Training camp is officially over!!! woohoo!!! This means there’s only about 7 weeks until launch (how did this get here so fast???) The Lord has worked in my life over the past 10 days in various different ways and I am so thankful for my sweet team and my squad (pictured below) that I got to meet this week! So many sweet friendships were formed and I can’t wait to grow even further in community with them over the next 9 months.
First of all, I have exciting news!!! While at training camp we discovered that instead of spending 3 months in Thailand for our second country, we are now doing ministry there for only two months, and we are spending the third month in another country in Asia! We will also be spending time in South Africa after Swaziland for debrief! So 3 countries in 9 months quickly turned into 5 countries in 9 months and we could not be more excited! I know the Lord is going to go before us wherever we go and give us opportunities to advance his kingdom no matter where we are. So praise God for that!
Training camp consisted of multiple different sessions each day. We learned about the different religions that are dominant in the countries we will be traveling to. We learned how to tailor the gospel in a way that will reach the people we will be ministering to. We learned about culture and how to see people through the lenses of their own culture and not our own. We slept in tents and ate foods that are specific to where we will be going. We dove deep into the topic of missions and what that looks like specifically. A phrase that has stuck with me is, “on earth as it is in heaven.” y’all. That is possible!!! God’s will is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Chrsit for the praise of His glorious grace (Ephesians 1)!! It gives me chills imagining the people of earth proclaiming the name of our Lord Jesus and ascribing him the worth and the praise he deserves. I have definitely seen glimpses of heaven here in Gainesville Georgia this past week and I am expectant to see how the Lord will move in these next months to come and ultimately advance his kingdom.
While there was a ton of important information thrown at us this week, there was also a ton of spiritual growth that took place as well. For the first time in my life, I can truly say that I am walking in complete freedom of who He has called me to be and experiencing complete joy that is found only through the Father. He has broken so many chains of guilt and shame and and taught me what walking in forgiveness looks like as he is the perfect example! I committed to having a kingdom mindset and dying to myself everyday for all the days of my life! & during this season of my life that looks like not going to college with my friends, and giving up my comfortability but it is ok and it is worth it because he is Lord and he is worthy of all the praise I have to offer!!!!
I am putting all my fears and worries in His hands because I know He will provide for every need imaginable. Consider the wildflowers (Luke 12:27-28)!!! Why should I be worrying??? The Lord calls me to have only the faith of a mustard seed. I know for a fact the Lord is going to use this season of my life over the next nine months to stretch me and advance his kingdom. Thank y’all for walking alongside me during this journey and for all of the donations and prayers. I appreciate them more than you know! Here is my squad and my team that you can begin praying over! I love you all so much!!!!
-Anni:)
