a crazy week.. some big developments!

another week has passed, and i have not updated my blog.. i assure you there is good reason! this last week has been the most intense, probably since i have been here.. i have been in constant meetings with my co-leader kristen (potter), planning and talking and praying and working really hard.. like i said in last weeks post, there are some significant changes that have taken place in this past week, some really exciting things! i have to wait for a while to let you know about one, because we have been asked to not mention it yet.. but there is one that i do want to tell you about!

this past week, potter and i prayed through and settled on sixteen unique roles that each person on the team (other than the two of us, as general team leaders) would get to take ownership in, and lead the team in! this is a really exciting move for a couple reasons:

1. each person on our team has very unique spiritual gifts, that in some ways have yet to be utilized.. by giving everyone a role, we will all be able to use our spiritual gifts much more profoundly for the ministry here

2. there has been a general feeling of a lack of accomplishment among the team.. it often feels like we are just spinning our wheels here.. but now that everyone has roles, people will be able to see some very tangible things happen!

3. everyone plays a very significant part in accomplishing our mission for this year.. without everyone working together, we could miss some very important steps..

4. some of these roles involve things that have not been happening, that we have really wanted to see being done.. now we will see progress in areas we havent yet!

there are many more reasons why these roles are so important, but i hope that gave you an idea.. i thought it might be cool to share with you what these roles are, and what they entail.. ill just type out half of them, to give you an idea:


Prayer/Encouragement Leader (Bean)
Focus our team on and lay a foundation of prayer; lead our team in making each individual valued; do both creatively and intentionally

By laying a foundation of prayer and encouragement, our team will be energized by seeking the Lord and building each other up relationally and in ministry


Team Activities Leader (Joe)
Coordinate bi-weekly team fun times on Fridays; you would have a rotating monthly partner to assist in planning these times

By planning team activities, our team will value good rest, and be bound more closely together, thus growing our unity in ministry


Foundation Layer (Lauren)
Through information, strategy, tips, etc., paint a very broad and accurate picture of what life is like here in El Salvador for the future teams pursue interested students from the PSW region; compile a book by the end of the year of all gathered information

By laying a foundation for the next team, we ensure forward momentum for many years to come, demonstrate love for the future teams in easing their transition, and decode the culture for our own ministry in the process


Outside Communication Leader (Marijke)
Encourage people to keep their supporters updated; encourage and coordinate team-wide correspondence with ‘the outside;’ report ministry statistics to PSW each month

By communicating well with supporters and our region, we allow them to pray for the current state of our ministry, cast vision for why we are here, and work toward the broader mission of Campus Crusade


Outreach Leader (Jeff)
Lead our team in evangelizing Matías broadly and creatively; this includes daily evangelism tools, as well as envisioning and coordinating campus-wide outreach events

By leading our team in evangelizing well, we accomplish our mission of letting every student hear the Gospel, and give more opportunity to meet potential leaders for the movement


Men’s/Women’s Bible Study Leader (Brandon, Brenna)
Set direction for the men’s and women’s on-campus Bible studies; this doesn’t mean you will lead the study, but will lead the team in purpose, vision, and content

By coordinating these Bible studies, we will seek to gather interested students and grow them in their knowledge and love of the Lord, along with building community and relationships with them


Student Events Leader (Jenna)
Lead the team in gathering students for community events; this may evolve into developing a weekly meeting

By gathering students for community events, our team will continue to build relationships with students, along with connecting them to each other; having this type of community is a foundational step in building a movement that is not dependent on STINTers


so yeah, i hope that gives you a taste of what the roles are all about.. each person got to let potter and i know thier top two choices out of each group of eight, and one that they might not want to do at all.. it was so sweet seeing how peoples giftings were so orchestrated by the Lord that everyone got at least one role that was one of their top two preferences!

we had a really fun time announcing these roles to the team.. potter and i declared this past friday 'Roles Day,' and made it just a huge celebration for this sweet new phase of ministry.. we put 'rolls' of lifesavers into balloons and had each person pop one to determine the order.. the house was decorated with toilet paper rolls and we played a rap song that says 'roll out' every time the next person came up to find out their roles.. and then had cinnamon rolls for everyone after! kinda cheesy i know, but it was fun..

anyways.. this, along with the other ministry change, made for a very long and tiring week.. sorry i havent kept this blog totally updated!

love you all, please continue praying for our team!