Whelm:
engulf, submerge, or bury (someone or something).
“a swimmer whelmed in a raging storm”
flow or heap up abundantly. “the brook whelmed up from its source”
These are Google’s definitions of whelm, and I’m pretty sure this is what happened in the past ten of days at training camp.
I haven’t shared for quite a while, so we’ve had a few updates to our route.
Madagascar has been removed and in it’s place we will be going to Namibia.
Jamaica has been replaced by Haiti since there are ministry partners there with higher priority needs.
Laos has been replaced by Myanmar.
These changes caused some sadness throughout my squad, but we have had quite a bit of practice with letting God change what we thought our plans were. This has enabled many of us to trust more fully that He has a good and perfect plan for us!
So…training camp summary…it was good…? =]
I ate a lot of interesting food, which was all surprisingly delicious, while learning about different cultures. I bonded with 42 people that I will be travelling from country to country with. Listened and tried to absorb so much information that will be helpful for both the race and the rest of my life. WR staff helped create experience through many different scenarios that may come up, such as changing up sleeping areas, cultural do’s and don’ts, and markets. Near the end of the week I met my ministry team, which consists of Ian, Shannon, Payden, Bethany, and Derek, and I. We chose Paradosis as our team name, which is the Greek word for surrender. Each member shared their favorite Bible accounts, all of which were related to sacrifice and/or surrender. Our team was the most confident in being together, but we will still need prayer as we are each individual people that need to be aware of what God has for us.
So that’s a fairly brief summary of what happened at training camp…It was really a great and challenging experience,but God tells us that He will not give us more than we can handle. So, technically I was never overwhelmed, but just whelmed with surrender and also joy. There are two songs below that were going through my head quite often throughout training, so maybe you can get them stuck in your head too =]
Surrender by Barlow Girl
https://open.spotify.com/track/0KHSGgbrnZYakwoZIS9ySh
My hands hold safely to my dreams
Clutching tightly not one has fallen
So many years I’ve shaped each one
Reflecting my heart showing who I am
Now you’re asking me to show
What I’m holding oh so tightly
Can’t open my hands can’t let go
Does it matter?
Should I show you?
Can’t you let me go?
Surrender, surrender You whisper gently
You say I will be free
I know but can’t You see?
My dreams are me. My dreams are me
Joy by Newsboys
https://open.spotify.com/track/3m5DT454U2zk6dFPkKE0wZ
You give me joy that’s unspeakable
And I like it, and I like it, yeah
Your love for me is irresistible
I can’t fight it, I can’t fight it
I’m bowed and broken, every thing’s new
All that I need, You’re like water to seed
And how Your love rights everything wrong
And in my weakness, You’re ever stronger
You’re pulling me back where I belong
