God said to me, “You don’t have to do this”.
It was that first night and I was quite aware of my efforts to convince myself I was going to like this. Sure, there’s many inconveniences of my house being a backpack, but what an adventure! Deep down though in the back rooms of my heart where I was always real with myself, I really did not like the idea. And I had a splitting migraine besides.
Fast forward ten days and not only is the headache long gone, but I am fully persuaded of my yes to Jesus’s tender invitation to leave my nets. Even if it doesn’t make sense to do so. Jesus asked His disciples to leave their nets just after the miraculous catch of fish and I’m pretty sure it didn’t make very much sense to them to do so just then. But Scripture states it simply, “they left everything and followed him”. They chose to follow Jesus not knowing what it will look like. I’ll be taking my mosquito net but otherwise, my yes remains yes and I am fully willing to abandon my nets.
Training camp for me was an experience of many firsts. Some really ugly. Some pretty cool. Guess the category for the following:
- I ate a cricket. They taste like pistachios. After all, the Bible teaches to eat what is set before you.
- Authentic bucket showers in the wee hours of the morning. I always took the back stall in the “barn” so I could watch the stars through the crack in the wall. And yes the water was cold.
- Eating wet food with my hands from a communal plate.
- Sleeping in my hammock. Hanging bliss! Here’s where my net comes in: snake and mosquito protection.
- And oh, I had my first participation in a dance off to “Who let the dogs out?” Don’t ask me why!
Next up will be “Gaining Ground” with more details about the incredible experience of training camp and the amazing ways God worked miracles among us.
