Hello wonderful, beautiful, amazing readers!! It blows my mind that I’ve been home from training camp for two weeks, and that I’ll be leaving for launch in 35 days!!!! That’s INSANE!!!
Like I mentioned in my last blog, training camp changed me. Since being back, I’ve realized a couple of things:
1. It was absolutely 100% ridiculous for me to sign up for the World Race.
I say this because, up until July 10th, I had never met any of the people I would be traveling the world for 9 months with, I knew next to nothing about the countries I would be going to, and I was pretty much clueless about what the whole thing was going to look like. The most tangible things I had to take a hold of were a few phone conversations with my mobilizer (who basically answered my questions, gave me advice, and prayed over me), and social media conversations with my squad mates. I honestly don’t know a whole lot more about what day to day life will look like on the race, but now, I couldn’t be more sure that this is what I am supposed to be doing.
2. God is SO GOOD!!!!
I’ve had a few moments since coming home where I’ve been smacked in the face and the feelings with how stinking good God is! One of my favorite things about training camp was opening my eyes during worship and seeing my peers praising God with all their hearts! I would imagine us all standing before Jesus, pouring out our praise to him, dancing wildly, hands in the air, the hugest smiles on our faces, because HE IS SO GOOD!!!!!
For these two reasons, I wanted to post a photo blog, so that 1. You can get acquainted with the people I’ll be spending my time with and the ministry that I’ll be serving with, and 2. So that you can see with your eyes the goodness of the Lord that I experienced during camp!
These beautiful girls are the people that I’ll be living with, serving with, growing with, and having a blast with for the next 9 months!
My team during our morning devotionals.
The squads during some of our daily sessions.
My squad (S Squad)’s camp site. We’d have to pack it all up most mornings and set them all back up in the evenings.
Some of my team mates trying to figure out a stubborn electrical outlet.
My team mate Margee and I on India day! We had to cover our heads during meals to replicate life in India.
If you read my last blog, you may remember something about God speaking to me through a henna tattoo. This is the one! (If you didn’t read my last blog, it’s one of my favorites! It’s all about how God spoke to me over and over again during camp. Check it out!)
This was one of my favorite moments of the entire 2 weeks. When all of us applied for the race, we had to agree to a certain set of rules that we’d adhere to. This day, we all re-agreed to follow those rules, but, in addition to that, we were asked to make our own, personal covenant with God: what were we individually devoting to God and promising Him during this next year. Then we made covenants to each other, our squad, about how we’d love one another, selflessly serve one another, and be the church to one another. We all took communion, and as each of us finished, we joined hands in one big circle and prayed. Then we all did a big huge cinnamon roll hug! (If you don’t know what that is, you should look it up!) I loved this moment!!!
My awesome team and incredible leader getting ready for Squad Wars!!
My amazing squad!!! (S squad, best squad!!!) These are the people that I’ll be going to every country with!
Part of Squad Wars was the dance off. It was SO MUCH FUN!! We killed it!
The next competition was called David and Goliath. Two people from each squad would compete against one another. One would have an egg tied to their head and the other would hold onto a pool noodle. The goal was to crack the other squad’s egg while protecting your own.
At the end of Squad Wars, which is also the last night of camp, we did baptisms for anyone who felt called to give their lives completely to the Lord. It was so cool!
Last but not least, worship. Like I mentioned earlier in this blog, there were moments were I opened my eyes and had the thought, This is what Heaven is going to be like.
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13
Wow. I can’t even come up with words for how beautiful this is. Jesus is so worthy of all our honor and glory and praise. Seeing my peers worshiping our King so freely brought so much joy to my heart. This truly is the purpose of life. To bring glory to Him.
God is SOOO GOOD!!! Man, I am thrilled to get to go out into all the nations and fight for His fame, let Him love me, and know His heart. Thanks for reading this all the way through if you made it this far!! I hope it blesses and encourages you!
My challenge for you: Look for the goodness of God this week! In the sunrise or sunset, in the uniqueness of laughs you hear, in the love of the Lord in someone else. Make a point to seek it! You don’t have to look very hard!
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8
