I remember it like it was yesterday. Fort Jackson, South Carolina, 2012. The month of June. The southern heat was in it’s most intense season. A bus full of new recruits with their brand new uniforms on, heavy duffel bags on their laps, heads down as the drill sergeant had instructed. Everyone was quiet in anticipation of the dreaded shark attack. The bus stops in front of Foxtrot company’s barracks. Drill sergeant stand up and yells with a roaring voice “EVERYONE OFF THE BUS!!!”. In unison, recruits get up and strives to get off the bus as soon as they could. As soon as the recruits steps off the bus, more drill sergeants converge on soldiers yelling to move faster in to formation in the tire pit. Everyone hurries to get to position carrying their heavy bags in front of them hugging it tightly. Dropping it was not an option. We stood there in a group formation about 200 new recruits assigned to Foxtrot company standing in one giant formation. Quiet, scared, tired, hot, unaware of what they have gotten themselves into. Drill sergeants continue to yell. Finding every little detail that is wrong with each recruits. Ten weeks of Basic Combat Training had began.
It was the worst and best experience of my life. The gruesome weeks were tough mentally, emotionally and physically. For a bunch of kids just getting off high school, leaving the life they know and being thrown into something so different, made a lasting memory in all of us. The training was hard, knowing that our country had many enemies. We were equipped as civilians, trained to transform our mind, hearts, and bodies into a capable fighting force in case battle does come our way.
There are so many experiences in our lives that God had placed that we often miss the significance. For me this is one of them. I did not think of it until now, that I, and many other who have been given a calling to go to multiple countries to spread the truth of Jesus. Scripture alludes to following Jesus as going into battle. Ephesians 6:13-17 says “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Just like basic training, as warriors of God, we are called to be trained in our minds, hearts and spirit. To put on the full armor of God in order to fight the good fight. Within ourselves, but mostly for the truth that sets people free. For the love of God through Jesus crucified, to be spread throughout the corners of this world. In order for us to be used by God, we need to be trained in knowing the love He first gave to us. To fill our minds, hearts and spirit of the goodness that was poured out for us when Jesus suffered the punishment that was meant for us. He is our drill sergeant, our captain, our general. He alone can equip and ready us into for battle. To fight the good fight.
So as the soldiers of the most high, I pray for all of us who are about to embark in this journey. To be so deeply in love and on fire to love others as He had loved us. That our journey will conquer all the troubles and battles that may come along prior or during this mission trip to 11 countries in 11 months. As brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be in constant prayer for each other, lifting each other up in times of trouble, doubts, and attacks. Team work was one of the key lessons in basic training. To fight as a unit and helping each other through tough circumstances. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35
