“I am asking that these next 10 days are good. I have no idea what to expect, but please God, I pray that you’re there & I see you & I feel you & know you better after it is all over.”
I was journaling & praying while on my flight over to Georgia for training camp, and this was part of my prayer. Prayers were definitely answered. We have a God this is so big & so cool. Like, really. – – – In case you’re confused, I was recently at a 10 day “training camp” in Gainseville, Georgia with all of the people that will be partaking in this 11 month journey with me!
Here is a list of the things that I did in those 10 days that I choose to laugh about… instead of cry:
– freezing freezing…. freezing cold bucket showers
– far too many days without a shower, because, well.. freezing
– porta potties. smellyyyy porta potties.
– cold & rainy
– sleeping in a tent
– tent was on an ant hill
– snoring :/
– aka no sleep
– crickets for breakfast
– eating with our hands
– twix bar for lunch because the meat looked weird
– running 2 miles with a 30lb backpack
– I might have smelled?
– cramps.. ya feel me
Okayyyy, it really wasn’t all that bad. Don’t worry, those things are still very true & real, but it wasn’t bad. It was actually such a sweet, powerful, informative, and beautiful 10 days. Challenging, but beautiful.
Here is a real update on how things went:
I walked into something not knowing a single person or what the heck I got myself into, and my shy, introverted, quiet self came out in the realest of ways. I know that is not my normal self to most people, but surprise!!! She is in there! After day 3, I was still waking up thinking “what. on. earth. am. I. doing” and then I realized, I knew exactly what I was doing and I needed to stop being so dang afraid. I was in a place FILLED with people who love the Lord with all of their being. People who are not afraid to be real, speak truth, dig as deep as possible, sing as loud as they can, and pray without seizing. Logically I knew that God was bigger than anything, but I challenge everyone I know to take even the slightest step outside of their comfort zone and see for themselves! I didn’t realize how comfortable I was or how small I made our God.
We had more sessions (basically little seminars) than I can count, ate food that fit the cultures we will be living in (& ate most of it with our hands), worshiped so much, prayed for everyone and everything, allowed ourselves to listen/feel for the Spirit & truly experience his presence, did team building exercises, and did basically anything that would help in equipping us for what is in store this next year.
One of the main messages that we were reminded of during those days was that we were ‘born to be loved’. BORN to be LOVED. Above anything else, we are here so that God can love us, BECAUSE he loves us. We are his beloved, cherished, deeply loved creation. This world is sad, broken, lost, and hurting. Not only do I get to tell the people here in Gilbert, Arizona how loved they are, but I also get to tell people all around the world how loved they are. We were urged to read the 3 letters of John, 3 times. He said this would show us the truth that we were born to be loved. (1 John, 2 John, and 3 John).
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” – 1 John 3:16
AMEN TO THAT! (basically I am telling you to read them)
Now being home and in the final stages of preparing to leave, I feel excited and ready. Still sad to leave my people and life in AZ, but excited to go out and love on the people in other nations in any way possible, showing them even the smallest glimpses of God’s love. I created a small family in the people I will be leaving with, and now get to be excited to see them again and live life with them for the next 11 months. I have been so so so blessed by so many people throughout this entire process. I have a $10,000 goal to reach by Dec. 13thand GUYS, I AM THERE A MONTH EARLY!!! Hallelujah is all I have to say.
If I have learned anything in the last 5 months, it is that God cares for us, he loves us, and gives abundantly more than we could ask for, and sometimes we just have to fix our eyes to see it. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all of the people encouraging me, praying for me, and supporting me financially. It means so much more than you know!
SO much love!!
Samantha
