Missionary Boot Camp

LEFT-LEFT-LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT!    So, today I returned from my week long training camp in Copperhill, TN, and it is quite hard to process all that happened and all that I am feeling right now….but here is my attempt to share it with you.

 

 

 

 When I first got to camp and set up my tent in the midst of hundreds of people I didn’t know, the thoughts that crossed my mind were “What the heck have I gotten myself into!? Living out of a backpack, $3.75/day for food, and sleeping on the hard ground with no AC!? Um….no. This isn’t for me, God!”  Reality was starting to sink in that I am actually leaving everything behind for eleven months to go into the unknown. One fun fact about me is that I like knowing things, and I like schedules. I also like many other things that I will more than likely NOT have during this trip, including but not limited to my new found love for Banana Pudding Milkshakes from Chick-fil-A. It was truly love at first taste, and my life will never be the same without them. Um….anyways, during training camp it was just go with the flow!  Sure, I can be spontaneous for eleven months!!!…..I think.  So, I just did what I was supposed to do when I was supposed to do it. I encountered different situations every day that were put before me to challenge me to live with less, to work well with my teammates, to become a part of the unique cultures that I will soon encounter, to grow closer with Jesus, and to evangelize throughout the cities and nations. I love what my leaders described evangelism to be. “Evangelism is making friends and telling them about the best part of my life.” And that is what I want to do this year on the World Race.

 

 

I once heard a quote that went something like this: “God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.” Amen.  I don’t have amazing talents to share. I am not a preacher or amazing singer. I am not gifted as a translator. But, but, but….I do have a story to tell. And so do you, by the way. And we can talk to people anywhere and everywhere! Our “Jesus stories” are for us to share with those whom He has instructed us to share them with. All I know is that Christians are told to spread the Good News to all nations. I realize that I am going on behalf of all my supporters, and I do not take that lightly. I am so thankful for a God who loves us so much that He gave us the Holy Spirit to live within us. A scary conformation that I received from camp is the gift of divine healing. One day I want to be a doctor, so it is probably obvious that I believe in healing through medicine. I also believe in healing by the Holy Spirit through the prayers of a believer who speaks in tune with the Holy Spirit. I am scared, and I need a Banana Pudding milkshake for comfort.

 

 

One super awesome part of camp is that I met my new family, which I will spend everyday in ministry with over the next year. Ohhhh, INTRO!!!! = )  Below is my team, TEAM COLLISION! “Where heaven meets earth.”  At the top left is Lindsey, our fearless leader. Beside her are Evan and Cory. Next, there is me and Melissa, the crazy ones. Below us are Jeff and Jessie. Cory and Jessie are our married couple, yay! I will be the finance person, who keeps track of the team’s budget, and Cory is in charge of logistics for the team. We are all working together! One week was more than enough time to realize that the people on this team love the Lord. I love them all already! I am so blessed and thankful!

Now, below is my squad in red. Blue and black are the other two squads. All squads will be sent out in July or August, but they have different routes. My squad is made up of  eight smaller teams. My team will link up with other teams within my squad during different times of the race, depending on the ministry at hand. My squad won the Squad War competition!!!……just thought I’d throw that in there. =) 

 

I leave July 1st, give or take a week, and I have no clue where I will be flying out from. (Again with the flexibility, haha!) So, what to do in the meantime!? Well, lots of packing and praying and saying goodbyes and praying and raising $8,000 and praying and banana pudding milkshakes and praying. Please pray for my squad mates and teammates and for the preparation of the hearts of those in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Romania, Ukraine, South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.  God bless!

 

 

 

My challenge to you today is to tell your story to someone, anyone! Find some old ladies at the mall and have a conversation with them. Pray with them. I did that the other day and after what seemed to be a five minute prayer, I ended with “Amen!” Then, one of the old ladies quickly and firmly grasped my hands again and said “Let’s keep praying!”  I may never truly know how much my encounter impacted those old ladies, but I enjoyed the smile it brought to their beautifully wrinkled faces. =) 

 

If you have any prayer requests, please drop me a note on my blog or Facebook. I’d love to pray for you during my trip. If you let me know what you are struggling with or even an unspoken request…I promise I will write it down in my prayer journal and pray for you over the next year. 

 

 

 A video-just for fun! If I have to do something like this when I am in Thailand….well, just be praying that I don’t!  Ha! =)