World Race Part 3 (wait, for real? FOR REAL!)

I’ll start off straight up, with some exciting news: this fall, I’ll be walking the World Race Gap Year once again, and this time around, as a squad leader! Still such a wild thing to say. If you’d like to hear my heart in this, I’ve poured it out best I can below! If you’d rather just acknowledge this and move on, that’s great too! Thanks for tuning in! There’s some fun music at the bottom. Highly recommend if you need something new in this quarantine time.

Anywho ~       

When I got back from Gap Year in the summer of 2018, I got a ton of questions regarding the countries I had the opportunity to serve in.

“Where was your favorite place?”

“Where do you feel called back to?”

“Do you see yourself living overseas?”

All of these are great questions! I thought a lot about it too. I was taken back to times on the field when I felt most alive, times that I never wanted to end. The realization came that it wasn’t necessarily a place my heart was drawn to, but a treasured group of people. Teens & young adults to be exact. If you’re reading this, there’s a high chance you’ve already experienced or are currently walking those middle school and high school days. That time in life where you’re figuring out who you are. Who you want to be. How to fit in. Who you’re allowing to influence you. How you’re going to influence. Your fashion sense. The music you listen to. We all have a craving for connection – we’ve been given it from our Father above! It’s a good thing, He wants relationship with us!

So think for a second: in this time in life of figuring out who you were, who was there to pour into you? Was anyone there to love you well? Were they encouraging? Willing? Destructive?

When I think back on this, I’m amazed. Abba surrounded me with incredible friends and mentors who loved well, listened and taught in everything, and most importantly, showed me Jesus. I’d be a different human today if it weren’t for these people loving me where I was and calling me into deeper intimacy with the Father.

 It’s sort of funny for me to share about my heart for teens and young adults as a 20-year-old. But here I am, passionate about what the Lord has placed on my heart, willing and wanting Him to lead me where He needs me.

 Alumni Team Leading with Gap Z this past fall was a dream. Walking each moment with these young men and women was evidence of Jesus’ heart over and over. They taught me so much about never taking myself too seriously. About loving no matter what. About the importance and honor it is to worship and praise our Creator. These 3 months were jam PACKED with abundant growth and learning; Gap Z, you rocked my socks off.

 Then I look back to when I walked the race in 2017-2018 with Gap L. With open arms, we walked into the unknown of trusting the Lord. New things seemed foreign. Confusing. And yet, Abba saw each of us and loved us where we were. He was never afraid of our questions and discomfort. He’s a Father that loves His children with wholeness. These 9 months were overwhelming with truth and love. As the Gap L mini-reunions continue across America, I’m constantly reminded of His never ending love and promises. (hey guys, remember the dump truck? hahah okay gooooood, just makin sure)

 In walking the race as well as alumni team leading, I had front row seats to the wisdom and guidance of incredible squad leaders. Kirsten Kuhn. Sara Macintosh. Amie Beth Beadling. Emily Alpert. Mason Alpert. Jordan Harrington. Jenny Feicht. Seven of Abba’s children, each with different stories and different hearts, all seeking after their Creator with the sweetest joy. Each of them has taught me in abundance; everything they did showed me more of the face of Jesus. If any of you are here reading this now, thank you. A million times over, thank you. Your wisdom and joy cannot stop being shared. The Father allowed us to walk incredible times together, and hallelujah, planted the seeds of wisdom you so freely give in a garden. This garden continues to bloom thanks to His grace. Thank you for your grace for me over and over again – how thankful I am to have a glimpse of your hearts.

As I pray into this season of squad leading, the Lord has had me doing a lot of reflecting. A lot of looking back on relationships and moments that teach me and continue to bear fruit. I’m thankful Abba’s surrounded me with opportunities to learn, as well as given me a teachable heart. YOU! Reading this now! Since you’re still here reading what’s on my heart, there’s a high chance we’re pretty close. You have shown me the face of Jesus. You have taught me truth. You have poured out wisdom that gets planted in the garden and harvested by Abba at His perfect timing. Thank you for teaching me and pointing me back to Truth.

Soooo, you might be wondering, ‘what even is squad leading?’ I know I don’t have a complete understanding quite yet as I’m not in the midst of it, but here’s what I understand here and now. Squad leading is walking side by side with Jesus. Following His guidance in everything, and diving deeper into intimacy with Him. It means walking with readiness and joy to pour out His heart to the squad. It means having hard conversations while hand in hand with grace and truth. It means being vulnerable and allowing discomfort to give opportunity to grow, not to be overcome by lies. It means having dance parties while doing dishes because why not? It means walking each day with these men and women who have given their yes to the Lord. Pouring into them. Learning from them. Serving with them. Crying with them. Worshipping with them. Diving into deeper intimacy with Jesus with them. I know this is just a small glimpse into the beauty of it all, but WOW. Typing this gets me hot-dang-thankful for our faithful Father. I’m unsure at the moment what squad I’ll get to walk with, but I’ll let you know once I know!

In order to walk this journey in fullness, I need you once again. Your prayers are coveted. Covid has caused a bit of a stirring with what Gap Year might look like this fall, but my prayer is simple: Lord, Your will be done. Please join me in praying this. We serve the Almighty God, nothing can stand in His way. He hears our prayers; I want to be in agreement with His will. Fundraising is another way I’m asking for your willingness! Raising $5,000 is another piece in meeting the goal to be able to walk with these willing men and women. If you are willing or know someone willing to join me financially in this time, there is a big orange donate button at the top of my blog! Please pray into whether or not the Lord’s asking you to steward your finances in this way. There is no pressure, I promise you this. I understand things are up in the air at the moment; I encourage you press into Abba and His steadfast heart. (Not simply on whether or not to financially support, but simply because He wants to connect with you!)

 Thank you for hearing my heart. I am oh so excited to see Abba on the move in everything, and excited to be joined by you along such a fun walk.

–B 

And now, as always, for some fun tunes! Grab your dancing shoes!

‘It Would Be You’ by Ben Rector

‘Call it Dreaming’ by Iron & Wine

‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac

‘Queen Songs / human’ by Judah & the Lion

‘There’s Still a Light in the House’ by Valley

‘Love Like There’s No Tomorrow’ by The War and Treaty

‘Masks’ by The Brook & The Bluff

‘Farsighted’ by The Band CAMINO

‘On & On & On’ by Caamp

Any + EVERY song by Maverick City Music. Amen & amen, forever amen.