"Quick everyone make your best missionary faces!"
I heard this phrase a few times this week at training camp when we were taking pictures. None of us really knew what missionary faces looked like. We threw out guesses like tired,hungry and Holy Spirit filled but what I just realized is that we all already have missionary faces and they have developed quite a bit this past week.
Let me back track a bit. Before going to training camp I was scared. I had no idea what to expect. I sought advice from current racers and was told three major concepts. I am going to tell you them and how each one played out.
HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS
- Do not expect to starve(but snacks will become a luxury)
- Do not expect to act tough and put together (that will end fast)
- Do not expect to be prepared( You wont be)
- Do not expect to go away from training camp without a new family
You should only expect to be wrecked and put back together again. Expect to encounter the Holy Spirit in new ways. Expect to fall in love with complete strangers. Ok so maybe you can have a few expectations:)
BE FLEXIBLE
- You will not have a schedule
- You will have to come up with creative ways to exersise
- Plans will change
- You will eat new foods and in new ways
- You may end up going to Turkey instead of Ireland
- You may end up on a team that you did not expect
It may be hard but it will be worth it.
BE VULNERABLE
My favorite night of training camp was when we built a campfire. We gathered around the campfire and many of my squad mates shared their testimonies. It was so amaizing to hear their stories and hear the ways in which God has given them so much hope and promise. I wish it could have gone on longer and everyone(including me) could have had the courage to share. I have never been that good at this vulnerabillity concept but I really do want my squad to know more about me. Only a select few of them know my story and that is not really fair to everyone else.
Be vulerable before God as well. He already knows what is going on in your life and heart so why not talk to him about it?
In following these concepts I feel as though the Lord is continuing to form my missionary face. All three of these things are key in being a missionary. Another attribute that missionary faces have is a desire to look more like Jesus. When I look at my squad mates and team leaders I see them trying to look through the eyes of the Lord. Trying to see people the way God sees them. I see them using their ears to listen closely for Gods voice. The voice that will give them direction and wisdom. I hear them speaking words of truth and encouragement to one another. I hear them crying out in worship with a desire to know God more. So really the next time people ask us to make missionary faces I don't think we need to do anything differently. We already have them and they are simply beautiful.:)
