It's been awhile. Understatement. The last three months have been crazy. Beautiful, glorious, but crazy, nonetheless. I will try to catch you up...
May:
I went to a conference in Toronto where I was able to hear Heidi Baker and Mike Bickle, worship with crazier people than me, and just be poured into instead of doing the pouring. (The photo below is from one of the worship nights at the conference).
Then, I hightailed it down to Gainesville, GA, where I apartment shopped. Caroline and I found one we love, and put our deposit down even though the moving date was in July. (We're crazies, I know).
Later that week was Training Camp for the June and July WR Squads. It was phenomenal. We had about 150 new Racers there, and they went for it. Hardcore. We had some amazing worship nights full of freedom and breakthrough. It's such fun to watch as people walk into new places with the Lord. Myself included, it was a great week for me to walk into places of release. (Blog to come).
June:
My dear friend, Susan, from childhood on through, got married in Kentucky. It was such a privilege to be a part of her week that week. (The photo at the right is from her wedding).
Then, I went to NYC with the lovely Erin Winget to Launch the June Squad's leaders. We did some training for a few days before they left and just got to hang out and pour into them.
Later that month we actually decided to move up the moving date. So one day at lunch in Michigan, we were sitting at a table on the river and decided we should actually move the next day instead of the next week. As you can assume, the rest of the next week was mass chaos. I think we get bored if our lives aren't crazy.
After that, I got on a plane to Romania where I got to visit my October Squad that I led. That was a shining beacon of light in all the madness. It was such a huge honor to see the fruit of what Sean and I worked so hard at. The victory and change and freedom that our beloved squad is walking in now just took my breath away. There were lots of joyous tears, to say the least. (The photo is of me and some of my girls from the L Squad, oh how I love them!)
July:
I went to Myrtle Beach with my family for a weekend to be at my cousin's wedding. It was such fun, and a nice breath of fresh salt air! The wedding was an intimate family gathering, and was just relaxing and low-key. (The photo is of me and my brother and his fiance, and my cousin that got married).
Then I actually drove myself down to Georgia and made my apartment feel a little more like a home. I spent a week there and got to settle into the office with all the staff before going to Murray, Kentucky to help photograph a wedding with Susan (the friend who got married earlier in this blog).
Now, I sit at my desk once again, updating you in the calm before the storm. Life right now is cyclical, in a very chaotic, but fun way. Training Camp for the September and October Squads start this weekend... and we are anticipating more and more of the wind and fire of the Spirit to blow through!
And from here:
Prayers please! I covet all of them that you have to spare. I adore my life and the things I get to do. But I run out of steam. So, if you've got a few minutes this week, I'd love if you prayed for fresh wind, for energy, for joy, and for tons more of His love to fill me up so I can keep giving it away! Thank you again and again!
I was sitting in my kitchen this morning, hanging out with God, and I came across a blog. It hit me in a really raw way today. I found myself weeping over this little one.
It's been an interesting season for me regarding this topic. My roommate, Caroline, walked in and saw me in tears. And I didn't really realize until I was explaining to her why in the world I was crying, that this topic has been a heavy one on my heart recently. The topic is babies--not for me; but more of the lack of them, the want for them, the hurt of losing them, and the abundance who are alone. Stories of mothers that lose their babies, friends who can't get pregnant, who miscarry, who are adopting and facing battles in the process, and those kids that grow up seemingly alone and without a chance.
It seems so prevalent right now, the FIGHT for children, for birth, for pregnancy. Why? Is it always that way? I guess I am just seeing it and hearing it more and more because my friends are in this season right now.
My heart just seems to be lurching right now. I've been learning and walking into more and more of my intercessory gifting these past few months, and I am starting to see that my heart is aching and interceding for this in this season.
There's not really much of a point to this blog I guess. I just got hit this morning, and it was because of yet, one more story that my heart hurt for. And I don't understand why it happens--there are so many whys in my heart right now. But God is still good. As you can read here.
This story is from one of the January 2010 Squad Leaders, Krissy Whaley. She is one of the phenomenal leaders that I get to talk to on a regular basis in my position in Field Support.
