GUESS WHAT?!?!?!
****I’ve raised over $7,800!!!! God has shown His faithfulness through my fundraising time and time again. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who has given me financial and spiritual support over the last few months. I can’t even put into words how overwhelmed and grateful I feel. I know God has placed every one of you in my life for a reason, and I could not embark on this journey without you****
TRAINING CAMP
I recently spent 10 days in Gainesville, Georgia at Training Camp (TC) for the World Race! My team of 42 individuals and I were pushed physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally everyday. We slept in tents, took bucket showers, ate with our hands, and sweat a TON in the Georgia humidity. By the end of 10 days, I smelled like a rotten pile of garbage, was physically exhausted, and all of my gear was covered in sweat and Georgia clay, but the moment we left I wanted to go back!
The staff at TC prepared us physically for the World Race. They gave us practical tools for teaching, preaching, and evangelism. They taught us how to survive if our belongings were lost, how to stick together through a crowded market place, how to successfully work together as a team when illness strikes, how to remain culturally sensitive, and so much more! However, the most valuable lessons I learned came from God. Here are a few things He taught me:
1. Community is important
Community is a gift from God, and it’s a beautiful one. God gave me 42 warriors plus a STRONG leadership team to take on this journey with and I couldn’t be happier. I truly feel God hand selected every single of my teammates for this mission! We experience God’s presence through his Word and the Holy Spirit, but also through relationships with other people! At training camp I experienced His presence through my team because they all had Jesus living inside them! Community challenges me to be more like Jesus, opens my eyes to the needs of others, teaches me how to forgive and work through conflicts, and allows me to live in a state of authenticity and vulnerability—pushing me closer to Christ.
2. God speaks–Loud!
There were many tears before TC. I remember sobbing in my car praying “Lord, I want to hear your voice, I want to experience you in a tangible way. God, how can I have an intimate relationship with someone I can’t physically see or audibly hear?!” God answered my prayers at TC. He spoke LOUD and CLEAR many times. In fact, that’s why I named this blog Ten Days With the Creator of the Universe, because I felt God by my side every moment. Here are a few examples:
- One night during worship I was praying “Lord let me see you in a tangible way.” God told me to open my eyes and look around the room. I saw Jesus’ face through my team. Kelsey N’s Spirit was praising God while harmonizing with the music. Kelsey B laid her hands on me and spoke truth into my life. Carissa worshiped with the Bible open in her hands. Heather sang with her hands held high. Cherish was on her hands and knees in adoration. Jenny danced with the joy of the Holy Spirit in her heart! My team that was before me gave me a glimpse of God’s greatness in a tangible way!
- Another night during worship I literally felt intoxicated by the Holy Spirit. I didn’t care what was going on around me; I only cared about praising my Father. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, joy, and comfort, even though I was physically exhausted, hungry, and sweaty! This is the power of the Holy Spirit! There’s no way I could feel whole through my own efforts when life is broken around me.
- I was praying for God to reveal to me things I needed to let go of, things I was holding above Him. That moment our speaker explained we are designed to seek affirmation, but we look for it in all the wrong places instead of from our Heavenly Father. I find my worth in other people, especially guys. I closed my eyes and saw myself before the throne of God. He was calling me to take off all the things I held dear, but I didn’t want to! I couldn’t let go of that relationship, that job, that aspiration! Those things defined me. They gave me worth and value! God called me again to give Him all of those things. I took off what I thought was keeping me warm and secure and placed them before His throne. Everything I gave was in shambles….the clothes I was wearing were filthy, ripped, and worn. But I couldn’t see that until I laid them at His feet. I thought those things were giving me life, but they were keeping me trapped in death. Once I let go, God gave me a new, white, pure, fluffy robe to wear. This was such a beautiful, tangible example of why God calls us to abandon everything we think we need, and receive our affirmation and joy in what He has to offer.
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalm 84:10.
3. Emotions follow choices
Let’s be honest, walking in the truth isn’t always pleasurable. One of my favorite songs by Francesca Battistelli says, “Truth is harder than a lie, the dark seems safer than the light.” Choosing Christ isn’t always easy, but we can’t let our emotions dictate our choices. I don’t have to feel God’s strength to know that I have it. Just because I don’t feel peace doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit isn’t there. On the race, I will choose to put God first, even when it hurts. I will choose to look to Him for my strength even when I feel weak. I will choose to trust Him even if my way seems easier. I will choose to forgive, and to love, even when my heart aches. I will choose to find my worth in Him, even when I feel unworthy. When tragedy strikes, I will choose to believe God is good. My lips will declare His truth until I feel it in my heart.
4. God is enough
TC reminded me that God is enough. My physical comforts were gone, but I’ve never felt more comfortable. My physical body was tired, but I’ve never felt more rested. The world told me to fear, but I’ve never felt more at peace. My mind was full of “what ifs”, but my Spirit was full of confidence in who IS. How can this be? How could I feel at home when I was hundreds of miles away from my family? How could I feel relaxed when I have no idea what the next 11 months will look like? Because God is enough for me. I long for something this world can’t give, and I found it in Christ.
I walked into training camp terrified, wondering if I was good enough to be a missionary. I walked out with over 50 new brothers and sisters. I walked out with confidence that God has chosen me to be His hands and feet. I walked out with boldness to step into the darkest places where sin runs ramped and take back God’s children. Most importantly, I walked out with a restless heart that will lead me to the ends of the earth!
Meet my family! The WOLFPACK!
Christen <3
