January & February: Training, Planning, Leading

On January 6^th, P Squad reunited in Bucharest, Romania for a three-day mini debrief. At this mini debrief, we had our first team changes of our Race. I treasured my time with my first team, 247. The Lord taught us so much. We experienced so many new things together and challenged each other in so many powerful ways. Reflecting on the first four months of the Race, I am filled with gratitude. I’m excited to introduce to you my new team and share a little bit more about what the last 2 months have looked like for us on the World Race!

To give some context, here’s a little run down on the structure of the Race. P Squad is made up of 26 participants who are all out here learning and experiencing life on the field for the first time together. For the first portion of the race, we were led by 3 Alumni Squad leaders (you’ve heard me talk about Aaron, Raquel, and Samantha!!), who have all been on their own races. They are very much a part of P Squad, but were only with us for the first 5 months. Part of their role out here was to raise up and train 3 members of P Squad to take their places as squad leaders.

Jordan, Katherine, and I are so humbled and grateful to have been asked to step into these roles as the raised up SQLs of P Squad. It is such an honor to get to serve the squad in this capacity and steward the gifts that the Lord has given each of us. This team and role have already stretched and strengthened each one of us. I’m so confident that this is what God wanted us to step into. I’m grateful that He knows what we need, what will refine & challenge us, what will take us deeper, and what will be best for us.

After mini-debrief in Romania, P Squad travelled to Albania to begin ministry. Jordan, Katherine, and I each spent the next 4 weeks shadowing (and then being shadowed by) one of the Alumni SQLs to learn how to squad lead. We spent time learning how to manage finances, make budget spreadsheets, plan debriefs, communicate with leadership in the states, etc.. Since graduating college, I haven’t had much opportunity to use my administrative or communication skills. Squad Leading has given me the opportunity to press into those gifts and it’s been so life-giving to me.

During those training weeks, each ASQL/RSQL pair was with one of the 4 P Squad teams. I got to do life with Stop. Drop. And Roll. in Tirana, Albania. We did ministry, ATL, team time, and other activities with the team. Much of the training we received from the Alumni was life-on-life training/discipleship. I often meditated on this verse as we were trained and shadowed by our Alumni leaders: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” Hebrews 13:7.

During those training weeks, Jordan and Katherine and I had many secretive WhatsApp calls to plan a Send Off celebration for our beloved Alumni. We prayed and planned and anticipated with excitement! On February 3^rd, our Squad Mentor, Lindsey Pruitt, arrived from the States. We spent the next 4 days learning from her, receiving more training, and bonding as a leadership team. On February 7^th, P Squad reunited for 2 1/2 days in Tirana, Albania for our Alumni Send Off.

Over those couple of days, we adventured, remembered, laughed, cried, worshiped, and celebrated. Here are some pictures from Send Off. P Squad loved and honored Aaron, Raquel, and Samantha so beautifully during this time, but ultimately celebrated what the Lord had done and will do in their lives. It was such a sweet picture of the family of God. Though we were saying goodbye and sending them off to their next adventures with the Lord, we will forever be united in Christ. We ended the Send Off with a night of worship, prayer, and commissioning – remembering AIM’s values for the Race: intimacy, community, and mission. P Squad is on fire and I can’t believe I get to be a part of it.

I’m humbled to get to lead this group of believers alongside two of the most radical followers of Jesus I know. Jordan and Katherine seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. You’ll hear a lot more about them in the coming weeks and months! My hope and prayer is that this blog gives a little bit more insight into the past two months of the Race. Thank you for your patience as we figure out this new blog platform and its features. It’s truly a privilege to get to share the testimonies of what God is doing out here, and it’s my goal to update with blogs more frequently and steward the stories well!

Here are some ways that you can continue to support me and P Squad in Turkey & in our SEVENTH (WHAT?!) month of the Race:

• You can pray with us! Pray that Muslims would have dreams of the Messiah. Pray that the Lord would give them visions of Him. Pray that they would encounter believers who will share the Good News with them. Pray that they would be receptive to the words that are spoken in the Gospels.
• Some of the squad is continuing to support raise for the Race – if you would like to partner financially, you can reach out and I can give you their account information
• Pray about continuing to financially support me specifically – this will help cover the cost of daily personal expenses (venmo: KaraPerrault)

I’d love to hear what the Lord is doing in your lives, so send some updates my way!! Let me know how I can pray for you!

You matter to God, so you matter to me. I love you.

Kara Grace <3