I wake up sweating, frantic, and in tears......I try to forget
what I just saw, but I am too paralyzed to move. Was this vision real, or was I sleeping?I immediately start to pray...as fear is
something that I was not willing to submit to.I start to praise God for all He has done in my life and
declare that He is my King. I break down further as I continue to pray.
I cry out,
"God, where are you in
this darkness? This vision is of such death & evil, did you take any part
in this? What are you saying!?"
No response.
So I continue to praise the Lord through my confusion and
anxiety.
My Night Vision was
this:
I was meeting an old
friend at a cafe to catch up.I ordered a strawberry smoothie and when my order was ready, the girl
behind the counter handed me a child. I looked at my friend confused and asked
why I was given a baby? I then realized that this baby was not breathing and had no pulse- she was
dead. Her skin was cold and grey. I started to panic and cry-
frantically looking around for anyone to help me....
This vision resulted in immediate prayers of desperation. I continued to cry out in prayer and then He puts the following on my
heart;
"Get up Krissy and ask your teammates to pray- As many people as possible should pray right now!"
So I go
downstairs seeking prayer from anyone who is willing. As my team begins to
pray, our local contact Janet begins to speak...
She said that she sees this vision is linked to
my time in Thailand next month. She spoke of the children in the human
trafficking slave trade and that God is preparing me for an experience I will
encounter in Thailand. She assured me not to fear, as God has told her we will
do mighty things through our faith in God.
After my teammates finished their prayers, I felt a sense of
peace come over me. I didn't know how I could suddenly feel such a
sense of peace in this time, but God told me that everything was going
to be okay and assured me that He had a purpose for my vision that He
wasn't going to reveal just yet. I didn't know if this vision was for
a baby in Thailand or somewhere else, but I stayed faithful in my
continuous prayers and praise to the Lord for the next 5 days.
I write this blog today (5 days after my vision)-
It is now April 29th. What I experienced next is heartbreaking and
shocking... 20 minutes before I leave for Thailand today, I get a
message from a good friend back home. We converse for a while and then
she proceeds to share the heartbreaking news of a dear friend of
ours......
1:52pm - Tiffany Writes
Jessica lost one
just delivered them both Friday Night
girl still born
and a little boy who is alive
MY HEART BREAKS IN HALF, I fight back my tears. I slowly start to
figure out that Friday night in the United States is Saturday in
Malaysia..... God gave me this vision at exactly the same time my
friend was losing her daughter! The pain I felt for her was
unbearable. I felt a small portion of the pain she must have been
feeling that night(we were shedding tears together without knowing it)
and this vision was the very reason that a group of people (who are
complete strangers to Jessica) came together to pray and intercede on
her behalf. We prayed specifically against the spirit of fear, and
asked for peace. I asked God to bring love, understanding, comfort and
grace to the mother of this child. Little did I know that the mother
would be someone I knew.
Let this story be a testimony to Gods faithfulness. He knows the
needs of His people - He hears the cries of our hearts. "Jessica"-
would you rest in the peace that God spoke over you and your family to
all of us in Malaysia. The Lord doesn't forsake His children; and He
hasn't forgot about you. He continues to walk by your side. He spoke
hope and life over you.
I share this story with the utmost respect; and to
share with her how God was using people across the world to pray for
her & her family. Would you all please join me in praying for
Jessica, her family, & her baby who now is in the hands of the
Lord.
Erika and Brad Baldwin are a married couple on my October 09 Squad, and they have to raise double the money since there are two of them, (obviously)! But they have come up with an awesome idea (and I'm kinda jealous I can't do it too...) Their team is doing this with them to help support. Here's their plan:
Ok, so some people from Mercy Ships here in Togo have teamed up with
the World Race with an AWESOME idea! This Saturday, at 5am, we will be
meeting at the Togo/Benin border to walk/run the entire 32 miles across
the country of Togo! Why are we doing this? Several reasons:
1. This will be an AWESOME opportunity to do a prayer walk across an entire country!
2. How many times in your life will you be able to say, "I walked across a country?"
3. This is a great opportunity to work on our tans.
4. THIS IS A FUNDRAISER! With only 4 months to go, several of us
have not yet raised enough support to finish the race. Brad and I have
raised over $20,000, but we still need another $6,000 to finish the
race.
