Training camp was life changing it’s so hard to even wrap my mind around all that God had shown the squad during such a short period of time. At first arrival I was very nervous to meet everyone but it didn’t take long before the unfamiliar faces became family and as a family we really grew together, each member of the squad a has such a beautiful perspective and just listening to each other was completely inspirational. Without a doubt I could tell God carefully placed each person on that squad for a reason. We faced many challenges as a squad helping us to mature together. Often I forget that God works in many ways, not always is his plan some large extravagant show but it could be as simple as the doodles on a page telling a story.
Training camp was jam packed with sermons and seminars from tips on how to be a better missionary to deep theological topics helping us to be better Christians. Although the speakers were extraordinary, and as the week progressed each seminar seemed increasingly harder to stay awake so I began to doodle and take more notes this helped to keep me engaged. Most my doodles had no significance they were a wide range of zig zag and curved lines to make some poorly drawn abstract art in the margin of my note book but every couple of days I would draw a tree. The first tree was full and seemed fairly healthy. Then a couple days later I doodled another tree the leaves were falling off and it was beginning to break. And the final tree I drew was snapped in half completely broken. For awhile I thought nothing of the trees I had doodled. But during discussion I noticed that trees in specific were a recurring image in which people used to describe emotions. So I began to take a deeper look at my trees all the while God was modifying all my perspectives and past ways. Then I came across Psalms 1:3 “ They are like trees planted along the riverbank. Bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither and they prosper in all they do.” Then I had a realization I was the tree I had doodled. Except contrary to the verses my tree was planted near the river but not to close due to my cautious mindset of looking like a fool for being too close to God. So what happen to my tree is it looked healthy but as time went on because I was not planted in the firm foundation of God my tree began to diminish. With the help of my squad, squad leaders, and God I was able to break myself just as the tree had, so I decided to get baptized and plant my new tree right next the the river so I may never diminish and always bear fruit. We really live in a culture where everything we say and do can carry very little weight. Often we have promises made and we never see the promise become truth. God showed me that this is happening among Christians also, and was very much so happening to me. We say we are Christian but we find difficulty in going the next step to prove our faith especially as the task is out of our comfort zone. We are Christians only when the task is easy thus, creating what I like to call the comfortable Christian someone who only uses their faith when it posses no challenge never having to leave what is comfortable. However I now have broken my old ways and planted a new beginning close to the river on firm foundation. I am very ready to step out of my comfort zone to live a full life in Christ.
