Since I've had to drive about 17 or 18 hours from Georgia to Chicago to Iowa after the end of training camp, it's provided some good time to just process the whirlwind of things that just occurred this past week, plus some days. The phrase that keeps resonating within me through all of it is BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN. The future World Racers. The hearts for the world. The walls we have all built up around us to keep out any sort of hurt or pain. So much breaking happened this week. It wasn't an easy process or task. It wasn't necessarily pretty. But as that whole process of being broken took place, something else happened. Freedom for so many was experienced on an entirely new level. God just came in and blew people away. It was beautiful.
One thing that was made exceptionally clear to me this week, is that God is not in the business of using folks who have it all together or all figured out. If He was, it's pretty evident that nothing would ever get done because those sort of people just don't exist. I think about the beautiful group that is my squad, my new family, and pretty much everyone has had some rough periods in their life. Some more so than others. Stories that would reduce just about anyone to tears and you think, "How in the world could God let something like that happen to someone?" But then I see who we are in that moment, those of us who have been hurt dearly, been betrayed, or made some bad mistakes of our own and despite all of those things, we've been brought back from the brink of giving up by a God who has never given up on us, who has beautifully restored us, who sacrificed a Son for us. Nobody is damaged goods. God brought us through those trials and tribulations so that in our rough times, we could be rebuilt for something greater. So that we could go forth and bring the Truth into people's lives who are missing it. So that our own stories would provide a hope for those broken people who are currently in the places we've already been. So that they see that life isn't over. So that they see that there is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel. So that they see redemption does truly happen and that there is a God looking to pull them back in and wrap them in loving arms.
For myself personally, this was an incredibly tough week as well and a bit of a roller coaster of feelings and emotions. Case in point, I believe I shed more tears in 8 days than I have in the last 5 years. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not some emotionless robot. I tend to process just a little differently. However, when the Holy Spirit just steam rolls you, sometimes there isn't much else to do but just cry. (More on this in an upcoming blog.) But honestly, this week God truly came alive in ways I've never personally seen or experienced. Prayers were just answered before our eyes. Case in point, someone from another squad was informed that they were actually $700 short of the money they needed to have raised for training camp due to some error. Within 15 minutes, that $700 was raised to keep her at camp. One of my own squadmates lost her wallet earlier in the week and asked everyone later in the week to pray about it. One hour later, it was found! God is so good!
Powerful things really happened this week. Chains fell off of people. Lies were dispelled. Truth was spoken into the lives of everyone. The past was let go of. Forgiveness was given. Stories of redemption were told. Declarations were made over ourselves, our lives, our mission trip, and the countries in which we will be serving. Declarations that God will wreck evil that is sex trafficking, that the hungry will eat, the unloved will be loved, the weak will be made strong, the lame would walk, the blind would see, the deaf would hear, and the dead would again live. Prophetic statements were made over people, including myself. Talents and spiritual gifts were realized. Life was spoken into one another. Trust was built. Friendships were formed. A new family came together with the vision to see all of this come to fruition. C Squad
C Squad after bringing home the bacon in Squad Wars!
I loved it all. I'm an outdoors oriented person. I love the tent camping and not so tent camping. The late night fires. The crazy food and early wake up calls. The intense discussions and even more intense worship. The building of new bonds, relationships, and friends. Laughing so hard that I can't see straight and crying until I believed my body was drained of snot and tears. So many things happened in such a short period of time. It was only one week and yet lives were changed in a radical way. ONE WEEK. Can you just imagine what we'll do with 11 MONTHS?
BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN
It's what we are.
God Bless!
P.S. To wrap up some of the pertinent information. I "showered" only twice, plus one dip in the lake. It only took 3 days for bodily functions to become a normal topic of conversation at the dinner table. The fish soup with anchioves was quite tasty. Ugali could be a substitute for caulking. I can and will cut a rug if need be. My gear was definitely put to the test and passed pretty much with flying colors. 9 weeks is almost too long before I get to see all these wonderful people again!
