World Race 2.0

Woah… it’s been a minute… or four months! Well, I am back!

As March 2022 has rolled around I have seen time fly since leaving the mission field in November. You may be wondering what I have been up to or how the Lord has been working in my life but I am here to tell you that my World Race journey has not yet ended. 

At the beginning of November, all the while we were in Jordan, I was asked to join another squad launching in January 2022. Since I was a raised-up team leader at the time, I was asked to go back out as an alumni team leader.

What does it mean to be a team leader? Team leaders exist to serve the team and their teammates by empowering others to use their gifts well, establishing the team culture, and challenging the team to pursue God’s presence. 

There are many tasks and responsibilities that team leaders have to carry out for their team. It has been a true honor and pleasure to serve in this role not only last year but getting the opportunity to do it again with another squad!

After leaving the field in November I spent five and a half weeks at home in Asheville, NC. What was an expected challenging transition was also filled with many memories and sweet moments with friends and family. My time at home came and went before I could realize I was packing my bags once more.

I left early January for Gainesville, GA for a week of training as I stepped into an alumni leadership position which swiftly flooded into meeting O Squad during our time at launch. Launch is a week where squads will have sessions and training before they hop aboard a plane and take off to the mission field. Our projected launch date was January 14th but I received some rather unfortunate news… I tested positive for the infamous COVID-19.

Left: Quarantine – woo hoo! We made the basement of one of the offices in Gainesville our living space, isn’t it cozy? Right: Finally getting to pack up and head to the airport for Romania! I was so excited to join my team.

As myself and eight others tested positive we said our goodbyes to the rest of the squad and sent them off. My launch was only pushed back a week and I landed in Romania early on the 22nd. Thank you Jesus for getting me out there so quickly!

Since being back overseas and on the mission field I have learned and grown so much in the few short months I have had. I hate to see my time here with O Squad go by so quickly but as my days are dwindling I am trying to soak in every moment with my team. 

As an alumni team leader, I will not be staying the whole 11 months but rather I will be leaving my team in mid-April. Part of my job is to set them up as best as I can and as the Lord leads in order to raise someone up from the team to be the next team leader. What a joy it is to see how God works in and through this! 

So without further ado… I want to welcome you alongside me once again on a journey of where God is leading. Stay tuned to my blog and you can meet my newest team from O Squad!

Breaking out my camera in some gorgeous Romanian mountains! A smile plastered on my face in awe of God!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions, comments, or words of encouragement! You can leave a comment below or you are more than welcome to email me at [email protected]. Thank you all for your constant love, support, and prayer. 

with all my love,

PJ