I just got back from 11 days of non-stop training for the World Race! It was INTENSE!!! Going into I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I mean I’ve heard a few stories, but it wasn’t what I expected. I expected to be a talker. I wanted to get to know these people that I would be spending the year with and I wanted them to know me. I wanted to tap into the knowledgeable people around me. But as soon as I got there God slammed me with a challenge to just LISTEN. That wasn’t what I expected at all. Over the past few years God has brought me out of my shell quite a bit and challenged me to be more extraverted, which has been great, but I heard very clearly this time to just listen.
I have been a Christian since I was seven years old and I can remember times when God has spoken to me through his word and through people, but I have never seen God speak to people the way he spoke to people at camp. I thought I was good and I was content with the way God spoke to me, but I realized I was not hearing all that He was saying, because I WASN’T REALLY LISTENING. There was a time in my life when I did sit and really listen to God, but lately I haven’t been practicing that discipline. This week and half God reminded me how He wants so desperately for me to LISTEN to Him again. I sat in silence with Him and his word and I heard Him again. I decided at the beginning of this year that my word for the year was abide. God brought that back to my attention and asked me if I was intentionally abiding in his presence? The answer was no. I am committed to abiding in his presence now, on the race, and the rest of my life. Abiding with Christ is right where I want to be. I decided on day 2 I didn’t want to “survive” camp or even the race, I want to “THRIVE”! God showed me to do that I needed to listen and that is what I did.
So, committing to abide and thrive was my intention from day 2! I am not going to say day 2-11 were the easiest days of my life but it was so worth it! Throughout camp I learned a few things about myself and my squad mates! Below you will find a top 10 list!
- If you give Jesus your YES, He will open your eyes to a life you never dreamed of! DO IT!! You won’t regret it!
- Feedback is great! Communication is important and crucial to living in a healthy community.
- I have a new family of 43 amazing people that I know way more about than I would have ever expected to learn in 11 short days! I love these people so much and can’t wait to live life with them and serve Jesus together for 11 months!
- Living outside isn’t so bad! Maybe I am more outdoorsy than I realized! I still am not a fan of snakes and spiders though!
- I can eat just about anything I put my mind to…including bugs!
- Bucket showers are AWESOME when you haven’t showered in a few days!
- Baby wipes are critical and a non-negotiable!
- You get used to packing, unpacking, and repeat! We are packing pros and am now aware of so many things I can and will live without! That pack ONLY weighs 28 pounds…yep that’s too heavy!
- Bucket laundry isn’t super effective! I will be buying a scruba bag! If you don’t know what that is please ask! They will rock your socks off, especially if you don’t have access to a washer and dryer.
- I’m even more excited about the World Race than ever! I don’t know exactly what these 11 months hold, but I do know I have given Jesus my YES and commit to consistently abide in His presence. I know it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it!
I have learned so much and fully expect God to change my life over the course of the next year of my life. I will listen and obey. That’s my job, the rest is up to Him. I trust what He has in store is better than anything I could ever imagine. One of the staff at camp told me that she heard Jesus say to her to pray for my eyes that I would open them up to see amazing things that He has in store for me. I believe that is true and can’t wait to hear Him every step of the way! I am apart of a team called the Radiant Rubies. We took the word rubies out of Proverbs 31. We are committed to becoming the women that God has called us to be and be refined into HIS Radiant Rubies! Stay tuned, the journey has just begun!
Radiant Rubies: Emily, Caitlin, Me, Brittany, Ali, and Sisay
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