others through Christ.
Do you know what comes next after you finish your Race in November?
After the Race I am headed to gorgeous Gainesville, Georgia. God has spoken to me about Georgia since October of 2012 and confirmed it time and time again. I have never had a stronger sense of placement, and I know all the logistics of a place to stay and employment will be worked out. My plans are to take the LSAT next year and attend law school at UGA in 2015.
What is your hope for P Squad as you end your Race?
My hope is that the best is yet to come for P Squad – that the prophecies for us have nothing to do with the Race itself, but everything to do with the rest of our time on this side of Heaven. The boldness in our hearts and the great callings on our lives are to be loved out with a fresh passion and rekindled light that we are carrying back to the States and beyond.
We’ve used these 11 months to get to know God more. He promises to grant us peace that passes understanding, and my hope for this squad is that we enter the next season of our lives with peace, abandon, and a relentless assurance that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living every single day until we meet him face to face.
