I have two notebooks. One that is smaller and one that is bigger and they are unlined. I bought the big one only because the Lord told me to get it for creativity. If you know me, you know that I write quite small so big pages intimidate me. If you know me, you know that creativity hasn’t been my strong suit so blank pages, paint and color pencils also intimidate me. Or should I say, that all used to intimidate me. If these notebooks could talk, they would tell you of quite the journey over the last few months.
The cool thing is that these notebooks won’t tell you the story in only words. No, they will tell you in paintings, markers, drawings and colored pencils. They would tell you the story in big and small things. Not only have I been walking a journey of dreaming with the Lord, but I have been walking a journey in creatively dreaming with the Lord.
The last 8 months the Lord and I have sat down and dreamed a lot of things together. I have drawn and painted them. I made a list of 25 of them. I sat and I prayed through them and they include things like “always prove to myself that I am brave ie bungee jump” and “watch every I Love Lucy episode”. They also include “learn to play the piano” and “open a coffee shop with a purpose.” I have learned over the last little while that God not only cares about the big dreams but He cares about the small, fun ones, too. He not only cares of knowing about them but He wants to be part of them and He wants to make them happen.
He also puts desires and dreams in our hearts that we never would have imagined for ourselves. Ones that scare the heck out of us.
Something that was said to me during month 10 of my race was this: “Remember, a flower buds before it blooms.” That made absolutely no sense to me. It didn’t ring a bell, it didn’t strike a cord. That was over a year ago and today, the Lord reminded me of it. While I have been going through this dream process He has given me the analogy of how we plant seeds in pots and then when they get big enough, we move them to a flower garden. When you go buy flowers at Home Depot to plant at your home, they are in pots or little containers.
They are usually in the budding process and then when you plant them in the flower garden, they start to bloom.
The Lord put a dream in my heart a while ago. One about Squad Mentoring for Adventures in Missions. One that scares me. It has been a dream that Him and I have been tending to over the last few months. I talked with Sam, Gap J’s current mentor, and I applied for the job a few months later. My squad, whom I love, has been part of this journey, as well. They have been my biggest cheerleaders and proof readers over the last few months. I’ve had interviews. I’ve had prayers prayed and words spoken over me. It’s been a dream and a desire that has been growing. It’s been one where I have questioned whether or not I am equipped for it. It’s been one where I just knew in my heart that it’s where the Lord was calling me but it’s been a few month long wrestle of wondering if I heard the Lord correctly as I have learned to wait well. It’s been one where I allowed myself to get excited about it even with there being a big possibility of not getting it. It’s been one that has become a real life Abraham and Isaac. I had to lay it down and I was at a place of being perfectly content if it didn’t happen and perfectly content if it did, knowing that no matter what the Lord places in our hands, it is good.
After this process of the last few months I can now say with a whole lot of excitement and anticipation that the Lord has placed the gift of mentoring in my hands!! It’s a gift that comes with a lot of responsibility and crazy schedules. It comes with missing big things and moving away from my family. But more than that, it comes with the goodness of discipling squad leaders and a squad of 18-22 year olds as they travel the world with this gospel. It comes with seeing people’s potential in the Lord and walking alongside them to get there. It comes with being able to spend time with my squad on the field and it comes with using the influence the Lord has given me for good.
Here’s what a Squad Mentor is:
A Squad Mentor leads a collaborative leadership team that ministers, counsels, teaches, prays for, encourages and guides the process of spiritual formation for World Racers on their journey.
I will specifically be a mentor for Gap Year. World Race Gap Year is a 9 month mission trip to 5 countries for men and women that are 18-22 years old. This leadership team includes squad leaders (I am currently a squad leader) that will be on the field with the squad (group of Gap Year Racers) for the whole 9 months. The team also includes squad coaches which is a married couple that also pours into and disciples. Mentors also plan and facilitate three on-field debriefs for the whole squad and leadership team. This looks like teaching the whole squad, having one on ones with individuals and having team debriefs among other things. I will also be working with regional directors and the finance department on logistical details of the squad such as which ministries they will be with for their months and budgeting.
The list could keep going of what a Squad Mentor does. From what I know and have seen of all the mentors that I know, this is a high demand job. There is quite a bit of travel, time zones around the world are tricky and office work is a lot. I am ready to hit the ground running as soon as I get home.
I land in America on June 30th and my start date is July 3rd. I will meet my squad leaders on that day and then I will meet my squad on July 6th for 10 days of training camp. It’s going to be a whirlwind in a beautiful way.
This is also another really exciting thing… FUNDRAISING! Just like with any other missions organization job, I will be paid part of my salary and then I will fund raise part of my salary. I am in need of $12,000 to mentor my squad. This is where you get to partner in the Great Commission and help to send missionaries around the world. Without people who give, missions are not possible. Without people that give, this job isn’t possible which means that the Race wouldn’t be possible. You are one of the reasons why so many lives have been changed around the world already and I would love it if you would continue to partner with me in this.
The Lord used this crazy journey around the world to completely change my life. He didn’t have to take me on an 11 month trip and He definitely didn’t have to take me on another 9 month one after that but I sure do believe in what He does through this organization and it’s leadership. Adventures in Missions has not only believed in me and my potential but they have shown me how important it is to say and show that belief in people. As a mentor, I always want my squad to know that I not only see their potential but that I believe that they can run after it and I want to be able to run alongside them in it.
Over the last 9 months I have come to love and adore Gap J so much.. I always joke with them that if I loved them anymore that my heart just might explode. It has been a beautiful honor to walk alongside them as they have grown in their relationships with the Lord and community while living a life on mission every single day. I am blown away that the Lord chose me to lead them and it has been one of the greatest treasures of my life to say yes to Gap Year Squad Lead. To see who they were at training camp to who they are right now during month 8 of their race makes me so proud of their continued yes to what He wants to do in their lives.
Now, I am saying another yes to mentoring and I would love it if you would say one, too.
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Congratulations, I could feel your excitement as I read the blog. So happy that you get to follow your dreams and continue doing this thing that you love so much, loving God and loving people. Love u KC????