Hi friends, sorry I have been so M.I.A this past month. Life has been filled with so much chaos lately.
Let me give you some insight on how training camp was….
Squadmates, awesome.
Worship, amazing.
The Lord working in my heart, indescribable.
Bucket showers, refreshing but not my favorite.
Port-a-potties, not cool.
Sleeping in tents, in-tents (haha punny).
Georgia heat, still sweating thinking about it.
But seriously, training camp was THE hardest week of my life, yet one of the greatest weeks of my life. Away from my life here in Virginia Beach, I was thrown into camping, extreme heat, and some awesome squad-time.
(Ok I need to just say that my squad-mates are insanely awesome. I love each and every 50 of them with all my heart. I never thought I would have such a large community of friends in a hard-fought journey with the Lord. They are all so inspiring in their ways and in their words with each other. )
The Lord showed up at camp and knocked me off of my high horse. A lot of training camp was filled with uncomfortableness for me. There really are no words, still, that I could ever say to accurately describe how camp was. I was stretched mentally, worn out emotionally, and extremely in awe of the Lord spiritually.
The Lord specifically freed me from my bondage to perfection and shame. I never knew how strongly the enemy has had a tight grip on my heart. I compare myself to others WAY more than I should, and way more than necessary. The enemy had spoken over me that I was never good enough, and that I was never going to be good enough. And I listened.
One night during worship, we sang Good Good Father and boy did things happen. As I shouted out how good our father was and screamed to the heavens that I wanted to change the way I lived and really believe and live a life showing how good our father was, a heavy, and I mean heavy, weight was lifted off of my chest. I broke down instantly. The enemy lost its grip on my heart and the Lord’s goodness flooded over me.
Our Father is so good and we are so loved by him.
I wish I could say more, but there really is nothing more than that. That song hit me like a freight train and knocked me over and made me readjust my sight on the Lord.
There is a specific reason that John 8:36 has and always will be my favorite verse, “So if the Son sets you free, then you are Free Indeed.” Its because I am free, I am freed from so much. The Lord has His arms wrapped around me, I’m no longer a slave to Satan, I am a child of God.
I got placed on to an all girls team of 5 other wonderful human beings. I can’t wait to live in community with their awesome hearts. We are called Team Chuphshah, which means freedom from slavery in Hebrew. How fitting to my situation and to all of the lives we are going to bring hope into.
I leave for Thailand in 11 days. 11 days!!!!!!!!! WHAT. It doesn’t even seem real to me. I would love for you all to write me letters that I can open during the Race. Letters that I can open on Christmas, My birthday, Thanksgiving, any holiday really. A letter just to be a small reminder of home.
Lets meet up and share some good coffee, take a few pictures and maybe shed some tears ( only from laughing though right)
You guys rock,
Vicky
