Now that training camp has come and gone, I find myself with a piece of my heart left in the cold, wet and red mud-filled grounds in Gainesville, GA. Not only did everything happen so fast, I felt at the same time as if I was there for several weeks.
Words cannot begin to even describe what it is like to live in close community with 60 some-odd people, outdoors, and meeting face to face for the first time.
Not only was my squad sharing everything from the campsite, to sleeping equipment, to toothpaste and platters of food every meal… We were also sharing in the experience of sitting at the Lord’s feet as we opened our hearts for Him to minister to us each just as we needed. We learned about letting go of bondage and our own plans for life, and letting God take the reigns so that we are able to live completely and utterly surrendered to what He has for us. We were put in awkward situations where we had to decide if it was more important to have our preference or to just take it all in together as we realized no one was alone in being pushed out of their comfort zone.
I love people. Immensely.
I can never have enough interaction with people, and especially when the opportunity arises that I can see a new face and hear a new voice at any given time! I had such a blast giving unlimited hugs and smiles to my squad mates and many of the other 300 participants that will also be launching in January. I was so overwhelmed with the possibilities of who to sit next to, talk to during meals and sleep close to each night that I didn’t even get to have quality conversations with every single person. However, with the jam-packed schedule we were following (very aimlessly I might add) it was virtually impossible. I am no less satisfied with the conversations I was able to encounter because God was at the center of them all! I was able to encourage people, receive words of love and affirmation, say hello in passing even while it rained and our bodies ached.
It was beautiful to sit and watch as each individual was pushed past their level of comfort whether it was during a prayer time, dancing and singing, exercise, finding a place to sit for meals, packing and unpacking equipment, etc. It was such a beautiful display of what it truly means to give up what we want so that God can have His way in our lives! We were put into team formations with various groups of 6-7 so that our trainers, leaders and mentors could see how people interacted together.
There was such a sense of peace for me throughout this entire process, and I was stunningly aware of the change that was taking place in my heart and mind along the way!
Many people who have known me for a while, especially the version of myself before I gave my life to Christ, know that I like to be organized and be in some degree of control of any given situation. I like my planner, I like to ponder things of the future and play a role in helping those ideas come to life through strategic planning and implementation. This week allowed for none of that. I turned my phone off, I wore a small watch, had no planner and our instructions for the next activity were given 5-10 minutes before said event was to take place. Not only did I have a sense of assurance & trust throughout the entire week without knowing what was coming next, I did not have a clue where all my items were at any given time (I even lost a few… unheard of, I know), I constantly was asking when and where we had to be at what time (also unheard of), and I was shockingly able to just go with the flow. If this is any indicator of my 11 months of travel in 2015, I am pretty excited that I am being refined, renewed and prepared to let go of my need for control so that God can strengthen my talents and gifts to be used how HE wants them, not how I prefer them to be used!
I can only imagine what is in store for the next 11 weeks as I prepare to leave the country with these beautiful, strong, bold and amazing people I have been divinely placed with, as well as all of the things that will occur in our 11 months of travel together across the seas to numerous countries!
