I have been in Georgia since May 11th. First, to watch Jenny Hill and Jesse Newton tie the knot, and Haley Smith and Blake Nail get married. I love these two couples so much, and it was such a gift to be a part of both weddings. Next, to have a crazy, Godly encounter with a homeless couple in the walmart parking lot, a Latin couple in the emergency room, and with a woman whose grandson was on suicide watch in the emergency room. Last, to fall in love with 55 crazy, world changers who I will be traveling the world with in July. My mind has not been able to process fast enough what God has been doing.
The event I feel I need to process the most is training camp. For 7 straight days, God rocked our worlds with His goodness, His love, His faithfulness, and His Presence. I got to see people be completely transformed in such a short period of time. It brought me back to my training camp, when I felt free for the first time from the bondage of sin, and my spirit soaked up every word of truth that was spoken over me. This time I got see other young people, experience that same kind of freedom.
Me with L-squad at our camp-out in 2009.
Former squad leaders kept telling me about this supernatural love that God gives you, once you meet “your people” (the people you will be leading on the field for 4 months). I thought to myself, well that was their experience, what if it doesn’t happen that way for me? I was scared of what this encounter with 55 strangers would be like. I was already nervous because I wasn’t even there to meet them on the first day. I left training camp early to go to one of the weddings in Alabama, and I wouldn’t get to meet “my people” until the next morning.
I woke up early to excercise with the squad at 7 a.m. and this would be our first encounter together. I met them and they were so easy to talk to….but was it love?? During the teachings and worship, I could see God moving in their hearts, breaking off past hurts, and literally doing something new in them. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with the goodness of God. I wasn’t doing anything! And I realized it’s His work that changes them and sets them free….not mine. My job is to love them.
On the 4th night, Joel and I were going to camp-out with our squad, and spend the night getting to know them and bond with them. I was started to feel it…these were “my people”. The following night at worship, it hit me like a ton of bricks and I cried like a little baby or a proud mama….I couldn’t distinguish between what I was feeling. But I knew….I had fallen in love. It happened…..just like they said it would.
Me and Joel (left) with our lead trainer Bill (right).
And now that camp is over I can’t stop thinking about them, and dreaming about them, and seeing their faces on my heart. What an honor to love like this, and God is blessing me with the bonus of going out to the nations with them. Is this really my life? Thank you Jesus…whoever says following you is boring, has no idea what it is like, to follow a King that loves ruthlessly and allows us to love the same way.
F-SQUAD!!!
P.S. I still need $2200, to launch to India in July, with this wonderful squad. To donate click to the left of this page…thank you!! : )
