Squad Leading: A Memoir

Good Morning, I hope this email is in the top 5 emails that you are reading through this morning. If not, then I’ll be praying for top 20, because let’s face it, I know I can’t compete with your coupon subscriptions. I just wanted to make a not so brief announcement. (because when am I ever brief????? Literally, never.)

It’s currently 1:21am and I have to be up in three and a half hours. I can’t sleep and I have a lot on my mind. Naturally, I thought I would write a blog. 

As most of you know, or maybe even all of you, I am on the field Squad Leading, again. We are living on the outskirts of Granada, Nicaragua with a ministry called REAP. Our squad, Gap G, has been serving alongside this ministry for the last 2 ¼ months reaching out to the community by sharing the Gospel, going to the local hospital to pray over the patients that are there and going to the dump to provide a meal and message of encouragement to the locals that work there or live near there. 

Our final day of ministry was on Friday, I’m sure you’re thinking “Wow, and we’re just getting an update…?” and my response would be, “Yeah, I really don’t know how to put this journey into words to be honest.” On my original World Race I put out at least one blog a month. Most of what I was experiencing during that time was internal and everything external was hard to articulate for me, so I didn’t really have the words to describe what was really happening. Actually, if I look back at my blogs, they were all about me and some sort of charge or encouragement to you, the recipient. However, Squad Leading is a whole different ball game and it’s really hard to choose what to share. Especially, when my ministry is a group of people more than it is the people in the country I’m living in. I still do ministry with my squad and I am out in the community with them on the reg, but really, I’m in the background trying to let Jesus shine through them and support them when they start feeling a bit bashful. Anyhow, I’m telling you this because blogging is hard for me when I’m an internal processor and it’s even harder when my ministry stories are about people that I am leading and living with on the daily, ya know? Missionary work, in any capacity, isn’t all about the cool, heart wrenching or encouraging stories though.

Why? Well, the reasoning is, ministry isn’t always about what I’m doing or what you’re doing. Ministry is about what God is doing in us and through us to reach those around us. Of course the stories of people who have come to Christ are important and they need to be shared, but honestly, a life on the mission field doesn’t look like weekly, monthly or quarterly salvation stories. Actually, I would argue that it’s of equal importance to share what God is doing in the heart of the missionary, you know? I mean this is someone that The Lord has led you to support prayerfully and financially, therefore “where your treasure is, there your heart should be also” (Matt 6:21), right? I don’t want to spend too much time on giving and the deeper meaning behind it, but I do want to touch on it. First, I want to say, financially supporting someone is a big deal and it’s a sacrifice that is one of the hardest to make. I think one mistake I have made throughout my entire time of being a World Racer and Squad Leader, is not taking the time to check in on the people who have given to me. For that, I am really sorry. Number two, this goes both ways, as the giver, I want to hear from you. Being a missionary is not a transactional career, it’s supposed to be a relationally RICH calling between The Lord, the Giver and the Missionary. Therefore, I think there could be more relationship building on both sides of the coin (see what I did there, haha). Thirdly, hold onto those words from Matthew 6 – “there your heart will be also”. I could be interpreting this wrong and correct me if I am, but I think Jesus meant that in regard to the people you give to as well, that your heart will be with them also! Anyway, all I’m trying to say is this has never been a transactional relationship for me, I genuinely take it to heart when my family, friends and neighbors give to me because it shows me that they’re spiritually and emotionally invested in me and the Kingdom of Heaven. 

M O V I N G   O N 

Leading a squad, my mission is still Kingdom oriented but it’s not always about where I am in the world or what crazy conditions I am in. It’s about the people that I am leading. I have learned more about God, His heart for me and for others in servant leading people, than I did on 11n11.

THERE, I SAID IT. 

I’m sorry if that was disheartening to read, but it’s true. Hell hath no fury like a group of 17-20 year old’s living in the world for the first time, overseas, getting wrecked by reality and the Holy Spirit; And Heaven hath no lesson like the one it’s going to teach to someone who dares to lead teenagers and young adults… I’m joking, but I’m not. Ya feel me? Can I get a witness?

Life on the mission field, for all of us, looks like months of spiritual, physical and emotional trial and thankless toil. Leading people through that isn’t easy and I don’t say this to draw out your praise or pity. I say this because it’s real and I want to try to create a picture of understanding. There are there things to celebrate, rejoice in and stories that are worthy of God’s incessant glory, yes, absolutely and we will get to that.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE.

BUT YO….

There’s a lot of suffering that happens, too. Some of which I wanted to share with you because I’ve been really going through it, so has my squad, and we could use your support through prayer!

So, this is going to be a series… I don’t know how long it will be but I only have 4 days left on the field and 16 days left on World Race Gap Year, so this could either be a short ride or a long ride, but either way you know it’s going to be a WILD ride.

Buckle Up, I’ll see you in the next blog.

Blessin’s

– Riss