As I sit here, a couple of days after training camp, trying to process what the heck just happened all I can think is one word. Love. In my 21 years of life I have never experienced love like I did in those short 10 days. Love pouring out of me, love from my squad mates and training team, but most importantly love of my Heavenly Father.
My whole life I have had lies spoken over me. You’re not pretty enough, funny enough, good enough, smart enough, too emotional, cry too much, too awkward, not experienced enough, the list goes on and on. Most women my age have been told these things. Some are able to brush them off and move on with life. But some, like me, allow themselves to live in those lies. Allow those little lies to take over and fester. They believe those lies and allow others to believe them. Well guess what? I am DONE believing those lies. I have found love from 50 new brothers and sisters in a way I never thought was possible. Love from the Lord that I never knew existed. Will I slip up and go back to those thoughts sometimes? Yes but I have six new sisters (my team) to hold me accountable and rebuke those lies in me. They will love me through those lies and remind me who I am in the love of my Father.
In those 10 days I found a new identity. I am a women who knows she is loved, cherished and renewed in the One who created her in His image. I am good enough because He loves me and that’s all I need. Yes coming to this conclusion was hard. I had to let go of what I thought were the easy emotions, let go of the lies I have believed my whole life. Healing sometimes isn’t easy because to be healed means there was once brokenness and brokenness isn’t fun. But let me tell you, being free is! Being free and rid of those thoughts and emotions is a breathtaking thing. Knowing I am a capable and loved woman of the Lord and trusting in that is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
So now that I’ve gotten the emotional part out, I am going to talk about my squad and team a little bit. These new friends are some of the most incredible people I have ever met. They love and encourage in a way I have never experienced in a body of Christ. They want the best for me and are prepared to push that out of me in whatever way that looks like. I have learned that sometimes telling someone how they hurt me and making them cry can sometimes be beneficial and encourage them to be more like Christ. I have learned that it is okay to be myself. Not only because the Lord created me this way, but also because I will be loved by those He has placed on my squad. My team is a wonderful group of six other women who have the joy of the Lord like I have never seen. We each bring something different and exciting to the table. Our fearless leader is a lover of the Word, one who is funny beyond words, one who is quietly fierce, one who films life in a beautiful way, one who unashamedly dances and one whose smile you know is of the Lord. These women will empower me and bring things out in me that I didn’t know I could do. I am so excited to do life with these ladies and hear the stories of those on the rest of my squad.
The Lord is so so good. I am excited to spread the Good News to those all over the world. Please continue to pray for my squad and team as we prepare for this journey. I am still in need of $1,400, please help me reach my goal before I leave for launch. Thank you so very much for those of you who have supported me along this journey. It means more to me than I even know how to say. You are loved.
Introducing Team Alethinos! From left to right: Sam, Kayla, Lyndi, Kacie, Julia and Sarah!
My sweet sweet squad! (who WON squad wars by the way!)
