*I have been fighting sitting down and putting my thoughts together regarding training camp since I got home over a week ago. I have had some time to process. I have put together some key aspects of training camp that I want to share with all of you.
1. God does answer prayers.
– A few months prior to training camp I started praying for a servants heart. God has given me a deep-rooted desire to serve my team. I also felt my heart longing for boldness (I even wrote a blog about it), so I prayed for that as well. When I arrived at training camp I had no idea that the Lord was going to answer both prayers. After our squad had done a number of different team bonding activities and spent the week learning and worshipping together it was time for the team leaders to be chosen. We didn't know how or who they would be but I was approached by a squad leader during lunch clean up to attend a meeting separate from everyone else. I got there and realized I had been chosen to be a team leader. Immediately I was honored and shocked which quickly turned to fear. I sat there and listened as Bill talked about what it means to be a WR team leader. He spoke of how it doesn't mean your team serves you it means you serve your team. Ahh-HA..there's that word "serve"; it clicked in that moment. I had spent all that time praying for a servants heart because I would be not only serving the individuals we come across during ministry but my team as a whole. I continued to listen and I realized to be a team leader I need to be bold. I need to make rational, sometimes quick, sometimes scary, Christ-centered decisions. I cannot cower, I need to be bold, someone my team can trust. Although I may still be nervous to be a team leader I know God has been preparing me for this long before I was officially asked.
<—–Getting a chance to help with meal preparations.
<—–Team and squad leaders.
2. God heals deep wounds.
-We had a speaker on the second day who spoke about wounds. He told us that sometimes someone can see a therapist for 30 years and never feel relief of the pain that ales them, but can then experience total freedom in 3 minutes spent giving it over to God. I am a perfect example of this. I carried around hurt and shame in my heart for 10 years. I frequently cried out to God and most times I told myself it was fine, I was fine. I wasn't fine. During worship on the second night a girl came up to me and spoke these words into my ear; "you are no longer the woman at the well". I burst into tears; sobbed for what seemed like hours. The woman prayed for me, hugged me and walked away. I stood there with my eyes closed listening to the worship band. In that moment Jesus came to me; a little girl scared and desperate, He grabbed my hand and said to me, "let's be done with this now" and we walked away from my sin and shame. I opened my eyes and looked around. I felt 100 Ibs lighter; Jesus had healed me.
-(This is a deeply personal experience for me but I feel it is important to share God's power to heal. I would be willing to share more details, just email me 
)
<—– I shared with my team my experience with Jesus from the night before
3. Grass is greener on the side Jesus is on.
-After that experience I had with Jesus on the second night I literally started to see things with new eyes. The sky has looked bluer and the grass has been greener. I feel my heart's ability to love deeper expanding to new depths. I see God's children in a new light; one of compassion and grace. There are many things at training camp that have changed me and it only makes me crave more of Him. He has set a fire in my soul that I can't contain (yes those are song lyrics, very appropriate ones at that) and this is just the beginning.
4. Documentation is everything.
– We had a girl speak about the importance of documenting this experience and sharing it with others. It wasn't until I got back from training camp I found this to be more true than ever. I realized after some processing time that to explain and share about this "trip" that is SOOO much more than just a trip and that God is SOOO much more than we can even imagine Him to be I must share how He is continuously working in my life. I must share how I experience His great work that is being done in all the nations. On top of those already amazing reasons to blog I realized as well it will help my family and friends process and understand what I am doing and how I am growing in my faith. I will still be Katelyn when I get back but I will inevitably be changed when I return June 2014 but this way my friends and family will understand better why I crave a tight knit community, love living in a tent, not caring so much about labels and fashion, why I am giving feedback out like candy, and why I must burst into spontaneous dancing at random times.
5. How my life has led me here.
-I look back on my 25 years and I think, "how did I get here?". I reflect back on all the heartaches I have experienced, all the petty fights with friends and family, all the loving hugs, and constant shaping and molding of my life and know deep down in my soul that God has carved out this path for me of struggle and moments of pure bliss to get me here; to have me ready to tackle the nations with burning love and desire of a Father so wonderful. After this week my eyes, ears, and heart have been opened so WIDE to how astounding life can be when it is spent living a Christ-centered life. I pray my heart continues to widen and take in more of God's love each and every day of my life and I get to then spend every second pouring out that love on everyone I meet.
Side notes:
Training camp was just the beginning. I pray that you come along with me this next year and see what God is working on in my life and in others around me. I will do my best to paint you a vivid picture.
******Check out my teammates on Team Talitha Cumi, (Mark 5:41) which means "little girl I say to you rise up". This team of all ladies is rising up to the calling God has put on our lives.
Will you be joining us along the way? Subscribe today on the left hand side!!
