Guys, this just got real. I spent the last ten days in Gainesville, Georgia, at training camp along with the rest of my squad as we prepared our hearts and our bodies for next year. It’s all been a lot to process and there’s no way I can fit all of my thoughts about it in one blog (especially without boring you too much), but let me set the scene for you. I met my 32 squad mates for the first time as we all set up our tents and camped for the duration of the time…even when the weather dropped into the 40s. Our showers consisted of a hose and a bucket (be glad you weren’t the one sitting next to me on my plane ride home) and our only bathrooms were port-a-pots. We had several makeshift scenarios including when the airline “lost” half of my teams’ bags and we had to share tents and our things for a night, a “community living” night when we all shared several big tents, and a night at the “airport” where we listened to planes taking off and announcements being made all night as we spread out our sleeping bags on the floor. We had different themed days that allowed us to try food from those countries and to practice the norms of various cultures, including eating with chopsticks or our hands, or using communal plates. We had a physical fitness test that we had to hike carrying our 40 pound packs just over two miles and let me tell you, Georgia isn’t flat. Some days we’d set up our stuff only to wake up and pack it all back up again. Overall, physically, it was challenging at times. I’d be lying if I didn’t question if I could live like this for 11 months, when I just kept dreaming of a hot shower and my warm bed. But aside from the physical aspect was the spiritual, and you know what? God showed up. He showed up in the worship sessions. He showed up in the leaders and the trainers who shared testimonies and spoke truth over us. He showed up in my squad, as they had just the right words at just the right time, or gave a hug just because they felt like God told them to. He showed up when our teams went out to evangelize door to door. He showed up when a new friend bought me a bag of M&M’s. He showed up when I sat on a bench reading His Word. He showed up in my tent when I laid awake at night listening to strange animals in the distance. And those are just to name a few.
Every time that God showed up, I was reminded that God is not a God of coincidence. As I was sitting on the plane waiting to take off to head to Georgia nearly two weeks ago, I looked out my window and there was a little rainbow, the kind that God has used as a special symbol between us the last couple years (maybe I’ll explain more in a future blog), and you know what? That wasn’t a coincidence. I believe He put that rainbow there just for me that day, as His way of telling me that He was with me, and that where I was is exactly where I was supposed to be. How amazing is that? The God of the entire universe cares enough to notice ME and then to tell me that He cares. Going to training camp, I was nervous. I was going to meet my team for the first time, and I didn’t know what to expect. If you know me at all, you know that I am not one for big groups of people, let alone strangers. So, when I am put in those situations, I typically tend to try to hide and just blend in with the crowd, which, honestly, is what I did this time, too. I struggled with that a bit on this trip as I watched everyone else quickly forming friendships, and even in their relationships with God, and I found myself questioning Him…I asked Him what about me? And do you know what He told me? One day at lunch, the trainers had each written a note at every seat, and I “randomly” sat at the one that said, “You don’t get lost in the crowd to God. You definitely catch his eye!” And just like the rainbow, I didn’t sit at that seat by coincidence. God wanted me to know that He sees ME. (How sweet is that?!) As I thought about all of the things I could’ve written about in this blog (it was only ten days but So. Much. Happened.), I felt like this was the theme He kept bringing back to my heart…so, sweet friend, know that God sees you, and He cares about you. You don’t get lost in the crowd to God, either. But if that’s how you’re feeling today, message me, email me, text me – I’d love to be able to pray for you specifically.
Leaving training camp, I’m still nervous for next year. I know that God is going to challenge me as He already has started to, but I’m also still excited because I know that He has called me to something more, and I’m honored that He chose me to do this work. I can’t wait to see how He shows up in Ghana or Argentina or Thailand. I can’t wait for Him to blow my mind. Logistically, I still have a ways to go. If you’d like to partner with me financially, click “donate” at the top of this page. Every little bit helps! If you want to follow along with me on this journey, subscribe to get blog updates. To those of you still reading, thank you for being a part of my journey. I am grateful for each of you, and I pray you feel seen today.
