I cant really put the experiences and effects of Training Camp into words but it I was to sum it up, it was a mentally, emotionally and spiritually challenging week and I had some awesome times with my squad mates. By Friday 
afternoon I found out who my 7 team mates are with whom I will be spending the next year — Candace Breaux, Rebecca Spires, Maurecia Crews, Grace Hartmann, Ben John Wilcoxson and Ben Mullett. GO Team AGAPE!!
After our team members were revealed, we were sent off the camp grounds for some team bonding time. We started out the afternoon taking some time in prayer, prophesying and asking God to give us pictures, words or colors that would lead us to who we needed to interact with that day. Some of us got some responses from God so we decided to just head into town and play it by ear as we looked for clues that might make sense with our pictures. We spent time trying to figure out where to go for dinner, fairly unsure of what our afternoon would have in store. No coincidence, as we were driving to dinner we noticed a fuzzy, hot pink gorilla jumping up and down on the side of the road advertising for a Halloween costume store. Obviously a conversation starter, we immediately decided to pull over and talk to him.
As was only perfect timing, Grace happened to have a full-body Tigger costume in the back seat of her car. Ben quickly put it on and ran out to greet the pink gorilla. Initially we were a little bit hesitant since Ben and the gorilla seemed to be getting ready to wrestle. Eventually, the guy pulled the head off his gorilla suit and introd
uced himself as Stephan. As a group we started chatting with Stephan and soon learned that he wasn't a Christian and he informed us that "even if [he] did believe in God [he] would not live in Cartersville because people are far too hypocritical." He seemed to be really opposed to and turned off by religion and we let him know that we were more focused on Christianity as a relationship with God and sharing His love around the world, and thats why we are going on an 11 month missions trip to 11 countries.
We then decided to go out on a limb and ask Stephan if we could pray for him. He said sure and was surprised that we wanted to do it right there on the side of the road. He let us know that he believed in spiritual things and that if people believed in something that was "inherently good" then that should be okay for them and okay with everyone else. Based on experience I know that God finds us and meets us where we are at so we were glad just to get the opportunity to share with Stephan the things we are going to do next year. I was glad for the chance to pray over his life and pray that in his seemingly aimless and unfocused spiritual search, God would find Stephan and connect with him there.
The cherry on top comes next: as we were walking away, heading back to the cars, we finally made the connection that Stephan was the jumping man Ben John had gotten an image of during prayer only a couple hours before. My God is intentional, limitless and full of plans for this team which we cannot even begin to comprehend. I cannot wait to see how He changes our hearts and uses us to see His kingdom come!
