On Sunday, I returned home from Training Camp in Georgia! People asked me leading up to training camp if I was excited or what I was looking forward to. I’ll be blunt; I wasn’t looking forward to anything and I was scared out of my mind. I was afraid I wasn’t going to fit.
Little did I know, we all fit in perfectly. A Squad wouldn’t be complete with out these people.
Without any expectations, I didn’t know that my life would be changed forever. The Lord spoke to me and moved in my life in ways I have never experienced. And He grew my family by 40 something people.
Here’s a few things that I learned in a nutshell.
1. God is a good Father
My dad has dimentia. He doesn’t remember where I was born. He doesn’t remember my friends’ names. He forgets most things that I tell him. While that is in no way his fault, it has dramatically effected how I’ve seen God as my Father.
I’ve been afraid to leave home because I was afraid of what would happen to those that I love and care about. I have an incredible community of people behind me.
The reason that I was afraid to leave is because I thought God wouldn’t take care of them or remember them. I was afraid He would hurt them the way that my dad hurt me.
But God showed me that He is not my earthly father. He is my perfect Heavenly Father, and He will never forget me or the people I love.
2. I am free from shame.
God spoke to me so clearly during worship one night. The reason I struggled with hugging people is because I felt shame from past sins. I felt dirty and unworthy of love.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
??Romans? ?8:1? ?NASB??
I don’t have to be ashamed; God’s grace is sufficient for me. He’s forgiven me. And I am worthy of love.
3. 40+ strangers can Become Family
God appointed each person our squad for this route at this time.
I used to have my phone buzz constantly with whatsapp notifications of these people I knew almost nothing about. When the day of training camp came, I started putting faces to names, I learned these people would not be strangers for long.
We were vulnerable.
We loved each other with a love that can only be explained by God.
We accepted each other and all of the junk that came with us.
And we were genuine.
These are people who I have spent almost 24 years without, but now I can’t picture going any further without them.
My life is better because they are in it. Each one of them have a special place in my heart and I love them dearly. I believe in them and the call God has placed on their lives.
Now that I’m home for a bit, my plans are fundraising and making as many moments/memories as I can with my community. I’m excited to share more about my journey as life goes on.
A note to my supporters:
I would never have learned these things in this way if it were not for your investment. Thank you for believing in me and the call that God has placed on my life. I appreciate you. Words cannot sufficiently express eniugh gratitude to you.
Thanks for reading!
