I was really uncomfortable. Our
squad was doing a simple activity to help us hear God’s voice. We were in an
auditorium that had two long isles, and two lines of people were in each aisle,
facing each other. We extended hands to the person that was opposite us and one
person was chosen to speak God’s word upon the other person. We had done three
or four rounds of this and I was feeling somewhat discouraged because I wasn’t
hearing God’s voice and I was struggling to speak encouraging words to my
teammates. Then the next twist to this activity started. My line in the aisle
was instructed to close our eyes, while the line opposite us found a new
partner. A new wave of doubt hit me. I couldn’t speak life into the person
across from me when I COULD see them; wouldn’t it be so much more difficult now
that I COULDN’T see them??
I closed my eyes, stretched out my hands, and
waited for someone to grasp them. My hands were soon being held and I began to
pray and ask God for a word or a picture to help communicate to my unknown
partner. About two seconds later I got a crystal-clear picture in my head: a
national park or a rugged trail on a mountain, big stones were in the way of the
trail that needed to be climbed and a hiker with lots of strength scaling these
rocks. I got really excited for I knew this was a picture from God, not just a
random thing that popped into my head, yet I couldn’t help but feel silly as I
would explain this to my partner.
I told
my still unknown partner I had a word from God. I communicated my picture and I
thought that God was telling me to convey strength to my partner. Strength to
finish training camp, strength to fundraise, strength to launch, and strength
through saying goodbyes. I finished and there was a pause. I opened my eyes and
found my partner was Imelda- one of the few girls I had talked to before
training camp. I asked if the words I had given her were of any meaning of her.
She said that I couldn’t have been more spot-on. A few weeks ago she had gone
to a trail park close to where she lived to break in her Chacos (a rugged
sandal). She said there were rocks exactly like I had described that were in
the way of the trail that she needed to climb past. During the last couple
nights of training camp, Imelda hadn’t gotten much sleep and she needed
strength for the last couple days of camp.
I didn’t know how who was across
from me five minutes ago; I didn’t know who was across from me when God gave me
the picture in my head, and I didn’t know who was across from me when I
communicated the picture I had received. However, God did, and He used me to
speak life into Imelda.
Stories like mine were rampant
across our training camp during the week of July 14-21 in Toccoa Falls,
Georgia. I witnessed people healed, chains were broken, grudges were lost, and
hearts were mended. We had amazing times of worship, sessions, and team
building. We were prepared for the World Race physically in terms of sleeping
situations, at meal times, and personal hygiene. At the end of the week I was
introduced to my team. These are the five other people I will be spending the
next 11 months with. I will be introducing them on my blog soon. Though I will
be traveling, briefing, and de-briefing with my entire squad, my team is who I
will be doing ministry with within the country I’m in.
Thank you for your prayers during
my week of training camp and beyond. Launch has just been announced for
September 4 out of Chicago. Continued prayer would be appreciated.
[First picture is my squad (I Squad), Second picture is my team (Team Fierce Pursuit)]
