I have been trying to muster up the words to even begin to explain just how amazing Training Camp was. I wish I was able to take each and every one of you through everything I went through while I was in Georgia. I will try my best to be as detailed as possible about how amazing this 11 days was for me.
So I went to Georgia a day early for a video seminar some of the people launching in January were able to go to. So I arrived there and met the first round of people I would be spending 11 months with next year!
The next day, October 19th, my ENTIRE squad showed up and it was insane! People who had been praying for me, and who I had interacted with on Facebook were coming to life, and it was insane. It was like I already knew them.
Every day we normally had about 2-3 “sessions” where different speakers would share vital truths and face us with a lot of questions about the way we are living our lives, and the way the Lord wants us to live. I can truly say that I cried every single day for like, a week. The Lord broke my heart at Training Camp. We were forced to dig deep within ourselves, and really ask God what we are still holding on to, and things we need to let go of. We were reminded of how WORTHY we are in the eyes of the Lord, and that it is vital that we believe that we are essential to the Kingdom and that God LOVES us. We were asked to press into God, and ask Him if there were people we needed to forgive in our lives. Because forgiveness is so foundational, that if we don’t get it, and don’t allow it to happen, we don’t get HIM. And I forgave people I didn’t even remember being hurt by, but God brought them to light. We had a session where we had to deal with grief, and the different stages that grief holds (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance). I learned that I have been in the denial stage of grief for YEARS, and I never even knew it. It was a lot of breaking down of walls, and realizing that we haven’t given it all over to God yet. Learning to surrender it ALL. And that in order to fully pour into and love on the people we’re going to be in contact with on the Missions field, and just in life in general, we have to be able to give all that we have and not hold onto all of our baggage. The Lord breaks us, and tears down all of our walls, so that He can mend our hearts, and help us to build brand new perspective so that we can help change the world.
I have never worshipped so hard in my entire life. We had worship just about every night. I wish I could put into words just how insane worship was, and how filled with the Holy Spirit we all were especially in those moments. The music, the voices, the arms lifted high, the Father that makes it all happen. Insane.
I witnessed a miracle. A friend had hurt her ankle pretty bad, and was unable to walk well on her affected side. She was sitting at worship while we were all standing, and one of our Squad coaches started praying for her. I’m worshipping, and super in tuned to what I’m singing, and Katie hits me and tells me to look over. At this point I’m annoyed because “Girl, can’t you see I’m worshipping over here?” But I look over and our friend Sara is jumping, and walking on her foot as if nothing ever happened. It was radical you guys. I started ballllllling. GOD IS SO GOOD!
We slept in tents almost every night. And let me tell you, Georgia nights can get REALLY cold. One night in particular, we had to get a partner, and they put us through a scenario where the airline lost one of our big packs. So we had to share everything out of one big pack. My partner lost her bag, so we were going to sleep in my tent. I had all of the things I would need for myself, but I also had to accommodate for my friend who lost her bag! Long story short, we ended up having 4 people in my little 2 person tent for warmth because it was so insanely cold. What a bonding experience that was. I stinkin’ love those girls!
Also, my squad is HUGE. There are 58 of us! Aren’t they all just beautiful?!
However, we are split up into teams for when we get in country so that we are able to reach more contacts within that country.
This is my team Ahavah Chará (A-HA-VAH – Hebrew, Chará – Greek)
Meaning: Joyous Love.
These girls are each beautiful and powerful in their own gifts that God has wonderfully provided them with. And I get to spend the first 2-3 months with them! I’m so blessed.
From left to right: Jessica, Leah, me, Mikayla, Michelle, Becca, and Katie
Also, the food was crazy. I really tried to stay off of my phone, so I wasn’t able to get as many pictures as I would have liked to. But we ate crickets one day, which I decided tasted like sunflower seeds. Then we had a platter full of Chicken gizzards, chicken feet, cow intestine, goat, and chicken breast. A lot of us went to bed pretty hungry that day.
I can’t begin to tell you the relationships that have been wonderfully created out of this whole experience. The Lord brought all of these beautifully broken people together, and is making so much light out of it. I truly feel like I have another huge family. The friendships I have made in just 11 days, I know are going to last a lifetime, and we haven’t even begun our 11 months. It is the definition of community. It is breathtaking.
I wish I could tell you more. But I don’t want this to get way too long. I may have to do a sequel to this blog!
Please just know that I would not be here if it wasn’t for all of your support, prayers, and the Lord’s hand in all of this. I am beyond blessed to have all of you in my life.
I am currently at $13,403!!!!!!! So I have met my goal for December which is $10,000! Praise Jesus! I have been praying that I will be fully funded by Christmas, and I know that it is absolutely possible!
I have $3,614 left to raise! I am overwhelmed by the support and love you all have shown me through this process. It is beautiful. And God ALWAYS provides. He continues to make it evident as to where He wants me next year!
Peace and love to you all!
Keeley
