Wowza. Training camp. I could actually talk to you about it for hours…and I may know this from experience. So many things happened, were learned, and just crammed into those 12 days. We camped, had meals together, worshiped, had a million sessions, were put into different ministry scenarios, and discovered our first teams! (shout out to team Vessels of Joy! You can follow along with all my lovely teammates by checking out their blogs if you look to the left-hand column of this site! Blog post to come formally introducing you all!).
Also, to clarify: I will be traveling between countries and debriefing with a squad of 37 amazing people while gone. But we have been separated into 6 different teams that we will actually be living with while on the field. These teams may change over the course of the 11 months, but I will most likely be with this specific team for at least 3 months!
But back to Training Camp:
Honestly, there are too many words and I want to share them all. But how do you summarize two weeks where you were contently being poured into and experiencing the love of God from everyone around you?
In a word? Boundless.
At training camp, we learned so much. About ourselves, about each other, about different cultures, about ministry, and above all else about God. They held sessions every day that gave us a healthy expansion to many boundaries that I had in place.
I found myself opening up more to strangers that I had just met than with people I have known for years. I found myself breaking down walls that I had built up to protect myself. These walls include not getting too comfortable with people due to a fear of loss, and not allowing myself to feel too much because I know how powerful strong emotions can be. And this involves seeing God for who he truly is.
For yeeaaarrrs I have been putting limits on God based on what I feel I am capable of. Because in the back of my mind, the limitless nature of God scared me. I gave myself these boundaries to hold me back because they were where everything was safe and known.
But we have this God that is calling us to be used for His greater plan in the power of His limitlessness. We see that, and yet we take what we want and deny what we’re scared of. We are literally being handed freedom out of the greatest freedom and yet these boundaries and walls we make.
And over time I honestly kinda forgot what was self-imposed. And I had forgotten that I was even living with these limits. Thinking I have success when in reality I have never done anything that was scary enough to bring failure.
But at training camp, I rediscovered a lot of ways that I was putting God in a box. I rediscovered a lot of my unhealthy boundaries and saw that in reality, they have only ever been holding me back. Both in my relationships with people and God.
I am used to relying on myself and a moment’s courage. But the thing is, it only lasts a moment. And I am not dependably brave. I’ll eventually return to my restrictions because I am scared of the unknown. And God knows no bounds.
But at training camp God brought me past my walls and past my boundaries and into His. And you know what? It brought joy. There was no fear…just the safeness of God.
I encourage you to ask yourself what boundaries you have been setting. Don’t get me wrong, certain types of boundaries are healthy and necessary. But I am talking about the ones that don’t only restrict you but also your relationship with the Lord. These boundaries limit the ways that you truly see and experience the full power and presence of God.
I would LOVE to share aaallll the details of Training Camp but then this would be a book and not a blog post. Most importantly for now, I would LOVE for everyone reading to know just how powerful and good our God is. If you would like to know more, please please please reach out!
{thank you to everyone who took the time to read this!}
Update: You all are AMAZING and I am now 53% funded! However, I am still short $2,800 dollars to be able to leave with my team in October. If you are able and feel led to donate, any amount is so helpful and much appreciated!
