We are exactly one week away from when I head out of Arlington and around the world. That is just crazy!
First, I want to let you know a bit about training camp for The Race which happened earlier this summer in mid-July. For 10 days I was in Atlanta, meeting and spending time with my squad and our leaders. My squad is made up of 35 other 18-20 year olds. Once we arrive in each country, we’ll be split into our teams for ministry work. Each day of training camp was filled with incredible talks that dove into ministry and community, powerful worship space, and interesting foods (in good ways and bad) from all over the world. Spending time in this program for just 10 days got me so excited about the power of God and all that He will do in the coming nine months. I was able to learn a lot about who the Holy Spirit is and my relationship with Him and I’m looking forward to pursuing that more and more. I had a powerful revelation that my relationship with God was one of understanding and pursuing God the Father and Jesus His Son, but I hadn’t yet let myself discover the Holy Spirit. This was not something that needed to cause me shame, but simply opened my eyes to the opportunity I have to have a full relationship with God. Again, this unveiling in my heart happened in the 10 days of training camp–so I can’t wait to see all that God has for me in the next 9 months!
Since May, I have been fundraising and I am blown away at the support, love and generosity I have received. Thank you SO MUCH to all of you who have supported me, both financially and prayerfully. I am so close to being fully funded, with only a little over $1,000 left to raise! If you would still like to donate, you can do that right here on the blog or get in touch with me.
Of course, the very best way that you can support me right now and throughout the next 9 months is through prayer. Having my community at home praying for me and my squad will make such a huge impact. We are serving in Jesus’ name so we need lots of prayer in discerning His path for us and letting us trust in Him. Over the next 7 days I would love prayer for productivity and wonderful goodbyes. Looking ahead I would love prayer for safety and health. We do not know yet what ministries we will be working with, but I would love prayer that the relationship between us and our ministry partners can be one full of blessings–given and received on each side. I am so excited for the growth that will happen throughout my gap year, yet I know that growth is challenging and uncomfortable, so I would ask for prayer in that as well. I hope to learn how to be a better worker, leader, friend, comforter, and whatever else God calls me to step into. God has unlimited power and can do so much in my life this year, so please be praying with me that I can trust in Him as He leads me.