We know that our friends and family do not have this kind of
money, but we also know that a dollar goes a long way when we all work
together. Plus, God is a BIG God, and we know He is going to provide
for us! We're just trying to do our part by getting the word out.
Anyway, we are asking for people to donate $1 per mile we
walk/run. We'll post an update in a day or so letting you all know how
we do! Let me know who is interested : )
Mark your calendars. August 30 - September 2, 2010
We'll give you three hints and only ONE guess as to where we are headed...
Hint #1 - you might see rainbows with pots of gold. Hint #2 - there will be little green men - or at least we're told. Hint #3 - it's the birthplace of Guinness - the beer of old!
IRELAND. Yes. Believe it.
And... if you come, you might just be able to worship to the musical stylings of... JONATHAN DAVID HELSER.
The Awakening is a Prophetic Worship Experience & World Race Alumni reunion.
We're planning for over 500 in attendance at this year's event - current World Race squads, World Race Alumni, and friends & family of Alumni are all invited!
Check out www.theworldrace.org/awakening for more information and to begin planning! More details to come. Stay tuned and spread the word!
I copied this from Michael Hindes' blog a few days ago. Patrice Deaton is the owner of the hand in the photograph. It's short, simple, and true.
"...and that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's
kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between
heaven and earth, earth and heaven." Matthew 16:19 (Message)
Another phenomenal blog from the woman that stepped up as one of the Squad Leaders after Sean and I came home, Katie Hannon. She and Jory and Weston are out now, leading and loving a group of amazing men and women who are walking further into the heart of God and into higher places with Him.
This is a short background on her and where she has come in 7 months. And it was an absolute HONOR to walk this journey alongside her. Her fire and excitement in the revelations and encounters she constantly has with her Romancer always leave me breath-taken. Her life, smile, passion, and fire are beautiful glimpses into the face and heart of Jesus.
This is her story.
So the more and more I am asked to share my testimony, this story that would literally make me sick to my stomach about
5 months ago - I just could not, for more reasons than one figure out
what my testimony was - The more and more I realize how God has made my
life on this trip all the testimony I need.
The
more and more I realize that the way He has brought me from the Katie
at training camp - who wanted nothing to do with leadership, felt
completely inadequate, like she didn't belong, didn't know anything and
just wanted to hold babies and play with orphans and love on people -
to the Katie I am now - squad
freaking leading with 2 other incredible men, confident in who I truly
am and more willing than ever to be challenged into more of who He
wants me to be, more open and obedient than I have ever been before,
and truly understanding what it is to LOVE and steward love, along with
everything else God has so freely given me, Oh and did I mention
allowing myself to BE LOVED as well? Anyways back to my point
I love watching the faces of the people who I tell I have only,
truly been a Christian for about 7 months now. Ha I love watching my
face when I say that! Its still so hard to believe that in just August
at training camp did I really give my life to the Lord, did I really
find my salvation in Him. And now here I am, building His Kingdom, bringing Heaven to earth, fighting for Him, sharing His love - I have never been so happy in my life. I have never been able to truly say I loved life before the race. . . . I LOVE LIFE!
Ok so what is the point of this blog? Its funny I have to remind myself of that while I ramble randomness above. . . Baptism!
It
wasn't until Launch in Antigua that I was hit hard and baptized in the
spirit (the first time. . .I really think this happens more than once
and I have been hit on more than one occasion! Oh I love you Holy
Spirit!) oh how beautiful that night was! And it wasn't until 4 months
into the race that I was actually water baptized.
Now I had
been baptized before, into the Catholic church, and I remember it like
it was yesterday. My little brother was running screaming through the
pews as my sister and I were lifted up over the baptismal fount and
baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The trinity, the purpose behind baptism is something that was even hard
for me as a 7 year old to fathom. I knew that my original sin was being
washed away, that sin that Adam and Eve had left me with (thanks
guys!), but there was so much more. Throughout my life I went to
Catholic schools and still learned plenty (which I truly appreciate),
but didn't really know the meaning of baptism.
