Here I am, 8 days until launch, and I sit here to write a blog about training camp I didn’t write sooner. The sharks in Finding Nemo said it best “DENIAL!” Yes, I am actually leaving, and similar to Marlin, going all over the world on an adventure not knowing what lies in store. Now, as I sit on my screened in porch, having said goodbye to friends headed to college, I am finally faced with the reality of leaving everything I know and love for 9 months. The unknown is a strange thing. Evil will tempt us us to fear, and encourage us to take control, which always leads to damage. But God says enjoy the journey, the unknown is part of the fun. My plan is to form you into a person who can love, and comfort usually doesn’t work for that. I got you…If you will let me.
Don’t get me wrong, I am so excited for this next journey. Training camp was absolutely incredible and only increased my excitement. Sure, I had to sleep in a tent for 10 days, eat bugs, take bucket showers, endure endless sweating, and experience some serious spiritual warfare. But for every piece of coal, their was a piece of gold! Sleeping in tents brought us together as a squad. 3 of the nights we were blessed with lightning which led to a big sleepover inside. Eating bugs…… turns out…. not so bad. I also ate some other delicious cultural food the amazing kitchen staff made for us. I cannot wait to try the real thing! Bucket showers turned out to be refreshing in the heat and really brought the girls together with laughter. Even though I’m pretty sure I never stopped sweating, I wasn’t the only one. Everyone, it seemed, moved past the discomfort and really got to know each other.
And then there was the spiritual warfare like I haven’t experienced before. It was the first time I could really feel Jesus fighting back on my behalf. The devil never stood a chance against the almighty protector. One night during worship I could almost feel the battle in my mind and was on the verge of a headache. The devil was lying to me saying “you will look stupid if you raise your hands,” “you’re the only one not ‘feeling it’ tonight,” “why are you even here, you don’t belong.” At the same time, God was fighting back saying, “you can never look stupid to me,” “you are not the only one,” “this is where I want you to be.” That night was only one of many examples where spiritual warfare was definitely real. And it turns out, I was not the only one struggling that night. So many people I talked to were also dealing with the devils attack, but thankfully we are on the winning side.
Training camp was filled with healing (emotionally AND physically), the start to beautiful friendships, and learning about God and his heart. I can’t wait to experience him in a new way and love like he first loved us.
That brings me here. Still sitting on my screened in porch, processing everything that happened at training camp, gathering everything I need for the trip, and recognizing I am leaving. I am leaving my friends, my family, my life to go be the hands and feet of Jesus. I am honored and humbled by this opportunity and could not be more grateful He chose me. However, please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to go and process the the concept of abandoning what I know because, for me, this feeling is the hardest part. Ironically, like Marlin, I’ve never really liked change.
Matthew 16:24
Kate Mullis:)
