Saying Yes When I Didn’t Want To: Squad Leading for Gap Fall 2026

Sometimes the Lord calls us into things that don’t immediately excite us. Not because they’re bad, but because they stretch us beyond the plans we had already started building in our minds.

Over the past several months on the race, I began sensing the Lord gently bringing up the idea of squad leading for the Gap Year in Fall 2026. If I’m honest, my first reaction wasn’t excitement. I imagined finishing the race, going home, resting, and stepping into a new season of life. The thought of committing to nine more months overseas leading another squad wasn’t something I was initially pursuing.

But the Lord has a way of bringing things to the surface that we can’t ignore.

Earlier this year while I was in Greece, I brought the question to Him. “Lord, do you want me to squad lead?” As I prayed, I felt a quiet but clear yes in my spirit. When I asked why, the response that kept coming to my heart was this: there is still so much more He wants to reveal to me about Himself.

That shifted my perspective. I realized this next season wasn’t primarily about leadership or responsibility. It was about deeper intimacy with the Lord and joining Him in transforming the lives of others. Leadership in the Kingdom doesn’t start with strategy or experience. It starts with staying connected to Him.

As I continued praying, the Lord began refining my heart. Leadership requires surrender, and He showed me areas I still cling tightly to: pride, self-reliance, comfort, and control. Following Jesus means learning to trust Him even when the future isn’t clear.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This verse has been a guiding reminder as I step into a season that I didn’t initially plan.

Discipleship is at the heart of why I’m saying yes. Squad leading isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about walking with students as they encounter the Lord in new ways, seeing them grow in faith, and being a part of their story as they experience deeper revelation, a heart for missions, and transformation. It’s about sharing testimony, listening well, loving deeply, and pointing them to the One who transforms us. My prayer is that in walking alongside them, I can help raise up strong leaders while being shaped myself by the Lord along the way.

There are still unknowns ahead. Funding, logistics, and what the next couple years will look like are all things I continue to place before the Lord. Missions is something the body of Christ steps into together, and I’m so grateful for people who choose to partner in prayer and support. If you feel led to walk alongside me in this next season, I’ve created a page where you can find ways to partner, including giving toward my fundraising, helping with supplies through my wishlist, or supporting me personally while I’m on the field:

https://linktr.ee/WorldRaceMissions

If you feel led to give beyond the main fundraising, there is also an option to bless me personally. These gifts help cover extra costs while I’m on the field, things like sharing meals with others, visiting historical or cultural sites, caring for my health, or small needs that allow me to focus fully on discipleship and obedience.

So this fall, I will be stepping into the role of Alumni Squad Leader for the Gap Year, serving for the next nine months. It wasn’t a decision that came quickly or easily, but it came through prayer, surrender, and choosing obedience over comfort.

At the end of the day, my prayer is simple: that the Lord would keep my heart soft toward Him, that He would continue to grow my faith, and that He would use this season to shape both my life and the lives of the students I’ll have the privilege of walking alongside.

The last several months have shown me how much the Lord can do when we simply say yes. And I have a feeling He’s only just getting started.