Training camp has been unreal. I feel like a totally different person. Â I have done things I never knew I could. I have ran on so little sleep that it’s ridiculous. I went days without showers, I slept on a 44 person bus with 55 people crammed on it, I slept under the stars. I ate fish head soup, finished it and then threw it up. Finally I got to experience a 55 person family that is so surreal and loving that it only exists in dreams!
 This past week has far exceeded my expectations. I thought I would go to camp, love on Jesus, make some new friends and sleep in a tent. I have been challenged to the point I was sure I was going to break. When I asked God to stretch me I had no idea what I was getting into. I feel like a rubber band that has been stretched past it’s point sometimes. But after its over I realize I am so much stronger than I ever imagined! I am a fighter in the physical and spiritual world. God has called me to be a fighter. Fighter for those who are too hopeless and lost to fight for themselves.Â
  God just rocks my socks off. Seriously dude. I thought I had a good Christian walk, but I was sadly mistaken. God began to show me the dark hidden broken places that needed to be exposed. I felt like my chest was being ripped out and the pain was so raw. But there is something so beautiful about being vulnerable and exposed. When we begin to let go of those hurts, real healing can begin. Not the kind that is quick and messy when we try to do ourselves. But a healing that is slow and tedious that will last it. Through that healing freedom is born. But first  God has to expose the broken hurting places. God is not a quick fix kinda guy. He is long lasting healing kinda guy. His healing may be harder but it is the healthiest kind. I was so blessed to see people get free. There is something about getting to experience that. To see the chains that Satan has kept them bound in fall off. The joy that falls on them is indescribable, but it creates joy inside of you.  It makes you realize how great and mighty God is. I was set free of some deep stuff. But my joy has increased so much, and my family here has supported me through it. You see in H squad your pain is beautiful. We see vulnerability as a strength. Where the world sees it as a weakness. I much prefer our way of seeing it.Â
I learned to shut up. To sit back in Gods presence and listen to him. He taught me that i can go deeper in him than I can ever imagine. He showed me that my talents are more than preaching. He has called me to fight and encourage others. I am called to fight for my brothers and sisters through prayer. To lift up their pain and struggles to our might Father. But to also come beside them and lift them up with my words! Life and death is in the power of the tongue and sadly too much death has come from my tongue. God called me to change that. To start speaking life and encouragement to others around me. To speak encouragement even when I don’t feel like. To speak encouragement even when I am tiny bit jealous of their success or the fact they got something I wanted. God is slowly humbling me. He is tearing away every bit of security I thought I had and I feel naked, broken, exposed. It is so scary but so fulfilling and free. But that is my God. He is crazy, unpredictable, and so out of the box. I love my crazy moments with him. Where he speaks things to my heart that stir me to act. Â I love it when he says Lauren do this. Do that. Speak to that person. It’s so amazing and stretching. But it so rewarding when God comes through and just rocks someone’s world!
The best thing about this experience is its only the beginning! God wants to use my team and I to do even greater and challenging things! As many of y’all know I am still very short of my fundraising goal! I need another 3000 dollars to even go on this trip! If God stirs in any of you to give any amount please do it! Every little bit counts and remember you are investing in lives to be changed! You dollars are helping us take the gospel to people all around the world! If you want to give online it’s super easy to do so! Click on the support me link and you can add to support account from there! If you would like to mail in a check, please mail it to me at 769 Chestnut Drive Pinson, Al 35126! Thanks everyone so much! I love you all and couldn’t do it without any of your prayers and support!
