Friends and Family!
I am so excited to update you on all that has been happening with me in Gainesville, Ga as well as all that God is doing with and through my squad in both Australia and Indonesia!
Mid January my squad of 41 people arrived to Atlanta, GA for what we call ‘launch’. Launch is another 5 days of training before the team flies out to their first country. Launch was a great time to connect with the team and continue to prepare and equip them for this journey.
My squad’s first stop was Byron Bay, Australia where they partnered with the organization Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and two local churches. The team’s main focus in Australia was to share the gospel and point people back to the local churches for continued discipleship. My team had many incredible opportunities to share the gospel as well as their lives.
(Group exploring together in Australia.)
“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
In the link below squad leader Sara Shin tells about daily miracles in Byron Bay, including the best miracle of all, salvation!
http://sarashin.theworldrace.org/post/daily-miracles-in-byron-bay
Participant Alyssa Gammelgard shares a video of personal testimonies and calls for prayer for specific people they encountered.
http://alyssagammelgaard.theworldrace.org/post/god-is-moving-in-australia
Patrick Ryan shares of turning from afraid to share his faith to one of boldness.
http://patrickryan.theworldrace.org/post/a-believer-afraid-to-evangelize
The squad is currently in different locations within Indonesia. Some teams are working with local pastors, English schools, an Islamic boarding school (they get to talk about Jesus here, wow!), and some exploring each day where and to whom the Holy Spirit will take them.
(Team Leader, Liz Bacon, and her new Indonesian friend!)
Participant Andrea Potter shares about their experience of being the first to share the name of Jesus to a village in Bali, Indonesia.
http://andreapotter.theworldrace.org/post/what
Participant Ashley Hable shares a revelation from God about His mercy and love for her in the midst of all the Buddhist & Hindu sacrifices of Bali.
http://ashleyhable.theworldrace.org/post/mercy-not-sacrifice
Being apart of their journey from afar has been such a blessing to me. It has also been challenging as I am used to being the one on the field with them. God has been teaching me a lot in my new role as Squad Mentor. It has been both wonderful and uncomfortable. 😀
(My leadership team!)
I leave for the squad’s first debrief March 7th. Flying all the way to Unawatuna, Sri Lanka where I will spend two weeks investing in the lives of this squad. I am excited to continue to watch them grow and to see God transform not only their own lives but those around them as well!
I want to end by thanking each of you for being a part of this journey with me! You prayers, thoughts, encouragement, and financial support mean a lot to me. I have surely been blessed by you all!
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6
