On October 11, I flew out to training camp for the World Race. For most of us participating, it was long, exhausting, emotionally draining, spiritually uplifting, and the time of our lives! I met everyone in my squad and we all quickly became a family; we cried together, prayed together, and worshiped together.
Every day was filled with activities, food, and worship. Worship was the most intense I have ever witnessed. Every morning and night we sang praises to God for at least an hour. One of the songs went “It’s going to be Wild! It’s going to be Great! It’s going to be Full of GOD!” And that phrase accurately describes the whole week.
And God spoke to me.
All around me I could see God moving incredibly in people’s lives. People on my squad were so filled with the Holy Spirit they lay unmovable on the ground while others were speaking in tongues and even more were getting healed! Many were crying. I was jealous. I wanted God to work through me just as he did through the others. I tried to be on the same level as they were.
Well throughout the whole week God sent several people to me to say, “You don’t have to try so hard.” At first I was confused but as he sent more people to say it, the more I understood. I was trying to match others relationship with God instead on building my own unique relationship with him. I wanted to run spiritually with him but he was still trying to teach me how to walk. So I’m slowing down. I’m going to set my eyes on him and let him lead my life. Besides, even though I wasn’t immovable or speaking in tongues, he was still working through me.
One night during worship a fellow squad mate on my right was crying. I placed my arm around her shoulders and the other on her on her belly and prayed. I asked God to bless her and use her wonderfully on the race. I prayed until she was comforted. Then, my squad mate on my left was crying and so, wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I prayed. Again for blessings, but also for chains to be broken and healing to begin. Afterwards, the second squad mate came up to me and said when I placed my hands on her shoulders, the tension left her completely. I was amazed. Soon after, the first squad mate told me that after I prayed for her our squad coach (Joemamma) went up to her, placed her hand exactly where mine was on her stomach and said the Holy Spirit was going to well up from inside her. Wow! God was working through me. While to me I was doing just a little thing, it was major the girls around me. God is Good!
But he didn’t stop there, oh no! I met the Holy Spirit!
During worship I had trouble concentrating. Several times I sat down to pray and focus my thoughts. The last time I sat down everyone around me placed their hands on my back. I thought it was weird but kept praying. After a bit I couldn’t pray anymore. My back was extremely war and my body started to tremble. I was crying and all I could think was the God must really love me if this was happening. My torso, arms, fingers, head, ears, all of it vibrating violently. My fingers were like glued together, unable to move and I was genuinely frightened at one point. I couldn’t move! After everyone took their hands away, it was awhile before the trembling stopped. I met the Holy Spirit this week and he loves me!
