So I just got back from my 10 day training camp in Georgia, and I must say it was a great experience. It created some new fears, but also tore down a lot of old ones. Among the new fears created, most notable is food. During the course of the camp we were fed ethnic appropriate food to the different regions were going to be in and I must say I am quite fearful of how much and what I will be eating……hello peanut butter.
Training was broke into a couple different section with one focusing on us, then our squads of 44, then our team, and we even had a chance to do ministry in downtown Atlanta. So before I talk about anything else let me just say, my team IS AWESOME. Couldn’t be more excited. Their names are Dan Snyder, Chad and Leslie Jowers, Jen Flavin, Holland Cox, and Beks Cassinari. These are the people I will be spending my next 11 months along side.
Training camp was fairly tiring and even draining at times, but the people were so encouraging. This was one of my bigger fears going into this that the meeting people process was just going to be so awkward and forced, but it wasn’t at all. On the contrary, everything was fluid and everybody worked well with one another. I couldn’t have any more pleased. The first few days were just about us and our spiritual health, how were we doing in our walk. Then our squad did some bonding and finally the teams started to be formed. We stayed in cabins that were not too bad, other than the airflow was a little lacking and it rained almost every day, but other than this they were great. The showers were some of the colder ones I’ve ever taken, but I suppose you take what you can get.
The last two days in Atlanta were pretty awesome and will probably do a separate blog on it either later this week or next so be looking for that. I did finally though get to have some real people food and even a cup of coffee from starbucks, spoiled I know, but it was so worth it.
Also in Atlanta we were able to do a pretty cool commissioning service for everyone as we go home for 2 months. Too often the hardest mission field any of us will face is home, or even just the United States. We are so in tune with the culture and its norms because we are a part of it, that to operate outside of it doesn’t even make sense to us. I think this is probably why it s sometimes easier to share the gospel with a complete stranger in Asia than it is with some of our best friends, we don’t have to worry about some stamp being put on us as a super-christian or what stupid name you can think of. The service was so cool including both communion and feet washing. It was truly a cool time to spend with my team before we left each other for two months.
That’s a little run down on training. I am still needing MONEY, so if you’re looking to get any off your hands after a huge check from the IRS feel free to send it my way. I am doing decently well and am by no means in freak out mode yet, but its to the point where I’m starting to check very often. To those of you who have gave or pledged to give, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This blog is really for you so you can better understand how your money is making possible the body spreading the gospel to the nations. Thank you again, this trip is not possible without supporters.
