I love Step teams.

This summer has been really busy  - with 3 different step teams working in Guatemala. As it´s my job to oversee them and make sure they´re all alright, it´s been busy and tiring  - but it also reminds me of so many reasons why I love Step teams. Here´s just a few

1. Step teams are a glimpse of real church. That sounds wierd I know, but let me explain. Step teams are Latin Link´s programme which brings together diverse people to create teams who live and serve together in another country. For me there´s a sense of heaven in it - although admittedly not the fluffy-clouds-and-harps kind of heaven. I´m talking more about community. In church - which is supposed to be the body of Christ, it can be so easy for us to ´buy into it´ for just a couple of hours a week, and then go back home and do our own thing. That´s not how´s it´s supposed to be. The book of Acts talks of a church of shared lives, shared possessions, shared experiences and challenges. Step teams seem like that to me. It´s not easy - but it is real. Living together in very close proximity - and often in very basic conditions, means that you can never escape from the rest of the team  - or from the inevitable frustrations and differences of opinion. You have to confront those things, work through them with your team-mates and get past them. It doesn´t mean denying who you are, but it does mean compromise and showing real love for people. You have to engage with each other on a deeper level than we are used to. And I think that´s what church is meant to be.
This year, I saw Steppers gather round and comfort a grieving team mate; I saw Steppers support team members as they dealt with past hurts and allowed God´s healing into their past; I saw Steppers recognise their own weaknesses and errors and ask for forgiveness; I saw Steppers encourage others in tasks they´d never tried before; I saw Steppers bridge the generation gap and work together; I saw Steppers learning from one another; I saw Steppers stay up all night to care for their ill team mate; and I saw Steppers celebrate together after they perform their first drama or their first song in Spanish.

2. Step teams are about opportunities to fulfill your potential. So much in life today tells us we can´t to it. Being on a Step team says you can! In a Step team everyone has a role. There are leaders, treasurers, childrens work coordinators, first aiders, drama coordinators, music /worship coordinators, translator and so many more. Everyone has a vital part to play in the team working well. As I´ve talked and helped teams evaluate their experience this year, I´ve been so encouraged to hear many team members express a greater confidence. Many felt able to lead a Bible Study for the first time in their lives, others to pray out loud, others to lead a children´s activity from the front, others to preach or share their testimony, others simply to cook a meal for 10 people and not burn the house down (although it got close a couple of times!). Some team members began their role with very shy and nervous fairy steps, but quickly took great strides as they realised the skills and gifts God had given them. (It´s fantastic to watch!) Some team leaders felt completely out of their depth leading a team, but learnt to lean into God´s presence for his strength and wisdom. And then there are those who God is clearly calling into longer term mission. I love the conversations with them - as they think about possibilities and get excited about how God is leading them.

3. Step is about cross -cultural relationships. Step teams always work in a church or project in another country. This year the 3 teams all came from the UK to work in Guatemala. (Latin Link Step teams also visit many other countries.... go to http://www.latinlink.org.uk/National-Sites/UK/What-can-I-do/Team-Mission-Step for more details). The idea is to live and work alongside the local church community. Even with limited language, teams are able to build friendships with local people. The interchange of cultures is a real blessing as Step teams and Guatemalans learn of each others cultures. This year, steppers learnt how to make tortillas Guatemalan style, and carry baskets on their heads. In another project, the teenager from the local bakery (which had been visited by a certain Stepper every day for 2 weeks), decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday with the team  - so brought the cake, the piñata and the whole party to them. In another project, friendships between Steppers and project staff were established over hours sitting side by side in the kitchen sorting beans.

Of course Step isn´t perfect - there´s challenges and difficulties along the way -  but I feel privileged to be a part of it all.