Oh my goodness! What have I gotten myself into?! Am I really going to 11 different countries?! And so soon?! It just doesn’t seem real to me. To be honest I really didn’t know what I was diving into when I said yes to the World Race- all I knew was that God wanted me there (and it sounded ridiculously awesome so I wasn’t gonna put up too much of a fight). But gosh after this last week at training camp I have been completely blown away with just how big God’s mission and vision is for this trip and how he is gonna work in me, my team, my squad, and through all of us to further his kingdom. And as I push closer to Him, I see that He’s got A LOT of work to do in me, phewf, but it’s sooo good.
I guess I had expected that while at training camp we were going to do some team building, lots of details about how to prepare for the trip, learning about other cultures and how to immerse yourself in them, maybe some worship here and there, going through some scripture, sprinkle in some talks…. and yes training camp did include these but they took it to a whole new level! I’ll be honest that I am not the most outgoing person who can make friends in a snap (it’s something I’m working on and have definitely gotten better at) but I felt so close to my squad and loved getting to know everyone and see the completely unique personalities that make us up- it just seemed so easy to connect with everyone. It’s crazy to think that these people will be my family for the next year or so- especially the 7 woman who are on my team (who are amazing!) We did lots of team building but it was intensely awesome stuff like military boot camp with us tied together, trying to figure out a way to get all of us to the other side of camp with a scenario of us all having problems such as unconscious, blind, one-leg, one-arm, etc. We had different sleeping situations each night that all had to do with situations that have actually happened to racers before or might be common on the Race. We tried food from different cultures, only had bucket showers, went camping, dance parties and I will try not to spoil too much else….sorry! But it was amazing! Ahh and worship. Mmmhhmm that was some good worship- so powerful. Man oh man God moved through this camp! One of the most powerful parts of camp was digging deeper into our personal relationships with God and checking where we are at before we head off on this crazy adventure. Here are some of the points that were brought up that really spoke to me:
If you are afraid of the Holy Spirit, you don’t get to do Acts, you get to do human things. Translation: how cool is it to look back at the crazy, amazing things that the early disciples did in the book of Acts right after Jesus died. They had given up everything , yet they were so on fire to share the gospel with others that they were willing to be persecuted and even put to death for their faith. They were seeing miracles and healing others left and right like it was something that normally happens. I think that since we live in so many comforts we have lost a lot of the need to rely on the Holy Spirit to move in crazy ways. And I know for me it just seems scary. But it is the same God now as it was then and He can move in these same ways if we will trust Him and allow Him to.
You can have as much of God as you are willing to pay the price for. Mmmmm this one probably stood out to me the most because it is so true. I think that so much of the time we are willing to believe in a God who is conveniently there for us when we need Him to listen to us and answer our prayers, yet the nearer you draw to Him and the more you listen to Him the harder it gets. Your sins and all your mistakes and flaws are brought to the forefront and you start getting pushed in the opposite way as everyone else. Yet to know Jesus is to know love and to know life and it is worth everything because in the end the things that may have seemed difficult at the time are what will help you grow and lead you closer to Him. It will bring you true joy that is only found in Jesus. I have experienced a lot of pain and heartache because of this lately but oh is God so good and Jesus so beautiful that I see that His hand is in everything and oh is His love so sweet. And you can never be satisfied; you should always be thirsty for more of Him.
We hear the whisper that there is “something more”. God is inviting us to “come and see”, to be part of the greatest story that has ever been told. This is what I felt before and when I had decided to go on the World Race. There was an inkling and an itch that there must be more than what the world was telling me would make me happy. But I knew that there just had to be something more. I have been given an invitation to help write God’s story- the story that began from the very beginning of creation to noah’s ark and King David to the birth, death and resurrection of our Savior to the saints proclaiming the gospel all over the world today. Yes that seems like a bold statement, but it is a choice for each one of us no matter who we are or where we are at. I can choose to walk in suite with the rest of the crowd experiencing God only within my comfort-zone within the parameters I put up or I can dive headfirst into God’s river that yes has many twists and turns, rocks and rapids, yet that leads to life and life to the fullest.
I only have six weeks before I take off on this crazy adventure. God has brought up a lot for me to wrestle with, figure out and focus on as I prepare to leave. I will need to make sure that my heart is in the right place and that I am keeping up good habits now because whatever my life looks like now will carry into the Race. I see that everything is a choice- to choose into joy, to choose into relationships, to choose into discomforts that will help me grow, to choose to listen to God, and to choose into putting others above myself. Thus as I prepare for the World Race I cling to this verse:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 16-18
I also still need to raise about $6,000 more to be fully funded for my trip and I know that I cannot do this without your support. Thank you so much to all of you who have already donated- it blows my mind with how God provides and works through people like you to be so giving. Thank you!
Team Starfish!
