Training camp was easily the most difficult yet fulfilling ten days of my life so far. My first sunday back home, my pastor (shoutout to Pastor Mike) asked me for a thirty second low down of my entire time at camp. It was so hard trying to find the words to describe everything in thirty seconds. As a matter of fact, I don’t even remember what I said to Mike, but I am almost positive it didn’t do training camp justice.
So here is a blurb about training camp that I should have told Pastor Mike:
I learned that life is ministry, and ministry is life. God’s mission doesn’t start when I hit the ground in Guatemala, it starts right now. If I want to surrender my life to God, I have to serve Him even in the mundane parts of life. But the beautiful thing is that God is calling me to a higher purpose, and for me that looks like going out and loving people all around the world. I learned that GOD SHOWS UP in EVERY culture. It’s not our job to make people change, it our job to listen to the holy spirit and to walk in obedience. It’s our job to show people where Jesus is working in their lives. This next nine months with my amazing squad are going to be difficult but I am certain we will find a greater joy than we could have ever imagined. We are all leaving literally everything at the Lord’s feet and following Him with a YES in our spirits.
“Then He sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ‘Take nothing on your journey,’ he instructed them.” –Luke 9:2-3
We count the cost because God is WORTH IT. Everything we have belongs to him and now it’s our turn to give it all back. Missions is “universal reconciliation for universal worship”. We are all wired to worship God and live in covenant community with each other.
The word I heard from God this week was “Be still, This is where you are meant to be”. I found SO much peace in this because I feel like the last year (or my whole life) has been go-go-go. I am constantly thinking about the next move or the next calling. But God called me higher and told me to relax in His presence, how cool is He?? I am so thankful that God gave me the strength to be present with my squad and my leaders at training camp. He knows I am off the walls and my brain goes a million miles a minute (classic 7 on the enneagram). Above all, God gave me rest this week despite the craziness of sleeping outside, constant sweating, weird food, bucket showers, and very little sleep. I am so thankful.
Announcements!
I AM GOING TO MALAYSIA!! Because Thailand’s visa only lasts for two months, I will be spending my last month on my race in Malaysia.
I am SO close to my august deadline for fundraising! I have 414 more dollars until I reach 10,000. Praise God!
I am still 7,000 dollars away from being fully funded, we have quite a ways to go people! I know God will provide through each and every one of you so I encourage you to pray and ask Him if you are being called to give.
Prayer Requests!
Pray that I don’t become numb in the seven weeks until launch (Sept. 6th).
Pray that I take time to process the pain of this season of change.
Pray for Guatemala, Ethiopia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Pray for my family.
Thank you so much!
Blessings,
Hannah Keller
