Okay okay, so this isn’t a blog about winning an actual war, but my family did win squad wars at camp-so that has to count for something, right?
Over the 10 day span that I was at camp, I saw people winning wars that had plagued them for years. I saw people overcome fear, anxiety, shame-things that had grabbed onto them and held on tightly. I saw myself conquer insecurities and guilt, and nothing is better than winning a war that has been going on in your life for as long as you can remember.
Over those 10 days I decided to become transparent and vulnerable with my people, all 37 of them. I told them things I’ve never told anyone else, I cried like I’ve never cried before, and I laughed a real laugh that I’ve scarcely heard. I became who the Father truly wants us to become : free.
I heard testimonies and I shared parts of mine; I prayed over others and was prayed over myself; I trusted in Jesus and relied on Him to get me through the rough times. Let me tell you, some amazing things can happen when you just let go of the wheel and let God take over. A weight equivalent to 1,000 bricks will be removed from your heart, you’ll find out you’re not alone in your struggles and circumstances, and you’ll build relationships based off your whole, authentic self.
At camp, I decided to be re-baptized. I was baptized when I was around 8, but I only did it because my friends were and I wanted to do it, too. This time was different; the second I came up out of that water I felt a change stirring within me. I’ve decided to let go of all my baggage that’s been holding me back and slowing me down, and I’ve given it all to Him.
There were so many things I thought were in my past, but when I would think about them I would get mad all over again. As many of you are aware, there was a fitness aspect to the camp. I knew going into it that I’m not the most physically fit, but turns out I wasn’t the most spiritually fit, either. After completing the hike (in the allotted time, yay!) I dropped my 30lb pack and audibly said, “man, if I just lost 30 lbs I would feel so good. Instead I’m just carrying it around with me.” I heard the Holy Spirit reply, “imagine how great you’d feel if you just dropped your emotional baggage and the weight you carry around though…” Woah.
That was probably one of the first times in a long while that I’d heard from God, and it was an intense but awesome moment. Think about that though, if you just release your stress, anger, shame, etc to Jesus, how much better would you feel? A lot lighter? I know I’ve been feeling more spiritually fit!
Thank you so much to all my supporters and donors who have helped me get to this point on my journey. You’ve allowed the Lord to work in me in indescribable and incredible ways, and you’re allowing me to show other people how to allow the Lord to do that work in them as well.
Y’all I only have 6 more weeks in the States, then I’m off to travel to parts of the world that have never heard of Jesus. I cannot wait to see others fight and win wars that have taken over their lives, and to see all that God can accomplish through my team.
Heres my team that I will be journeying with and loving on God’s people with for the next several months. Meet the Tribe of Judah! Enjoy us decked out in green for our squad wars!
