9 Things I Learned from G Squad

G squad’s final debrief is right around the corner, WILD. 

 

 

Meaning just about 11 months ago I met each of the G squad participants for the first time. People who have now become sweet friends and forever hold a special place in my heart (what’s up G squad). 

 

 

With their final debrief coming up, I thought I’d reflect on my time squad leading for them. 

 

 

G squad came in strong. They were a group who said “yes” to going on the race at a time that a lot was still very unknown. We didn’t know how much travel or ministry would be possible. But they said yes anyway.

 

 

We started in Chicago where we worked with World Relief and the South Asian Friendship Center. We learned some new languages and experienced lots of cultures in the different neighborhoods of Northern Chicago. 

 

We went to Wisconsin Dells where we served at the local food pantry, celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and made lots of friends with the wonderful people at the coffee shop Bella Goose.

 

In Guatemala, we did some ministry and experienced quarantine. We built deeper friendships and learned what rest looked like. 

 

In Costa Rica, we lived life on a rural jungle farm. A slow-paced life with no WiFi and coffee every day around 3PM. There was so much sweet, coupled with hard goodbyes, because this is where my time on the field ended.

 

 

AND ALSO

 

 

Time for me to leave meant time to watch G squad do it on their own.

 

We raised up new leaders and watched the squad step into ownership. We cheered them on from afar and celebrated them as they were each empowered to bring their gifts to the squad, to push each other, and point each other towards Christ. 

 

And while I haven’t physically been with them these last couple of months, that doesn’t mean I stopped learning from them. 

 

 

Here’s what G squad has taught me, and continues to teach me:

 

– The Lord honors your YES when it’s given in obedience to Him.

– FUN is important. Just Dance, toy cats, ridiculous parties. 

– Pray with expectancy! Then watch God work.

– What it looks like to be empowered and to empower others. 

– The Lord loves to use our weaknesses; that’s where He gets all the Glory.

– Watching people you love walk confidently in their identity in the Lord is actually the greatest thing on the planet. Thanks God that I get to do this again. 

– RESILIENCE, that’s it, that’s the whole lesson

– The men of G squad taught me a lot about what it looks like to be protected. 

– G squad leadership taught me about communication (shoutout Megan) and showed me the beauty of community in a way I hadn’t experienced before. 

 

So, G squad, thanks for it all.

 

The incredible, the hard, the fun, the celebrations, the tears, and the friendships.

I know the Lord more fully because of our time together. I know His character more because I have seen and experienced Him in all of you.