Yesterday, I turned 22. I thought that I would feel different, or be excited, or have some sort of emotion, but the day seemed to lack a lot of the luster that previous birthdays have had. It was a great day, don’t get me wrong, my friends are so great, and made me choose everything that we did, which I hated, but did anyways, but the day just seemed to be overpowered by something bigger. Something bigger than me.
The week before my birthday, I was down in Georgia for Training Camp. It was one of the most incredible, difficult, trying, wonderful weeks of my life. The Lord showed up in huge ways- ways that hurt, ways that healed, ways that excited. I experienced so much growth, was poured into so well, and trained on how to pour out.
I finally got to meet the 43 people that will be my family for the next 11 months. They’re loving, funny, challenging, and God-filled.
I got to meet the 6 people that I will be spending 24 hours of the day with for the next 11 months. They’re wonderful, weird, beautiful people, and I can’t wait to jump into life with them.
I got to experience God in ways that I never have before. I got to hear his voice, I got to bring truth to a squadmate, I was brought healing, I experienced his kindness.
I slept outside with scorpions. I ran 30 minutes in Chacos. I ate cold French fries for breakfast. I jumped in a lake fully clothed. I woke up at 5:45 every morning. I climbed more hills than I care to think about. I was pushed outside my comfort zone.
My week in Georgia gave me a vision of what my next 11 months will be. They will be so incredibly challenging, but they will be so incredibly fulfilling. They will be full of heartache and trials, but they will be filled with overwhelming joy and surprises. The Lord’s hand is already so at work in these people and places, and I can’t wait to take part in it. Seeing that little glimpse at Training Camp just made everything else, like birthdays, seem so much less important.
On a logistical note, I now know the day I’m launching. I’ll be heading down to Atlanta on June 29, and flying out to Nepal on July 3. How’s that for patriotism? Ha. I would love to see as many of you as I can before I leave, so let me know if you’d like to meet up!
I know that this blog post is kind of sporadic, and doesn’t actually give much information, but I’m still processing through what just happened to me. Once I do, expect a more thorough post, but until then, this is what you have to deal with.
