Saying ‘yes’ can be hard, & saying ‘yes’ can be easy. It’s easy to say yes to spending time with your best friend or a big bowl of chips and guacamole…but saying yes to the unknown is hard.
As I sit in a coffee shop with my journal & Bible open my mind is going a million directions as I process everything that happened at training camp.
[Training camp is….”an intense 10-day experience where my teammates met in Georgia to connect deeply with the Lord & each other. Through teaching, prayer, scenarios, & relationship building, you will step out of fear & shame & into intimacy with the Father. You’ll also receive training on how to partner with God to establish His Kingdom on Earth.”]
Training camp was challenging. There was joy, anxiety, tears, laughter, fear, praise, rain, sunshine & everything in between. I felt like I did a good job going into training camp without expectations, but training camp challenged me physically, mentally, & emotionally in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. Every single day the Lord was teaching me something, & while I’m thankful for these lessons I’m overwhelmed by everything I’m took away.
Training camp gave us more information, but the many unknowns of the next year are still relevant…& that’s where saying yes comes into play. Sitting here I’m not really sure what I’m feeling…I’m anxious about what the next year will hold & tears fill my eyes when I think about leaving my family and friends for 11 months.
But….
The Lord is GOOD!
A verse I clung to during training camp was Psalm 139:16
“…And in Your book were all written
the days that were ordained for me
when as yet there was not one of them”
How refreshing it is to my soul to know the Lord has had every single one of my days planned before I was even born. Because He is good, because He is sovereign, because He will never fail me I will trust Him…
& I will say yes
One of the speakers told us to not go on the World Race without a yes in our hearts. While thinking about the next year can be overwhelming, I’m choosing to say yes. I’m saying yes to the unknown, the uncomfortable days, the moments of joy & celebration, the frustrating situations, & the moments of uncertainty….but ultimately I’m saying yes to my Heavenly Father & the perfect plan He has in store for me & my time on the Race. There’s no reason not to trust Him, & there’s no reason to fear!
A few logistical updates to end the blog…Cote d’ivoire is the first country my team & I will be going to. I leave for Atlanta on August 4th for a few more days of training before we launch. Above is a photo of my team. I’m extremely thankful for them & the plans God has in store for us!
I appreciate all your prayers as I continue to prepare to leave in August. I ask specifically for prayers to stay focused these next six weeks & to not be discouraged by the unknown. Leadership told us the more we step into the potential for the next year the more resistance we will encounter. Pray that my teammates & I continue to have a yes in our hearts as we prepare for the journey ahead!
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! I would love to share more about my time at training camp! [[email protected]]
