The days and weeks leading up to training camp several thoughts filled my mind. Mostly along the lines of why do I want to sleep outside in the cold, eat a little bit of food, take bucket showers, and spend time getting to know strangers. I have already lived this life and knew what lay ahead of me. I continually asked God if I was making the right choice these questions were always answered by my teammates telling me you belong here or your a big part of this team and even still I firmly believe that if God didn’t want me there I wouldn’t be there. Coming from the Marine Corps I already have had my fair share of enough of early morning exercise, forced humps, timed pack runs, listening to long lectures and so on. But this place was different; full of passionate people on fire for Christ. Honestly, I didn’t know people like this existed in the world and there I was thrown into a group of strangers that would soon become my family. As the days of training continued I got to know these crazy, passionate, beautiful people on the Expedition Squad and to say the least these people are the going to change the world. So, the day came to give our final yes to commit to go on this 11 month adventure. Of course my answer was yes but more importantly I knew what I was saying yes to; a life no longer about me but about bring the kingdom of God to the lost, broken, hurting people of this world. I was saying yes to eating rice (my favorite….not), cold/no showers, living in uncomfortable places again, and being constantly surrounded by people. As I sit here writing this I am reminded that this journey is not about me and it never was. God has some crazy plan for my life and my teammates lives and its ok not to know what that is. God wants us to live a life of reckless abandonment for him. I give God my yes. Thoughts still creep into my head as whether or not I belong on this team or if I am even worthy of this calling. But my heart remains at peace, I am ready for this.
