Leading for the world race has been everything I pictured and nothing like I expected all at once. I am consistently at my weakest, requiring full dependence on the Lord to provide for even my smallest need.
On May 25th, I was picked up for leader training. I met my incredible leadership team, who I spent the next week getting to know as we attended sessions on both practical and spiritual aspects of the trip. This week was a mix of emotions. I was full of excitement as we prayed over our racers and began to learn more about our ministries. I wrestled with insecurity about my age and ability to lead a group of people across the world to a place I’ve never been. I was nervous as I began to think through logistical aspects and wondered if the squad would like me. I was encountering God in new ways through worship and found healing in unexpected ways. I learned to prioritize and find rest in the midst of busy schedules and to depend on my team.
In only a few days, I felt incredibly close to my leadership team, knowing that I could come to them for any of my needs. They pushed me to dependency on Christ and embracing where I am at, giving me hope and vision for the future weeks of ministry.
Caleigh, me, Oriolyne!
June 1st, racers arrived at camp. I was terrified out of my mind but also beyond excited. Once they arrived, I helped them file for Indonesian visas, a long and complex process that fried my brain and increased my nerves around logistics. The week was packed with sessions on God’s heart and logistical information. Sometimes my days ran from 6:30-12:30, with a short sleep in the communal tent to revive me. It was easy to be overwhelmed by the pace, but the Lord met me in every moment. Kind campus volunteers and AIM staff blessed me with reassuring words and matcha lattes, encouraging me to take the time to rest when needed. I quickly fell in love with the squad. They are a diverse group from all different places and walks of faith, with their yes on the table to be used by the Lord. I felt like the Lord gave me his eyes for them, as the love I felt for them didn’t match my knowledge of them as people. They were resilient through long days, tents flooding, multiple tent relocations, and tons if new information. They were even crowned champions of the infamous field day style competition, Squad Wars. Our final night, a few came forward and were baptized as a symbol of their commitment to living a life for Christ. The staff commissioned them to the nations, and soon we were headed for Indonesia. 
A Squad!
Travel Days were a bit intense, but our squad embraced it. We started sleeping in the airport on a Saturday Night and didn’t arrive at our location until late Wednesday morning. The Lord was gracious to us, giving us smooth travel in the midst of four flights, layovers, taxis and a ferry.
We have been in Indonesia since Wednesday, on an island called Batam. The country is majority muslim, with beautiful adorned mosques found on nearly every street corner. Many women wear hijabs, and the call to prayer echoes through the streets many times a day. Our ministry has many facets from teaching english to refugees to renovating a health center to teaching Brazilian jui jitsu. Days are long and are packed with a variety of opportunities for outreach. It’s redefining ministry for much of my squad, opening their eyes to the vitality of capacity building and interceding over a country.
Leading has stretched me in every way. Navigating foreign airports, interpersonal dynamics and language barriers has only grown my love for the Lord as he gives me everything in I need. In the midst of the chaos, I feel his calming presence holding me, reminding me that he could do this whole thing without my help. I am constantly humbled at the Lord’s kindness to use a broken vessel to carry his light, purely out of love for me. He’s a friend that’s closer than my own skin, giving me words when I have none, providing answers when I feel empty. I’m drawn to him more and more every moment, wanting more of this eternal life.
Squad leading is already one of the most refining experiences I’ve ever had. But the proximity to the Lord draws me deeper in as I love him and his people more and more. I cannot wait to see where the journey leads.
Blessings,
Kailey Finley
Prayer Requests:
A Squad:
~ Unity and a culture of honor
~ Fresh perspective on ministry and what their yes was to
~ Energy and endurance for long days
~ Good dreams and Sleep!
Indonesia:
~ Prepared hearts for the seeds of the gospel
~ Bonds of Islam to fall
~ Laborers to bring the good news to Indonesia
~ Fruitful ministry
Team Jubilee (our leadership team):
~ Physical healing
~ Discernment on leading the squad well
Me:
~ Continued vision and direction
~ Comfort when missing loved ones at home
~ Dependence on the Lord
~ Release, revival and restoration!
I love reading about your experiences but more than that your heart! I am grateful for your love for God and for people. Praying daily for you and your team, for your sustaining and thriving and for God to move in mighty ways.