So
needless to say it was an incredible experience! Not only was it a
public declaration, but a prophetic act. I love what Chris Vallotton
says about it "Prophetic acts, like
prophetic declarations, release God's power to bring about change in
our lives. In the case of baptism, being submerged under water is the
act of dying with Christ, but being pulled up out of the water is
equally important as it brings power to live in Christ!".
I Get it now. . . and am still learning more about it each day.
What
made it even more special was I had the honor of being baptized by my
former squad leaders Andi and Sean! Ahh it was perfect. The weather was
beautiful, the water cool, the waves were rough and the Lord completely
present. It will be a day that stays with me for eternity!
This blog was written by Jordan McGuffin-- she is one of the girls on my October squad, and God is opening her and the squad up into NEW and INCREDIBLE places of freedom and worship. It's simply beautiful.
Forty-Three DIFFERENT, UNWRITTEN songs were sung simultaneously from a rooftop... Annie Walker and I made music from instruments we "DON'T" know how to play... AND Kelsey Sage and I played guitar to a psalm David wrote, in a way that we shouldn't have sounded.
I want to share three instances, in which, I have been a part of a new "tapping into" of a deep freedom in worship. Now, for all of you who will say, worship is more than a song-- its your lifestyle, I AGREE. However,
I am specifically being awakened to a deeper freedom in worship through
music and song. Not just worship, but PROPHETIC WORSHIP.
There is power in FORTY-THREE. Last week, my entire squad was on a rooftop in Ghana, Africa. We tapped into what we have called prophetic worship. There were three of us playing djembes (drum), and two people on guitar. We were not playing any songs that were written by other people, instead we were playing from the heart. Everyone was invited to sing their own song to the Lord. All of a sudden,
there was a span of time when all the instruments stopped, and
forty-two people sung forty-three different songs to the Lord. It was
LOUD. No one was holding back. No one had a "fear of man" (what their
neighbor thought). Every single person was worshipping in THEIR VOICE from THEIR HEART. It was one of the most INCREDIBLE experiences I have been a part of, and the beginning to much, much MORE!
Today, four of us were worshipping on the beach. Tim had been playing guitar for over an hour, and asked me to take over. "I don't know how to play guitar. I only know a couple of chords," were the first two sentences out of my mouth, but I took the guitar anyway.
I then pulled a Tim on Annie with the djembe (drum). I started playing
the chords I knew to the song "heart of worship." The next thing I
know, I am playing that chord progression to a strum pattern of my own, as Annie is keeping perfect beat to a drum she has never hit.
In that moment, I discovered a deeper freedom in worship. We were
worshipping our Lord and Savior. We worshipped in a manner, that we "SHOULDN'T" have, because we didn't know how...BUT WE DID. We made a sound that "SHOULDN'T" have been made...BUT WE DID. We communicated to our Father in a way that we "SHOULDN'T" have tried, because it wasn't our gifting...BUT WE DID!
Finally, today Sage was burdened to play her own music to a song David
wrote long ago. She wanted to sing Psalm 81 to the Lord, in a different
way that David did hundreds of years ago. When I came in the room she
was in, I felt the presence of God moving as she played the several chords
she knew. She was making music to our King, in such a way, that I was
moved. I picked up the other guitar, and began to pick the strings, in a
way, that I never have before. I was worshipping God at an even deeper
level of freedom, than I had hours earlier at the beach. Whether Sage could even hear me, I could tell and feel our sounds meshing, in such a way, that the Kingdom of Heaven probably met earth in room number 5 tonight.
I can't explain what is happening within me or within my squad in the way that I would like to, BUT what I do know is that before a week ago I didn't know PROPHETIC WORSHIP existed, I didn't know such a deep level of worship through song existed, I didn't know that this "tapping into" would only be the beginning to so much more unfathomable depths in freedom and worship, and I CAN'T imagine what is next for myself and for my squad!!
