The travel day that taught me more than the mission trip
We had just finished our last day of ministry in Northwest Africa, and it was time to debrief and have some fun. Our CGA Leadership Track had friends in Spain, and the plan was to spend a day and a half with them before we flew back to the States.
We had it all planned out: we would take a ferry over to Spain, have a bus waiting for us at the port to take us to our friends, and stay with them until we flew out two days later.
Then it all started.
One of our logistics leaders came to me and said, “We need to have a meeting.” I knew who she needed to meet with immediately. You see, I was one of two squad leaders for our trip to Morocco, and she was part of a team of three logistics leaders.
The five of us gathered together out on the porch of our ministry location. “Just found out the port is closed today because the wind is so strong, and we have no way of knowing if it will be open tomorrow or not.”
We started strategizing together, and we decided to send our three logistics leaders to the port early the next morning to see if it was open.
I got a call early the next morning. “The port’s closed. But we think there’s another way…”
The next 8 hours were a blur of attempts to get to Spain. We thought we could leave from another ferry port. When that fell through, we planned to wait till the next morning. Then we decided we’d have to fly out of Northwest Africa. Would we have to take a train to a bigger city, then fly out? Would we have to split up and fly to different cities in Spain? Did we even have money in the budget for any of this?
There were 17 people who wanted to go to Spain that day, who needed to be in Spain in two days, just to get back home. Our 3 logistics leaders were tasked with finding the best way to get back home. And the final decision about what we would do came down to my co-leader and myself.
During all the waiting, research, taxi rides, questions, and discussion, I missed what was going on in my heart as time dragged on.
That afternoon I found myself in the airport, answerless, throwing verbal attacks at our leaders who were acting as our covering, shutting out my co-leader, and unable to function as a leader. The worst part was I didn’t even know why I was acting that way or how I got to that place.
I’ve processed through that day a lot, and I’m sure I’ll continue to learn from it. For now, though, here are some lessons I learned from that all-too-real travel day. Leaders, pay attention. Every leader needs these lessons.
1. The mess around you doesn’t always reflect your leadership.
I looked at the mess around me that day and accepted the lie that it all reflected my skills as a leader.
2. Don’t put pressure on yourself that isn’t there.
That day, our team took a normal problem and treated it like a triage situation.
3. Keep the big picture in mind.
We made so many decisions by worrying about little steps and little needs. Our leaders kept having to point us to the big picture–all we really needed was to get home.
4. Allow those you trust into your process.
My leaders and co-leader did an incredible job of trying to help me stay calm and lead well, and in return I shut out and I attacked. Don’t throw trust out the window when stress comes. If those around you are trustworthy, keep them close.
5. Forgive yourself, learn your lesson, and move on.
“So how did it all end?” you may be asking. We stayed in Northwest Africa another two days, then flew all together into Spain, with just enough time to fly home. We didn’t get to have fun in Spain, but four days after our logistics leader called a meeting, all 17 of us landed in Atlanta.
Two days after all of this, my co-leader and I had to wake up and take our people home. We couldn’t dwell on our mistakes from the last travel day. We couldn’t be afraid to make decisions.
I knew that a chance at another travel day so soon was a gift from the Lord, a chance for redemption. But as I look back now, I think the real gift was the day when just about everything went wrong. We asked Papa to calm the winds around us, but He didn’t. I think, maybe, He knew better. Just maybe, He wanted to take a number of us and turn us into better leaders. And I really do believe He succeeded.
p.s. Molli Caite, Tanja, Morgan, and Mac,
I am so proud of each of you. There’s no one I would have chosen to lead alongside that day other than you four. Thanks to you, we made it home! And you four made the journey along the way so much fun. Miss you all.
Ben and Ashley,
Thanks for the experience. I’ll never again doubt that you two are for me.
photo cred for ALL these goes to Molli Caite Hughes! Thanks, friend.
