Training camp. Wow.
Everyone has been asking what I learned at training camp and what God spoke to me. I have spent the last two days processing, and I still cannot pinpoint exactly one thing that God taught me, but thousands. I am a new person, my squad mates are new people, and I am so thankful.
I learned that I AM CHOSEN by my Creator to do good works in His name and to make Him known among the nations.
I learned that there is no limit to what Jesus not only can do, but what He will do when I give Him space in my life.
I learned that it is my job to go out and make disciples who will in turn go out and make more disciples.
I learned that the more constantly I pray, the stronger I feel His love and His presence in every move I make.
I learned that I need to stop trying to prove myself to people and especially to God, because I am already precious in His sight.
I learned that immersing myself in scripture will allow me to hear God’s voice.
I learned that Jesus wants to set me free from everything holding me back from Him.
I learned that I need to accept, acknowledge, and own my pain in order to fully receive healing.
I learned once again that I need to seek the Lord with my whole heart, and then I will find him.
I learned that I need to stop fighting sin and start engaging the Holy Spirit, because when I am constantly aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life, sin begins to lose its presence in my life.
I learned that this journey is not about me, but about fulfilling the calling the Lord gave me.
I learned that with Christ I can overcome any fear and any insecurity, because He makes me brave.
One of my biggest fears of entering this journey has not been of moving into the unknown and living on faith, but of leaving behind my support system and my church home. For some reason I was afraid that my squad could never possibly be as amazing as my youth group. I was afraid that I would not open up and get to know my soon to be family. As excited as I was about training camp, I couldn’t help but be extremely nervous.
God however had different plans for me. Thank goodness. I don’t know why I doubt that He will always always ALWAYS remain faithful. He is continually reminding me of His goodness. My new family is more incredible than I could have ever asked or imagined. I was so immensely surrounded by the love of God and experienced Him on so many new levels. The ways God worked in order to bring us together from countless different backgrounds astounds me. I know for a fact I have friends for life and accountability partners who will push me forward in my walk with the Lord. Living life with people who are so on fire for Christ and just as eager to serve Jesus as I am is amazing.
Coming home from training camp has been one of the weirdest experiences of my life. Most people would be ecstatic to be back home in civilization after ten days in the woods in extreme heat and humidity, porta-potties, tents, weird food, bugs, and total strangers, but not me. I love home, but I cannot stop thinking about my squad and the time we shared.
Having forty people by my side that understand the difficulties of letting go of the life I am currently living in order to fully embrace the journey that God has planned has been such a huge encouragement to me. I have been home for two days and I miss them more than I could ever say. Doing normal life without my new family just doesn’t feel right.
I am so thankful for this month to say goodbye, and I want so desperately to be present at home with everyone I love this month, but it is so so hard when I have another family out there with whom I am ready to take on the world.
These forty people are the only ones who can possibly understand exactly what is going on in this next chapter of life. I know this feeling is normal, because the Lord is allowing me to let go, and for that I am so thankful. I now have a deeper sense of peace that this is where God wants me for this next step in life and in fulfilling His plan for His kingdom.
Thank you all for your continued support! I love y’all!!
