It just occurred to me that I haven’t posted a new blog since BEFORE training camp! SO, here is an update with where things are at right now, and what God has been doing recently.
Training Camp/Devo Time
Training camp was such a surreal time. I had no idea what to expect going into it, but it surely had taught me more than I expected it to (in all honesty). It was a challenging, yet incredibly refreshing time where I can honestly say I heard the voice of God speak more clearly than I’ve heard it for quite some time.
One of the most important things I learned at training camp was how to ask for help. I’m stubborn and like to accomplish things on my own. So it’s very difficult for me to ask someone for something I need, such as a blanket or a water bottle (I used a little dog dish as my water bottle for the first half of the week because I forgot a Nalgene bottle haha).
Training camp got me past being a “germ-freak” (but I still will never eat fruit).
Training camp pushed me to be a leader that my squad needed. There was a day in the middle of the week, more tasking than all the others. I struggled with a physical exercise the men had to accomplish, which was the most arduous and physically demanding thing I’ve ever done in my life. This required me swimming (which I’m not very good at) a very long distance; and mix with that my biggest fear of open bodies of water (this case being a lake). Add my lack of swimming ability, anxiety from fear, and a torrential downpour together and what do you get???? Me fearing of drowning in the middle of a lake! THAT time was taking a toll on me amongst other personal things, THEN I was asked to lead my team on the night’s excursion: A CAMPOUT WITH NO TENTS! We would have to make a camp using only a few tarps, some rope, an axe and a shovel….”clearly they’ve made a mistake asking me to be one of the leaders on this assignment” was my first thought. I had to put all my anxiety, fear, and worries behind me for the good of the squad. This night was such a stretch and I continually asked God to give me a positive attitude to take care of everyone before myself. It was a crazy rad night all in all which, to me personally, showed me that in our weakness, He is strong.
The next day I discovered some crazy news:
I was asked to become a TEAM LEADER
This invitation, at first, was met with some hesitation on my part…until I read the leader description. The description read:
“Team leaders exist to serve their teammates and make them successful. On the World Race, this will include empowering other people to use their gifts well, helping establish and maintain the culture set forth by Adventures in Missions, and continuing to challenge your team to pursue God’s presence.”
The fun thing about that: That’s the exact prayer I’ve been praying. It’s exactly what direction I felt God pointing me in ever since my mission to the Dominican Republic. Immediately when I saw this description, I could do nothing but cry. God is good and He knows what He is doing.
This leads to finding out who my team is…
Team Key Bearers
This is my incredible team! Austin, Bryce, Ariah, Amy, Tabby, and Heather. I was so pumped to discover that this would be my family for the next year!
And with that said………..
DEVO TIME!
Acts 3:1-10
Here you have a picture of Peter and John walking up to the temple during a time of prayer. Outside of the temple: you have a crippled beggar who is placed there day after day to beg fror some change. He asks Peter and John for some money, and here’s how they respond to this crippled beggar instead:
“Look at us! Silver or gold I do not have, BUT what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
The crippled man (from birth) gets up and walks for the first time! He’s not only walking, but running, even jumping and praising God for the miracle that has occurred. Everyone inside the temple are witnessing this as well!
Here is what I am getting at
This man has been crippled since birth. He’s placed in front of the all these devout religious folks every single day, yet his circumstances have not changed. These individuals have walked past this man every single day and not attempted to change his condition. Then Peter and John randomly see this guy and refuse to walk by and do NOTHING. They don’t just help him out with a couple coins but they let God do the talking.
Who do we walk by every day, who God is CLEARLY placing them in our path for a reason???
Why don’t we be like Peter and John and take the time to show that person who they truly are and remind them they are a child of God and they are loved?
Here’s how this ties in:
The day we found out who are teams were, we were allowed to leave the camp and go “MAKE A MEMORY” together. So we went where all good memories are made…
CHILI’S of course 🙂
We had an amazing meal for sure, and kept deliberating on what to do next. For reasons unknown, because we had no real agenda, we decided to go to the local Wal-Mart. Upon arriving in the parking lot, we discovered 3 young dudes with guitars sitting on a curb at the end of the lot with a sign saying “need money for food/hotel”.
This is where we made our memory
Our team walked the vast lot to listen to them play, some of our team talking to a random family nearby listening as well. We felt the Lord leading us to take care of these dudes by heading into the store and “providing” for them. It was funny seeing how each team member’s personality showed in the food we chose to get them. Tabby picking up all the proper, healthy food. Amy picking up some fresh, hot of the grill food. Austin picking up some waters. Then myself, the skate-rat, getting mountain dew and cheez its 🙂 We left the store with a shopping cart full of food and delivered it to these dudes. It didn’t stop there. Now came time to actually sit down and here their story. We found out the two young guys (the third another guy who just came to play guitar with them) were away from their homes and living in tents in the woods. They were living homeless technically. We listened to their hearts and encouraged them with the hope that had been instilled of each of us. We shared our personal stories with them, and shared Jesus with them. They even let us pray with them, in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Georgia. It was an incredible first time experience with my team.
I share that because…
Wal-Mart was our temple
These teenagers were our “crippled beggar”
We could have let our agenda or schedule dictate what we were supposed to do.
But God always has a bigger plan and purpose.
My challenge: slow down. Take the time to notice the “crippled beggars” in our every day life
Maybe you’re called to pray for peace for a stranger
Maybe you’re called to pay for the groceries of a stranger
Maybe you’re called to simply befriend your enemy
Maybe you called to pray for healing over a friend at work
Don’t let one more person in need slip right through your fingers…love one another just as Christ loved us first.
My prayer for all of us is to open up our eyes and ears to see and hear God everywhere we go.
He’s speaking…are we listening?
