These past 2 weeks of my life have been some of the most challenging, yet some of the most rewarding times of my life. Starting off in Puerto Rico the first week and then quickly transitioning into Training Camp the second week.
In Puerto Rico, I worked with 6 young men in a Juvenile home, who changed my life and made me realize how fast you can fall in love with a group of people in just 4 days. These guys became my friends so fast, that it literally broke my heart to have to say goodbye when the time came. To have a language barrier between us yet being able to still communicate through games, and one translator, and to laugh, make fun of each other, etc. was so incredibly rewarding and life changing. I will never forget those guys and I’ll always be in contact with them.
Transitioning into my second week in Gainesville, Georgia, still emotionally healing from Puerto Rico, I was thrown in with 40 others my age for a challenging week of Training Camp for the World Race. Once again, to my amazement I couldn’t believe how fast I learned to love each individual that I had just met. Yet, we all had one thing in common…we all LOVE Jesus! So that might of had something to do with it.
Throughout the whole week I was challenged more spiritually, and emotionally then I’ve ever been in my life, and one physical exercise where I thought I wasn’t going to make it out alive. The whole week was really about letting the Holy Spirit come into our lives and move in us and letting Him take control. For me this meant stepping outside of my Lutheran comfort zone and surrendering my wants and needs. Seeing the Holy Spirit work in me along with all my new friends was nothing short of amazing and I’ve never felt so close to people I didn’t know. Worship day and night, 14 amazing lectures, new sleeping arrangements every night, bucket showers, sub-par food, and swimming in a lake so exhausted from being physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained, I thought I might just not make it out alive. Being out in the middle of a lake with pure weakness I yelled out for strength from God (seriously out loud) for the first time in my life, cause I knew I couldn’t get across the lake by myself or I would’ve drowned. I wouldn’t take back one second of it though, because I not only grew in my faith, but I grew in community with my 9 new bros, and Jesus showing me directly where I need to lay all my fears and worries, and where I gain my strength from and that’s in Him. No one else, no more believing the enemies lies.
Towards the end of the week, our leaders and mentors placed us in groups of 7 who we will be specifically spending the next 9 months of our lives with. I must confess I was not pleased with my group at first but I had to trust that Jesus put us in this group for a reason. Quickly after the groups were formed we were put through an activity of team work to get dinner and I soon realized that through our 4 solid hours together that this team was going to be amazing and I can’t wait to get to know each and every one of them more. Also two of the girls on my teams names are Mackenzie and Anna which are the names of my two sisters so if that wasn’t Jesus then I’m crazy!
God has blessed me with so many amazing opportunities, challenges, and people these past two weeks that I must say I DO BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER…BECAUSE I KNOW !!HIM!!…I HAVE BEEN CHANGED…FOR.GOOD!
…..some side entertainment for those of you who didn’t get the reference……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiImvQTI5ZE
#lovemesomewicked
BLESSINGS!!
