Hey guys! As I mentioned in my last post, a lot of crazy things happened at training camp this past week. The craziest thing of all happened on the first night. For those of you who don’t know, my group is not the only one going out onto the mission field. There are other squads who are going on different routes (going to different countries) next year.
Flashback to last Saturday…
Everyone arrives at camp and it’s like one big reunion. Most of my squad (N squad) had been in contact for the past few months and we had all been supporting each other as we prepare to go on this incredible journey next year. We had prayed for each other, laughed together, gave advice to each other – I even went camping with some of the girls a few weeks back! These people were my family and I hadn’t even met most of them in person. We all head over to our camp site and set up our tents – joking around until it was time for the service that night. That’s when I would have to make one of the hardest choices of my life.
Right before the service started, our squad was called into the room – just our squad. That was when a lady greeted us all and told us that we had a “situation.” It turns out that our squad had too many people on it and another squad didn’t have enough. They were asking 11 of us to volunteer to switch to the other squad. Of course nobody raises their hands. She said we had until after the service to think about it, but by the end of the night, 11 of us would be on the other squad. She told us that she hoped we would all pray about it and see what God’s will for us was. But if not enough people volunteered, then she would be pulling names out of a hat.
My first thought was, “Well that’s when I’ll switch – when you pull my name out of a hat. I’m not switching. This is the route I chose. These are the people I’ve bonded with. I’ve dreamed of going to Ireland since I was a kid! I’m not giving that up. Somebody else is supposed to switch – not me.”
Turns out God had other ideas. Through out the entire service, I knew God was telling me to switch. And honestly? I fought Him the whole way. I remember thinking, “No God. No. I’m not giving up Ireland. You know I’ve wanted to go since I was a kid. You know what it means to me. You know what these people mean to me. I don’t know anybody on the other squad. I don’t even know what countries the other squad is going to! No, I won’t do it. I’m not switching.”
That’s when God asked me that one question that would change my entire World Race experience – “Are you going on the Race for the counties, or are you going to grow closer to me?” Then there was silence as I tried to process what He just said. Then I heard one more word – “SACRIFICE.”
I knew at that moment what I had to do. I volunteered. And honestly? It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Am I sad that I won’t be able to go to my original countries? Yea. But I know now I’m where God wants me to be. And my new squad has embraced me as a member of their family. I am in love with my new squad and I can’t wait to do life with them next year! God has showed me that while sacrifice isn’t always easy, we need to trust that he knows what’s best for us.