**Photo of Djembe from cajon-direkt through google images/ Photo of Guitar from photo.net through google images**
Posted in .michigan. by Andrea Wendel on 3/30/2010
My goodness it has been quite some time. It may take me a few blogs, but I am going to attempt to catch you up on the last few months, filling in all the necessary gaps.
First, I should say, I am back in the States, currently sitting at my desk in Michigan, working in Field Support (more to come on that note). There is a Toasted Coconut candle burning which smells delightful. I am sitting in a cushioned chair, have cute picture frames all around me, and am rather comfortable.
Next to me are 44 faces--photos of each incredible member of the October "L" Squad. It's kind of creepy, but I promise, I'm not a creeper. I just really love them. And miss them. It kind of makes me want to leave the comfort of candles and cushions all over again! (Don't worry, I'm here to stay for awhile...)
So--let me back up a bit for you. As you may remember, I was out on the field leading this amazing group of people with my co-leader, Sean. We spent the first 3 months as their Squad Leaders. After 3 months, he and I transitioned out of leadership and rose up three new people to take our places.
Sean wrote a beautiful blog on what that process looked like, (and he wrote it much better than I ever could, so I am just going to steal bits and pieces of it here)!
"A common dream we both share is to make our ceiling the
floor of those we come to serve.
Part of our job description as squad leaders, is to develop leaders from
within the group to take our place as squad leaders. Well...God gave us three! From this point forward Andi and I are no longer the squad
leaders of L Squad!
A few days ago we arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia.The first two days were dedicated to an
official handing over of our authority as squad leaders to these three amazing
people!
Truth is, we just partnered with what God was already doing!
These leaders were being raised up well before we met them! Years of life
experience preparing them for this hour!
They will take this squad where Andi and I could not! They are men and women of honor, love,
and are heavily anointed by the Spirit of God! They are men and women of God! They are a 1 Thessalonians 1:5 people. "For our gospel did not
come to you in word only, but also in power and in the holy spirit and with
full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you
for your sake!" They're full of
hope, passion, and love and are anointed!
What I love most about them is that they are for the
people!They live to see others
surpass where they've been! It's what gives them life!They want twice as much for the squad
then they want for themselves.They have exceptional gifting but they also have character! I believe they're going
to lead this squad better then Andi and myself could...and will continue to rise to the occasion!
It's what I hoped would happen.To leave the squad in better hands than my own!It's a dream come true!And to know Andi and I have part in it
makes it all the sweeter!Everything I came to do and hoped to see, seems to be happening!Thank you Lord!"
...
Sean and I were beyond honored and blessed to be able to hand the squad over to people that were everything we were hoping for and more. They have been doing an incredible job leading and loving. Jory, Katie, and Weston are absolutely perfect for this squad and this season.
Sean and I stayed out with them for a 4th month and spent time pouring into them even more intentionally. We were able to watch as they stepped up into their authority and leadership, and were able to encourage and develop them even further. Each of these three are so teachable, humble, and full of integrity, which made our job so easy.
Over the next few months, Sean and I will continue to be in contact with them, but from more of a coaching/biggest-fan position. We will go out to their debriefs wherever they are, call them on Skype a bunch, and rejoice with them as they run out the rest of this RACE!
This blog was written by one of my girls, Lindsay Fox, while we were in Pattaya, Thailand last week working in the bars with the women in the sex tourism industry. It is an incredible story of why we are here, why we let God move us to brokenness over these men and women, and how there really is hope.
Yesterday we had a Christmas party for the girls in
the English class, which was also our last class to help out with. As
the girls filtered in I saw a new face in the crowd and I realized it
was a lady that I had talked to a couple nights before in the bar as
she was working – Her name is Put. I invited her to come to class just
like I had with many other girls, and she actually decided to show up!
It was so amazing to see her there, and the feeling it gave me was just
indescribable. She told me (in very broken English) that all of us
women were beautiful inside and out and she could see there was
something different about us. She asked if I would be there for class
on Thursday and I had to tell her no, we were leaving to go back to
Bangkok. Her eyes welled up with tears and she pulled a ring off one of
her fingers and put it on mine and asked that I please don't forget
her... I told her that was not possible and I loved her and God loved
her, then we hugged and parted. I am terrible at goodbyes, and that was
one of the hardest I've ever had to go through... or so I thought.
