I’m Squad Leading!!
The first 3 months will be in Nicaragua, serving with a trusted, locally-run and long-term ministry.
They are eager to accept teams right now as covid has presented a huge need (covid relief, dump ministry, prayer walking, youth sports, prison visits, hospital visits, construction, Bible studies, community center, single women ministry).
Doing WRA, I have seen that now is the time to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And with a negative covid test, Nicaragua’s borders are open for us to come in. I leave January 1st. We don’t know where we will go for the second 3 months yet.
There are 3 co-squad leaders and 7 team leaders. There are 5 teams in our squad, called Gap23 (ages 18-22), of about 30 racers! Here’s a pic of the leadership team!
My job will be to, every 10 days or so, go from team to team shepherding others in one on ones, casting vision, mitigating conflict, offering new perspective, and leading by example in ministry. Squad leaders are also in charge of logistical and financial duties for debrief, travel, etc.
Our primary focus is to lead the team leaders as the team leaders lead the participants and Hailey, our mentor, leads us. Squad leaders are the ones who stay with racers at the hospital if they were to get sick or if they need to stay back from ministry, etc.
If I could only tell you the transformation and confidence and character I’ve found through doing the Race this year. If I could only tell you all the hundreds of souls we got to touch with love and serve across nations and states (read my other blogs). I now get to walk with 18-22 year olds in their transformation and increased dependence on God and activation in the Kingdom, not to mention having an opportunity to lead and grow unlike I ever have before!!
The fundraising amount for squad leading is significantly lower than the participants, however I still need to raise $5,000.
If you have been inspired by my journey and want to invest in the transformation of young racers, the people of Nicaragua, and me, you can donate on this blog! Any bit helps.
Click that orange donate button by the fundraising bar on the top of this page!
Thank you so much for your support and even more so for your prayers that cover us!!! They have carried us this year and will continue to.
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!” - Isaiah 52:7
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” - Matthew 4:17
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." - Matthew 16:18
a tribute to the team that shows me why I can do this. I wrote it on the way to leaving them for leader training…
In the silence of an airport I’ve never been to, all I hear is the echo of the frequency of steps and suitcases.
Alone, unexpectedly at an airport. Again.
I can hear my thoughts more clearly.
I can see my team even more dearly.
That I have lived and been loved in true fellowship and vulnerability.
Maybe God had me leave them for leader training just to see in particular that the 5 individuals I’ve done uninterrupted 24-7 life with, for 4 months, want and see me individually.
So much so that it’d cause the one I’ve been with internationally as well to cry.
I needed some quarantine time away to realize I need them. I need my family in Christ. They are sending me.
I couldn’t do the biggest most stretching thing I’ve done without them. I couldn’t give my all to Christ, give even more that I ever planned or wanted, if they hadn’t walked with me.
Their prayers and their affection show me that I could do it again.
I could invest into another group of people and get to this point again.
It’s worth it to give all of me, to let people in, again, to love and choose each other regardless, because it can end up with this sort of closeness and mutual love. I can be fully known with all my shortcomings and be fully loved. Jesus marked me worthy of that.
I will bring them with me.
I’ll bring all they’ve taught me and all the ways they pulled me up when I was down and all the ways they empowered me to get to here.
Without them I may have gotten my wish back when I was sent home due to covid – to begin a rooted and steady life. But they showed me again adventure with God is worth it. The more uncomfortable, challenging way worth it.
To find the roots and steadiness in the only place it could be found in the first place: Jesus.
He equips the called not the qualified. Why I have been called, I don’t know. All I have done is made Jesus the Lord of my life, the Lord of my everyday. And it’s given abundance I could never have asked or imagined.
It’s scary, hard, sad, broken. But I know who I am and I know the power I have to love people with a profound love. One day at a time. He’s all you’ve ever wanted
I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"- Rev 5:13
Step by step we can take on what’s next.
This year has been a year. My heart goes out to you reader, as you have probably been through so much pain this year. You are seen. You are known. You are loved. I pray that you are comforted with a supernatural comfort. I pray we’d hope in all things. Knowing Who has the final word, we can rest. Today. Rest. Accept. Trust. Be. Feel. Love. You’re breathing fresh air. And for your individual breathe, I am grateful.
WOW!!! Clearly you’ve learned a LOT through this incredibly challenging time…and the reason is now before you as you’ll draw on what you learned to lead others as a servant leader. Thinking and praying for you! Pilot on Pilot!!!!