Frontline Friday is back and ready for an amazing summer as we keep you updated on how to pray for the work all over the world. We kick off the return with an update from S&K. These two young ladies are part of a brand new initiative at iGo. They agreed to join our team fresh out of college for a 2 year commitment. They spend most of the year in our office helping us recruit and prepare our teams. Then they spend their summer leading alongside our M partners in gateway cities in Europe. S&K left a little over a week ago to spend a week in a Middle Eastern city with our central partnership team getting ready for their leadership role this summer. The following is an update from that week.

It’s been quite a few years since K and I have been sent to a country for only one week. We have spent months thinking ahead to the summer unsure of what to expect as we adjust to our new roles. Now, here we are in the Middle East. The purpose of spending time in this country before we head to walk alongside our beloved JSI’s in Europe was to learn more about our roles for the summer regarding administrative tasks and understand more about the people we are engaging. We were not sure what this week would look like considering the short amount of time allotted. All I can say is that any expectation we had has been exceeded in ways beyond what we could have imagined.

As soon as we stepped off the plane, we were greeted by two friends living in this city we have had the privilege to know over the last few years. It was only a matter of hours before we were mingling with the team here, as well as some of the closest friends they have made. Immediately, we felt at home and a part of the team. This team is uniquely gifted, cherishes one another, and spurs one another on in their walks. K and I even had the special opportunity to take part in a spontaneous team road trip (never thought I’d get to blast Hanson songs in the Middle East-thanks D!), and as I write this we have just returned from a local wedding! We have been able to pr with and for this team, listen to them talk through situations, and cast vision for this city where they serve.

I write all this to convey how humbled we are to be here, and to share the reminder we have been given of ancient work. Through strategizing for the summer for our students, my mind has been flooded with truth of this core value. As a result of our time here, we have been able to hear conversations among the field team that show their awareness of Father’s greater plan. Stories have been told of workers coming in and out of neighboring countries, joyfully knowing the work is not dependent on their own skills but on the Spirit. The vision for this city and the work here extends far beyond this team, or their human capabilities, and the workers are passionately consumed with finding more ways to engage the ends of the earth.

K and I are thankful for our sweet, memorable time with a wonderful group of new friends we already feel are like a second family. But more importantly, we are thankful for brothers and sisters chasing hard after obedience to Father, recognizing their need for full dependency on Him. K and I have been here for such a short amount of time compared to the other locations we will be in this summer, and look forward to partnering in the future with this team in continued pr. Father is at work here, and He will continue to be long after we are gone, just like He will be in Europe long after we return to the States at the end of this summer.