Sitting on my comfy patio watching the sunrise, covered in my fuzzy blanket, my pup laying by my feet, sipping on some warm vanilla coffee, I am finding it hard to believe I am home.
One of the requirements for the World Race (WR) is for all 5 Squads who launch in August to attend a 10 day Training Camp at Adventures in Missions (AIM) headquarters in Gainesville, GA. 10 days of camping, bucket showers, community living, life giving worship, culturally diverse meals, discipleship, prophesying, hiking, dancing, singing, lots of tears and laughter.
Pause. Did you get all that? It was jammed packed with goodness.
I could tell you the hourly schedule of exactly what we did for those 10 days, but I would rather tell you about who I met and the adventures we had together. Meet Squad K! These beautiful humans are my family for the next 11 months. We will travel together, we will live together, we will serve together, we will chase Jesus together.
I will be completely honest, day one walking into camp and meeting these 31 strangers I was extremely overwhelmed and flooded with doubt and insecurity. Questioning if I was truly supposed to be there, and struggling with the thought that I don’t belong, but Jesus met me right where I was during night worship on day two. Tears streaming down my face, standing in surrender to Him, He spoke to me through one of the incredible AIM Trainers, comforting me, assuring me, wiping away all my fear, carrying me into freedom and showing me my purpose and need within this special group. Waking up on day three I felt a new energy, my heart full, and my eyes open and aware of His grace.
Can we take a hot second to acknowledge our Lord, the Creator of the Universe knows YOUR heart. He knows MY heart, and still He loves endlessly, He pursues us, He makes us clean, He is forever faithful. “Behold the awe and wonder of Him.”
This family encouraged one another through physically demanding days, through the intimidating task of evangelizing, through eating crickets and duck eggs. Always the first to start a dance party, or perform every song of High School Musical, forever entertaining one another, but at the heart of our squad we are a family who loves hard, and shares the same passion of spreading the Kingdom. I fell head over heels for these people, and the way in which Jesus has brought us together.
Worship has always been one of my favorite things. Even though I am not musically talented whatsoever, it’s where I feel closest to the Lord, and He doesn’t care that I can’t carry a tune. Worshipping alongside 200 people I barely knew was an experience I will always cherish; it’s truly freeing to see others who share the same joy of praising our God.
Every day I was shown a glimpse of Heaven, where we worship Him endlessly without judgement or shame, without fear of what others think, and where love and harmony reign.
To say these past 2 weeks have been difficult would be an understatement, but Jesus has been with me every step of the way, and I am more excited than ever to launch in 6 weeks for this adventure of a lifetime! I would love to chat with you more and tell you all about my experience at Training, hope to see each you very soon. Thank you for your love, encouragement, support, and constant prayer over this journey.
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20
