The Circles

Here we are. “Month 11.” 

I begin writing this on November 1st in the beautiful mountains of Lesotho. Time on this journey is coming to a quick end and it’s got me reflecting back on the race while trying to not worry too much about what lies ahead.

I want to write about the most powerful and beautiful part of this year. That being the circles. 

When I look back in a year or 25 years on the year of 2021 what will stick out is all the different circles I had the privilege of sitting in, standing in, dancing in, playing games in, and all the things in between.

It has been a sweet and beautiful testimony to recognize the unity of love that can be in a group of people when they are pursuing the Lord. 

In Heidelberg South Africa on our first Wednesday night there, more than three weeks ago now, I was at a small group with 15-20 people sitting in a circle. God started showing me the beauty of what I was experiencing and witnessing this night as well as the many beautiful circles I had been in all year.

These circles vary a lot in the impact behind them, but the common denominator is Jesus being in the center.

Costa Rica

In Jaco Costa Rica the circle that stands out is circles my team had during our “team times.” This included my first time sharing my testimony to others. It included me hearing my teammates testimonies. It included us praying over each person after they shared the good, bad and ugly of their story. It included me learning slowly but surely what being vulnerable looks like. I started to witness the power of choosing to see the brothers and sisters around you with the eyes of Christ and in result choosing to love every part of them. This doesn’t mean we allow each other to stay the same, but love each other enough to push one another to more. I also began to see how you can disagree on things and choose to understand one another and have a fruitful conversation.

Guatemala 

In Guatemala there was many circles that stand out. Starting with the kids. When we lead VBS on Tuesdays we would get in a large circle where we would play games, sing songs, and have teachings about Jesus. We would sit with kids that did not speak the same language as us, but that didn’t matter. There was still so much love in those relationships. When we first got to Guatemala there was I don’t know like 8 kids tops going to VBS, English classes or soccer Friday’s. When we left there was quite possibly 30+ kids attending these different programs learning about Jesus. The eternal impact I may never understand but what I witnessed was powerful already. Worship Room and the Hope program continues to do these programs today, keep praying for more and more eternal impact.

Other circles in Guatemala included our guys and ladies groups on Wednesday. Where we would get a chance to be real with people that all had very different stories, many of them being from Guatemala. We would learn from each other as us guys went through the life of King David.

Worship Room on Thursday nights was a circle as well with many layers. We didn’t worship facing a stage with a group performing but rather we circled around the people gifted with musical abilities. As one united body we lifted up our praises to our Father in Spanish and English while also praying for one another and lifting each other up. 

There was many other circles I’m sure I could highlight from Guatemala, the last one I want to shout out is again the times with just my team around our table in our house we were so generously allowed to stay in with a local Guatemalan family. We would all have our spots around the table where we would share laughs, cries, serious moments, silly moments, movies where we get two screens playing a movie at the same time so we can watch at the same time, good meals, bad meals, and so many other things that made our family beautiful.

Honduras

When we were on the mountain in Honduras it was a little difficult to bring together the Hondurans and Americans living on the mountain for a little bit. One night we decided we would change that. Praying over one another, worshiping with one another, and becoming one. To end the night we got in a big circle holding hands or having arms around each other. It was a beautiful moment of being unified together in Christ.

At debrief in Honduras myself and many of my squad mates got to lead devotionals and sessions. Feeling lead by God, I decided the first day not to have seats facing me or other squad mates leading but rather placed them in a circle, all glory and credit to God not me. This debrief is often stated as people’s favorite debrief we have had all year. It’s hard for me to believe that the numerous sessions we had sitting in a circle unified in that way didn’t have an impact. 

Man month consisted of some of my favorite moments again mostly consisting in circles. Starting with our circles as a guy team where we went through the book “Wild at Heart” together. We had the opportunity as many to push past surface level and dive into more with one another.

Some of my favorite circles from this year was sitting around the table either at our church or around Pastor Rony’s table at his house. Pastor Rony and his family spoke very very little English. Probably less English than we spoke Spanish. But these circles made it obvious that Jesus is bigger than language barriers. The laughs we shared with him and his family are some of the greatest moments ever. 

Romania

Being an all squad month it was a difficult place to form many circles. However we did start each morning in a huge circle inside of the church worshiping and praying for the ministry which we have to believe has a larger impact then we will ever be aware of. 

Albania

As a new team (my current team) we woke up every morning in a spiritually dark city determined to pray to start our day. We would sit in a circle and pray over one another, the ministry, the city, family, friends, Afghanistan, Haiti and so much more. 

I have talked about this circle before, but during our debrief in Albania our entire squad had a worship night in the middle of the city of Durrës. We formed a large circle, trying to make it look inviting, and sang praises to God at the top of our lungs. It drew people in like crazy for many conversations about God to happen. This circle was a powerful one and one I will never be able to explain half as good as the moment.

South Africa

I already mentioned a circle that got me thinking about all of this one of our first nights there. We had several nights like this one where we would have small group with different people we obviously hadn’t met before and somehow feel a little at home. We would feel welcomed and loved like only a community centered on God could do. We were welcomed in to countless circles as if we had lived there for years. 

I did house visits one day in Heidelberg. Although that day was special it also reminded me of the house visits I got to do in Guatemala and Honduras, standing with people who are typically struggling with health, finances, relationships, and more. Positioned in of course a circle we would develop relationships learning their stories and getting to partner with them in prayer.

Lesotho

Here in Lesotho we get to share our dining room table with our beautiful hosts Letsema and Matabo every meal who are pictured on my Instagram and Facebook. We also get to play spicy uno with them, and what a treat that is! They are savages! We have even gotten them to start poking each others yawns if you’re aware of how I like to do that. 

Still more circles to create this last week of ministry coming up as well as our final debrief starting next weekend. 

I want to encourage you to get in circles! With the people you love for sure. Appreciate those moments and soak them in. But also with people who have different stories, backgrounds, maybe even countries, but definitely with people who have different opinions than you! Seek to understand each other and learn from one another. Stop with this cancel culture. Choose to love each other, especially if you are a Christ follower!! Are you living set apart?? We are called to live differently than people that don’t follow Christ. You know what the difference is? Loving everybody. Including people who are different than you, or don’t like you. Choose love. 

Believers also seek to get in circles of believers. The unity and growth that can take place is incredible. Find community. We need each other. Choose to love each other and push each other to more.

What special memories I have specifically from these circles throughout the year along with many more I didn’t list. 

What a year. 15 days until I am headed home.

Blog on my amazing time in Lesotho coming next week!

I love y’all a lot. Jesus loves you a heck of a lot more!!!

Peace

JD