Hello from (almost) Costa Rica!
Since Thursday evening my team (along with several other mission teams) has been at training camp in Georgia.
I came in with a little bit of fear and a lot of expectation. I imagined three days of militaristic, eat with your hands, wake you up at 3AM to see how much you really find joy in the Lord kind of thing. I thought it would be the worst part of the trip, something we had to get through before finally being where we wanted to be: serving!
Here, I have learned more than I can fit into a blog post. I have met kingdom changers and genuine spirits. I have seen the Spirit move. I have drawn closer to the Father. I have been sweetly broken, lovingly filled, and boldly challenged.
Aside from the fun cultural foods, kiddie pool baptisms, intense macarena dance battles, and increasingly difficult porter-potty trips, training camp has been a place where in every moment, I feel surrounded.
My team is full of strong, brave, and beautiful women of God who are fiercely dedicated to love and miraculous mission.
This foundation is full of wise, humble, and gifted mentors who use their gifts to further the kingdom here and now.
This place is overflowing with His Spirit of peace, joy, and kindness.
I am surrounded by goodness.
I am surrounded by the future of his mission on earth.
And I realize, that’s exactly what this time was meant to be.
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
God did not make this time and place, and the thousands who have passed through training here before, by accident.
He has masterfully crafted a place of rest, where we can come and strip away the distractions.
He is preparing us for, quite literally, a race that will require endurance that only He can provide.
He is showing us that He is not a God of hurry, judgment, shame, or condemnation.
He is a God of peace, love, redemption, and conviction.
He whispers that even though there is so much to look forward to – He is here, now.
And in the waiting, the preparation, He has so much to tell us.
Thank you so much to each person who has allowed God to work through them in providing the opportunity to be here. I already know that this journey will bring fruit for our team and the people we get to serve for many seasons to come.
Ways we would love you to join us in prayer:
– Travel mercies
– His Spirit to guide & follow us; allowing us to heal beyond our own capability in His name
– Our lovely hosts who we are so thrilled to meet!
– The other teams traveling to Swaziland, South Africa, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Nepal, Thailand, and Cambodia
– Continued bold faith in all his goodness to come, even beyond our 1-2 month trips
