well hey pals and family! crazy to finally be writing this from georgia where I’ve now been for a week 🙂 the squad kinda already feels like family, and maybe that’s because we are (thanks Jesus!). anywhos it’s been seriously awesome to dive head first (or maybe heart first) into community with them this past week. makes my heart happy to think about all the laughing, crying, praising, and dancing we have yet to come. our walk together is just beginning, and I’m trying to pace myself but y’all it’s mega exciting.
one thing we walked (and jogged) through this week was our fitness hike (2.2 miles, 38 pounds of pack, and 35 minutes in case you were wondering). and let me tell y’all, I did not expect it to push me as much as it did. for some reason i thought i would cruise through it wayyyy more than I did. but God loves to humble me thankfully. the flat and downhill parts i was chilling for the most part, but i also had to loop this big hill twice and guys i was sucking air the whole time. it took a lot of willpower to stay upright with my pack, and it took even more to keep walking up that dang hill. the cool thing is, and this really isn’t much of a shocker, Jesus met me there. He was before me and ahead of me. He was telling me to breathe in & step up, & as much as I wanted to remain stagnant, i wanted to listen to Jesus way more. so I took it one breathe and one step at a time. i found a rhythm with Jesus. and i made it all the way!! whooooo hoooo!
when I reached the end my teammate and pal abby held my pack for me while I took it off, & she set it on the ground for me. I feel like that lil moment says a lot too, and its stayed in my brain the past few days since then. it was such a simple action, but it held a lot of weight for me, literally 😉 it helped me to catch my breath and rest. Something I’ve been trying to lean into this week with Jesus. not to mention it also begins to display the hearts of the people God has surrounded me with!
we also got to have our first worship all together yesterday. & y’all the Holy Spirit was SO present. it really wrecked me. & i don’t mean that in a figurative way. i mean that i physically felt my lungs being pressed in, and the waterfalls began to flow. I was a mess, but once again Jesus told me to breathe. His life giving breath, not just my own. so i did. and it hurt honestly. but it was good. really good.
so long story short I’m going to keep breathing in that good air, and finding my rhythm with Jesus. cause it’s pretty life giving y’all.
thanks for reading my feelings! and coming alongside me during this time, receiving your love and support has been a gift! and i would love to chat when my device isn’t stuck in phone jail (i have time for you always friends!)
all the love,
erika
