Sweat, Tears, and Brokenness. I saw it all this past week. Ever been to a Christian retreat or camp back in college, high school, or middle school? Yeah, well WR Training Camp was nothing like that. It wasn’t just another experience… it was life altering.
“I was uncomfortable on the hard concrete floor and had arrived to worship late (I was finishing up purchasing WR items and going to the bathroom). I was over being in that building… I was tired and bored.”
That was an excerpt straight from my journal this week at Training Camp. Let me give you a little backstory before I continue sharing the rest of my thoughts.
For the first few days of TC, I concerned myself with how people were perceiving me and how I viewed others. This isn’t to say that I didn’t have encounters with God… I had actually cried the second day I was there in awe of God’s love for me. But I was still more concerned with my image than I was with what the Holy Spirit had in store for me. Distracted by worry. Let’s pick back up from my journal…
“…At the end, Ron called on everyone to invite the Spirit and said, “Don’t worry how the Spirit speaks to you or other people. Just let it happen”. I honestly didn’t expect anything b/c I had felt sorta disconnected w/ God all day long and was worrying about other’s perceptions. I prayed, “Reveal Yourself how you want to” very stoically.
Next thing I know, my coach comes up and prays a simple prayer over me [I don’t even remember what he said]. I’m still disconnected. A couple minutes after he leaves, I start spinning in a circle, slowly, peacefully, and uncontrollably. Then my leg starts to shake uncontrollably. Goes on for a good while. Then I am being prayed over. I am silent. I start shaking more and am lifted to my toes. I feel the Spirit show me tasteful colors.
I am drawn to a higher place. I cannot get close enough to heaven, but I try w/ my body. I am struck with silence, unable to speak when my favorite song comes on. “Be still and experience me,” God says. I weep.
I am laid out on the floor by someone and being prayed over. First words out of my mouth are tongues!” I have never spoken in tongues before. I am still shaking, mostly in my hips now. Goes on for who knows how long. Then I open my eyes.”
And that’s just ONE experience. But it gives you an idea just how powerful this week was. Don’t put God in a box!! He wants to have an extremely INTIMATE relationship w/ you.
Another cool experience was when they split the guys and girls up. We had no idea what was about to happen. Long story short, our squad of men had to reach a certain destination together in the woods, while several of us were either blind, crippled, and/or mute. We carried each other like firemen, and encouraged one another like brothers for 30 minutes. It was one of the most emotionally, mentally, physically draining experiences of my life. Brokenness.
It would be near impossible to give details about every experience this week, so I will list some quick highlights:
– Tents all week,
– Community Meals (Very little food, eaten with hands, shared among 8 people).
– Cold Showers
– My pack was taken for 24 hours
– Healings
– Listening Prophetic Prayer
– Squad Wars
– Team Building
– Team Selection
– Feedback- Key to healthy relationships and teams!
– Ping Pong
– Dancing
– Route Changes
– No schedule
My squad is B Squad!! We all became like a family this week. Here is a picture of them:
I also found out my team, who I will be working closely with in ministry over the next several months at least! They are my new family for a year. So excited to be with these wonderful men and women who love Jesus and want to serve for God’s glory! Meet Team Tabula Rasa (which means “Clean Slate” in Latin)!!
I learned that this next season will be extremely challenging, but I’m so ready to see what God will do! I am still in need of funding, so if you’d like to donate, just click the “Support Me” button on my blog! Thanks so much!
