As I sit at my airport terminal waiting to board my plane home I can’t help but think of God’s goodness and grace! I’m getting ready to leave Georgia after a 10 day training camp for The World Race and I can hardly believe all God’s done in such a short amount of time.
I just wanted to share 2 quick stories of God’s incredible goodness:
Ministering to people has never been my strong suit. I may seem like an extrovert and I am, but I have never really been comfortable approaching strangers and talking to them about Jesus. I have definitely felt the Holy Spirit’s promptings before but I’m ashamed to say that I’ve ignored them for not wanting to be considered weird or creepy. Well this week at training camp we talked about being in tune to the power of the Holy Spirit within us and asking Him to guide us in our daily lives. We had an exercise in which we had to go out in the local community and find a stranger to give a water bottle to in the name of Jesus. I was slightly mortified…but with a YES in my spirit headed out in Gainesville, Georgia with my team to see who God wanted me to encounter.
As we walked down the streets in a residential area, I met a sweet 71 year old man named Larry. After talking to him for a little while, I learned he lives alone and has no family or friends close by. I asked him if he ever felt lonely and he shared that he did, I asked him if he believed in Jesus and he said he did. As we continued talking he shared some wisdom with my teammate and I, and we shared some laughs. As we were getting ready to leave, I asked if I could pray for him and he agreed. It was a beautiful encounter and I was thankful that the Lord allowed us to share some water and companionship with this man.
Fast forward to today, as I’m standing in line in the women’s restroom I over hear 2 ladies (airport employees) talking about how one of them has cancer and is going through chemo. I felt the Holy Spirit’s prompting to reach out to her and instead of ignoring it, I boldly asked her if I could pray over her. She gladly agreed and as we stood outside the restrooms I laid my hand on her and prayed for God’s miraculous healing, comfort, and strength to continue fighting for her life. I affirmed her faith and declared that her life would be a testimony to the Lord. She said “Amen!” and thanked me, we hugged and went our separate ways. I would not have normally done this but it literally took 2 minutes and it was the highlight of my day! How cool is it that God wants to invite us to be a part of the miracles He’s doing!? All we have to do is be willing to say YES and have eyes to see and a heart love those around us.
11 days ago I arrived in Georgia with no idea what to expect but eager and excited to meet the people that I’ll be doing life with for the next year. These last 2 weeks have have been full of learning, love, growth, friendship, and freedom! Over the last 11 days I’ve gotten to meet so many incredible new people, experience new things, and to push outside of my comfort zone, for that and more I am truly grateful!
My body is a little worn and tired (I’ve walked about 80 miles and probably have close to 30 bug bites) but my soul and spirit are refreshed and renewed. I feel a deep security and peace in the Lord and a burning desire to continue pressing into Him! I cannot wait to see what this journey will look like over the next year but I already know it will be incredible because the one I’m following is absolutely incredible!
P.S. Stay tuned next week for another post about what I experienced at training camp along with some fun pictures…
Prayer Requests:
-For my team and I as we go back home for 7 weeks before launch. That we would be able to fully present at home and with our loved ones. That we would use this time wisely to prepare our hearts for the year ahead and that we would continue to press into Him!
-Continued prayers over fundraising. That the Lord would continue to provide more than I could even ask for, think, or imagine!
-For Larry not to feel loneliness and for the Lord to provide him with meaningful relationships!
-And for strength and complete healing over the woman airport worker with cancer in Jesus’ name!