That night we went out again for the last time
to talk to the ladies working the streets and the bars. We headed out
at about 6 pm... usually at that time the girls are putting on their
make-up and still primping themselves and not too distracted by trying
to catch men yet. I was paired up with a Thai girl who had just become
a Christian 6 months ago, and we set off to a bar across the street.
Apparently this was the bar that Sage and Jordan sat outside of and ate
ice cream and felt compelled to pray over the other day, but I didn't
know that at the time. Anyways, we went in there, walked up and down
the huge aisle and finally sat down at one of the bars in the middle.
We started talking with one of the bartenders named Sip (pronounced
Seep) and before I knew it she was in tears. She hated her job, she
hated selling herself to men, she hated her boss. She had heard about
God before but always felt like He had no reason to forgive her or love
her after all she had done – she had even heard about the Tamar Center
and tried to call them about going to church but somehow was never able
to get a hold of anyone. She wanted out of her lifestyle but didn't
know how to get away - she owed her boss money and was afraid to leave,
and had nowhere to go but back to his place at night. I told her some
of my story and let her know that there's nothing a person can do that
is past the point of God loving them. My partner translated the parts
she couldn't understand, and then all of a sudden they began talking a
million miles per hour in Thai... I just sat there, smiling and
nodding... not really knowing what was going on.
After about 5 minutes of that, my partner looked at me and asked "do
you think we should have her come with us now?" and I felt my stomach
flip. I replied YES, and so we asked her if she would come with us
before her night of work started- that we'd find a way to pay her boss
back, and that we had a safe place for her to stay. She anxiously
looked around, and then nodded to us. She said goodbye to the girls she
was working with, grabbed her purse, and walked out with us. Talk about
guts!!
Before I knew it she was swept away
by the ladies in charge at the Tamar Center, but not without her asking
if she would see me later this week... I had to tell her no. She asked
me when she's going to see me again - I couldn't think, and so I just
said I didn't know. She hugged me and half stated, half asked "in heaven?" and I sort of laughed and cried and said of course. Then she was whisked away into the crowd, and that was it...
It's going to be so hard to leave here tomorrow
morning. I know my teammates and I have made a big impact on the lives
of these women, but that doesn't make it any easier to leave. These
women have touched my heart just as much as I have theirs... and these
past few weeks are ones I will hold on to for the rest of my life.
My dear friend, Susan, from childhood on through, got married in 
After that, I got on a plane to 
The
more and more I realize that the way He has brought me from the Katie
at training camp - who wanted nothing to do with leadership, felt
completely inadequate, like she didn't belong, didn't know anything and
just wanted to hold babies and play with orphans and love on people -
to the 
It
wasn't until Launch in Antigua that I was hit hard and baptized in the
spirit (the first time. . .I really think this happens more than once
and I have been hit on more than one occasion! Oh I love you Holy
Spirit!) oh how beautiful that night was! And it wasn't until 4 months
into the race that I was actually water baptized. 
So
needless to say it was an incredible experience! Not only was it a
public declaration, but a prophetic act. I love what Chris Vallotton
says about it 
There is power in FORTY-THREE. Last week, my entire squad was on a rooftop in Ghana, Africa. We tapped into what we have called prophetic worship. There were three of us playing djembes (drum), and two people on guitar. We were not playing any songs that were written by other people, instead we were playing from the heart. Everyone was invited to sing their own song to the Lord. All of a sudden,
there was a span of time when all the instruments stopped, and
forty-two people sung forty-three different songs to the Lord. It was
LOUD. No one was holding back. No one had a "fear of man" (what their
neighbor thought). Every single person was worshipping in THEIR VOICE from THEIR HEART. It was one of the most INCREDIBLE experiences I have been a part of, and the beginning to much, much MORE!
Finally, today Sage was burdened to play her own music to a song David 
Next to me are 44 faces--photos of each incredible member of the 
