At the end of last month, I traveled to Gainesville, Georgia for training camp. To say the least, it was an intense 10-days of spiritual growth. There, I had the opportunity to meet my squad and connect with them deeply while growing in our faith in the Lord. We were all guided out of our comfort zones, stretched to unveil our deepest scars, and encouraged to step out of our shame and fears and into the acceptance and intimacy of Jesus. And man did that make for a wild week and a half. 
I arrived to the Atlanta airport with my backpacking backpack, my day pack, and a thousand fears. I was about to meet the 50-some people that I would be traveling the world with next year and I didn’t know a single person! All of my fears and insecurities welled up inside of me—what if no one liked me? What if they found out that I’m a fraud, that I am unqualified to spread the Gospel with the nations because of my own doubts and fears? What could possibly make me deserving of this opportunity?
It didn’t take long for me realize I wasn’t alone.
Throughout the course of a week with a bunch of strangers, my heart was broken and pieced back together. My fears and pain were uncovered, unraveled, and surrendered to Jesus. I let go, I was stretched emotionally, spiritually, and physically, I was vulnerable, I grew closer to the Lord and my squad, I experienced true community, and I got a taste of what next year will be like. My squad and I learned how to eat with our hands, how to deal with shame, how to conform to different cultural standards, how to forgive, how to live minimally, how to surrender our lives to God, how to live in authentic community, and how to love like Jesus. 
Throughout training camp, I realized that I do not have to do life alone. Where I felt shame, my squad mates brought acceptance. Where I felt fear, I was brought open, honest, and real love. My squad taught me in a little over a week what it is like to live in real, authentic community—a life that God intended for all of us.
I am extremely blessed to be doing the next year of life with my squad, my new family! I have never encountered a more unique, genuine, creative, intelligent, God-fearing group with such a deep passion for Jesus. Together, we will be traveling to 11 countries, sharing the love of Jesus.
Within my squad is my team, the DIAMONDS, the 5 beautiful women I will be spending the first 3-4 months on the field with. We chose this name after having mentors and squad leaders speak truth over us. Because diamonds are the hardest substance, they symbolize endurance and strength, and it takes one diamond to sharpen another. Along with these women, I will be serving at Sybil’s Kids Ministry in Chokwe, Mozambique throughout the month of January and I am beyond excited to see what God has in store for us there.
I came to Training Camp not knowing anyone but I left with an irreplaceable family, and now I don’t know what life would be like without them. It was ten of the most physically and emotionally exhausting days of my life, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. God is real, and He is powerful!! I feel more joy and excitement than I ever could’ve anticipated. I have a full heart and an encouraged spirit, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store.
