7. My route was changed. Instead of going to Thailand, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan, I will now be going to Vietnam, Swaziland, Mozambique, and Malawi. (The other seven countries have not changed.) I’m excited about this change and can’t wait to see what God has planned for me in these countries!
6. I actually began to like tenting. I was nervous about sleeping in a tent at the start of the week, but after “sleeping” on a bus with 42 other people on Monday night, I came to view my tent as almost luxurious! Plus, we slept right beside a stream that I could hear every night as I fell asleep, which was a little gift from God to me because He knows how much I love to fall asleep to water sounds. Thanks for that, Daddy.
5. I worshipped with a room full of Jesus freaks. It was a unique and incredible experience to come together with over 200 young adults who are leaving behind everything comfortable to pursue God on the mission field. When we all came into one room with the unified purpose of seeking and glorifying God, something magnificent happened. There was dancing and jumping and kneeling and crying and laughing and singing and swaying and FREEDOM. I loved, loved, loved it, and I can’t wait to worship with all of them again at launch in six weeks!
4. I met my squad leaders– Grayson and Erin. They both just returned from their own world race journey and will now be leading my squad of 41 racers for the first 5 months of our race. I have seriously never seen anyone love a group of strangers as well as Grayson and Erin loved our squad last week. Oftentimes, they were so overwhelmed with love for us that we could see it in their eyes. They are vulnerable and honest and wise and silly and bold and patient and loving and responsible and I am SO thankful God is letting me follow them in the coming months.
3. I was unbelievably blessed by the teachings of Dr. Ron Walborn. (If you click his name, it takes you to 18 teachings by him. You’re welcome in advance because they will change your life.) I’m usually way more excited about worship than teaching, but that really wasn’t the case this week. Dr. Walborn gave some of the most profound and practical teachings I’ve ever heard on praying for others’ healing, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, grieving our losses, hearing from the Holy Spirit as we pray for others, and much more. His teachings left me feeling so much more equipped for this new season of ministry, and I am extremely grateful for the time he spent pouring into us.
2. I was placed on my team for the race. I will be living, serving, eating, traveling, and growing with these six beautiful, wonderful ladies. We named our team “Team Sozo” because sozo is the Greek word for safety. This is a proclamation on multiple levels. First, we believe that our team is a safe place where we can all trust one another with our hearts. Second, we believe that God will protect our safety in the absence of men on our team. Finally, we are excited to offer the ultimate Safe Refuge to people who are afraid and hurting all over the world. I am filled to overflowing with peace and joy over the team I’ve been placed on for the year. I love these ladies so much already!
1. God allowed me to pray with a squad mate as she became filled with the Holy Spirit. This "number one favorite training camp moment" really deserves its own blog, so click “update alerts” on the left and enter your email to be alerted when I post that story later this week! It’s a night I’ll remember forever and a story you don’t want to miss!
I am only $560 away from being fully funded!! If you can help me reach my goal of being fully funded by launch (in just six weeks!), click "Support Me" on the left to make a tax-deductible donation online. Or, cut out the 3% online processing fee by writing a check to "Adventures in Missions" with "WARDKALEIGH" in the info line and mailing it to:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
