Hey there friends and family!!
I hope you all are doing really well and finding rest in Him wherever you may be this moment!
I wanted to update you since it’s been 1 WEEK since I moved to Georgia for discipleship training!! I can’t believe after almost a year of anticipation, I am finally here. The time has been so Spirit filled and so refreshing already. Our Father is so clearly working in every single one of my squadmates and I can’t wait to see how we look in and after these 3.5 months in Gainesville.
A little physical update for you: We are livin’ up the tent life! Our quaint multicolor tent and hammock city feels more homey everyday. The porta-potties, on the other hand, are a little less cozy. 1 squad. 1 toilet. 1 long holiday weekend… Enough said. However, the cold bucket showers are truly glorious. Thank you, Jesus!
A little spiritual update for you: Besides the physical newness to life here, there has been such a spiritual newness too. The word “growth” was given to me by my sweet team leader early upon arriving and I wasn’t quite sure what to think of it. As I was meditating and asking for the Lord to put something on my heart during our sabbath time, the word “arise” was whispered over me. I found myself in the Song of Solomon with the Father saying, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along… the time for pruning has arrived” (Song of Sol 2:13). It dawned upon me that growth, like waking up, can be rather uncomfortable. It requires pruning and cleaning. Jesus said, “Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). Paul chimes in and says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph 5:14). His light will make even more fruit! I know I have been emotionally and spiritually asleep in life. I hear Him saying, “Talitha Kum!” Or “Little girl, get up!” (Mark 5:41). I know this season of waking up and letting God do a great cleaning and pruning in my heart will be uncomfortable, but it will ultimately shape me into something that looks more like Him. Know, that He calls YOU beloved. Since He loves you and chases you, He calls you deeper too. I’m not quite sure what growth looks like for you or me yet, but I pray everyday that my eyes will be open to it.
If you made it through the jungle of my thoughts, thank you!! And thank you for supporting me along this journey. I cannot express how it warms my heart to think of y’all following along on my little adventure.
Peace and all the fruits,
Abby
P.S. I don’t have my phone on me during the day, but feel free to call or text me and I’ll for sure get back to you!! We also can’t have much mail coming in, but if you want to be penpals, send a letter to my home in AR and my awesome parents will send it on over!
