It’s hard to put into words the fullness of my thoughts and feelings about this squad of young adults I’ve been with for the past 3 months, with still 6 months to go. But I think a big word is ‘hope’ 🙂
The squad –
These young individuals have gone and have grown through so much. It’s been so cool to see the things they once struggled with and are already finding hope and healing in.
They came in hungry for the Lord and it hasn’t stopped 😀 They want more teachings, more answers, more clarity, more intimacy with the Lord, more awareness, more change, more deliverance and freedom, more training, more practice.
One thing I have seen the Lord working into their own lives is hope for their present and for the future, strengthening their faith and beliefs – Even so much that they themselves are sharing this same hope to others. For example, the young men have been sharing and teaching about what they have learned in the past two months with older men in a prison here… and the prisoners are wanting more. They had even asked us to make audio recordings so they have something to listen to for encouragement when we are gone!
America –
One thing the Lord is already putting on the hearts of many here is revival for America! 🙂 They are developing hearts for the lost and the Lord already seems to be calling some of them to stay in America once they are done with this trip, and it’s barely month 3 of 9. I can’t imagine the amount of preparation and equipping the Lord will do within the next 6 months when they are having these things on their hearts already.
Myself –
Not only is the Lord working in this squad, but He is also working in me through them 🙂
The first month of being here with this new squad, the Lord started speaking to me about relationships. Not any specific kind, but in general. I’ve realized that though I’ve come to know a lot of people throughout my life, even some who truly care about me, I have still had walls. The reason why anyone would have walls is because of past hurts that come back up in the present and not feeling safe enough to let them down.
I don’t know why, but for some reason I have felt a lot more safe with this particular group of young adults – which is strange to me because I’ve always felt more comfortable around those who are older than me. I’ve been able to not only talk about past struggles with this group (depending on what it is because its not just guys here) but also present ones. Not only is the Lord using this squad, but He Himself is doing a work in me.
On top of this, I too had a large hope for American revival years ago. It seemed like every time I read the word it was always about that. But over the years of seeing no change in the church as a whole, I slowly lost hope and thought maybe it’s just not going to happen. The Lord is using these young adults to slowly restore my hope for revival in America 🙂
Though this squad is a little crazy and weird at times, and there is a big age gap (I’m 14 years older), I’m always happy to be around them 🙂 I am excited to see what the Lord does in their lives and in mine the next 6 months, as He calls us all to walk further with Him in the hope that is given us through Christ Jesus 😀 Whatever that may look like in each individual. I am also very hopeful as to how the Lord will use them in the future when they return to their home states, towns, and cities! 😀
