I know I keep saying this but training camp is the most fun that you will never want to have again. Honestly though I loved it with a passion. I got to officially meet my squad and my team. I got to meet my family for this 9-month journey. And HOLY COW! I could not have asked for a better group of people. I feel so honored to know them and be part of their group. I love each and everyone of them so much after just 10 days.
Training camp was a taste of the mission field. Training camp was us dipping our toes in the waters. God has called us out into the waves to counter darkness in his name! At Training Camp, I experienced the Holy Spirit more fully than I ever have. I experienced God more fully than I ever have, in so many ways. God has given me so much joy for life and his creation. At training camp God showed how important it is to love people. Training camp was extraordinary.
The very first song on the very first worship set on the very first day had many people in tears. The first few nights were about inward ministry. How we need to be physically, emotionally, and spiritually ready before we ventured off, head on into the world. The next few nights were about our partner, the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit night was amazing let me just tell you. Then we talked about the field and all the important things about it. We got our teams too, that was awesome (#TheEdge). They’re all awesome people. I just wish I had the words to describe how we all bonded. I wish I had the words to describe everything I felt at training camp. Its just too much for 1 blog post.
During one of the break-out sessions at training camp I even wrote a sermon on provision in about an hour. I wrote about how God always provides. It’s so funny the way God works sometimes because:
The day after training camp was the day before my flight. Father’s day which sadly I didn’t spend with my father but that’s okay because I spent it with the Johanson’s and they are awesome. They’re kindness to me was amazing. I am so glad to have met them. Anyways back from the sidetrack, for father’s day we went to Atlanta, I got to see the city and it was so cool. We went to Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market, some really really cool places
All in all, it was a great day and then we got back to the car. I check my back pocket where I keep my wallet, and it was gone. Missing. No longer in my possession. I had my Driver’s License in there. All my forms of identification were now in the hands of someone else. So there I was stuck in Georgia, panicking because I would have to stay in the wet south for longer. Panicking because the next day was my flight back to Arizona. In all this I just wanted to be home to my family.
I wanted to just go home and now going home seemed impossible. The Johanson’s were amazing in keeping me calm. They helped me to trust the Lord in this crisis. They were great to me the entire time. I am truly grateful for them.
The next day, I got to the airport and they gave me my plane ticket at the counter! “Praise the Lord” I thought in my mind now I just had to get through security and then I’d be able to go home to Arizona. Here’s how it all went down:
At the ticket scanner:
TSA: “Your ticket and ID please”
Me: “My wallet got stolen yesterday so I don’t have any ID”
“Alright well you’re gonna have to secondary screening”
At the first part of secondary screening:
TSA: “You don’t have anything with your picture on it?”
Me: “No ma’am my wallet got stolen in Atlanta yesterday, I have a copy of my birth certificate”
“Let me see. Do you have anything else with your name on it?”
“No…. Wait I have my support letter for my mission trip”
Then a few questions, a thorough search of my belongings, and an awkward pat down later I was through.
Once again God shows me how he provides. He provides so fully. He provided a way for me to get home. He will provide the rest of my funds. He is faithful and we have nothing to doubt, give yourself completely to the Lord and I promise you will not be disappointed!
