Ashley Freytag shares her highlights from the West Africa Team Retreat
Last week, my teammates and I were blessed by the opportunity to meet at a resort to step out of our language learning roles for a bit and focus on self renewal and team unity. These were some of my highlights from the week.
Fellowship – a small group from Kansas and Hal and Suzie (our leadership) were able to join us in order to facilitate and provide support for our time together. Not only did each one of them share their unique gifts with us but it was just nice to have them around to talk and laugh with.
Worship – I got to sing worship songs in English with a musical instrument and other believers for the first time since I don’t know when! It was soo nice. I was speechless and holding back the tears the first three songs out of pure joy. You don’t realize how important or needed communal worship is until you don’t get it very often.
My Personal Image – This might seem like an odd highlight, but it definitely was at the top of my list. When I am living out in the village, I don’t try to “look my best everyday”. I don’t wear much jewelry (especially my nice stuff), no perfume, no clothing too fancy, I don’t do my hair because it would be pointless with the humidity, etc.. because number 1, I don’t want to draw much attention to myself and number 2, I want to fit in with my friends who live there the best I can. With our retreat, I could at last dress my best. I got to do my hair because it stays tame in the air conditioning, I could wear my nicest jewelry (which my mom had sent out forever ago and I hadn’t yet got the chance to wear), I could wear my nice clothes, shorts, and JEANS!, and even put on a little perfume just for the fun of it. I even had a massage and a haircut! What a blessing!
The Environment – At home in the village, I get used to bugs everywhere, critters (mice and lizards) coming and going, lizard poop stains on the walls, heat, dust, goat and sheep poop dragged in on my shoes from outside, etc. And in general throughout the village or in other cities, you’re used to seeing chipped paint and things that are falling apart. At the retreat, there were no bugs, no critters trying to share my space with me, no chipped paint, nothing falling apart, air conditioning 24/7, no animal poop to drag in, clean walls and the best part yet, there was the ocean and pools to enjoy and swim in!
Team Time – Because my teammates and I are all in kind of different stages or situations in our language learning, we are all spread apart in different locations. It is difficult to work together as a true team when we are physically so far apart. It was great to be together in person, work out questions and concerns, and refocus on the goal of telling the Yalunka about Jesus and what he has done for them.
Remembering – In one our team meetings, we made a list of all that God has already done for us and/or through us, how he has provided, and how he has already moved mountains so to speak. It was a great reminder. I think personally, I sometimes get concerned about the mountain ahead of me but all I have to do is look back and remember all the mountains God has already moved or helped me climb and it settles my fears for the future. God has seen me through it in the past and he will see me through it in the future.
FOOD – I have never eaten so much in my life. By day 2 of buffet meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we had all forgotten what it meant to feel the slightest hint of hunger. The best part about it was I didn’t have to cook! And being the typical me, I went for the pizza everyday at lunch. Who would want to eat all these exotic sea creatures and gourmet meals anyway when there is pizza? 😉
These are just the beginning of the many blessings. I think I can speak for myself and all my teammates that we are so thankful to have had Grace Community Church send your loved ones to us. We have been blessed greatly by each one of them and this time was essential to the well being of our team. Also, thank you to all of those who are supporting us through your prayers or finances. You also played a huge role in making this time possible.
