I found that stepping into training camp I was unsure if I was qualified enough to be an international missionary. Now, I am fully confident that I am right where I am supposed to be. Boy, I have so much I want to share! I should probably break it down into individual promises given to me that were fulfilled this past week.
Family:
I wasn’t sure if I would fit in with the people on my team as it was my first time being with any group of people without any of my family members. I was stretched far beyond all areas of comfort without the ability to lean on my sisters (best friends) when things got awkward or hard. Slowly, I began to see how irrational my fear was as I began connecting with the women and men on my team in a deep way. They are all so awesome and hilarious. The best part is that we have the same goal, to glorify Jesus. I have an amazing new family for the next year of my life. God, thank you for my new beautiful brothers and sisters.
Healing:
A large portion of training camp was focused on forgiveness and vulnerability. I shared very deep and intimate details of my testimony to my teammates that I’ve struggled with my whole life. It was all received so well and a lot of fears connected to being fully open with others were slowly evaporating.
Forgiveness:
Jesus was asking me to forgive certain people in my life. Some of the pain I’ve experienced in my life really puffed up my pride. The Lord showed me that forgiveness actually looks a lot like loving people. The second day of training camp I found myself sobbing in the arms of my teammate Brittani not really sure of what to say, just mourning over the sin in my life. Jesus, thank you for showing me who I need to forgive, and leading me tenderly through this process.
Purpose:
Starting on the first day of training camp, our leaders were intentional in reassuring us as a team and individually that we are supposed to be there. We were chosen. I was chosen for this specific calling. It’s beautiful and the Lord really confirmed that for me through his word but also through team connection, as well as, the overwhelming peace I felt in the presence of God in that place. It’s amazing.
One thing that I have rarely shared with anyone was that prior to starting my career in nursing, I had a desire to study communications and journalism with the long-term dream of becoming a news anchor. That’s silly, I know, but it was often something I would think about and wrestled with the Lord as doors kept opening for me down the nursing avenue and not in the direction of journalism. I love what I do, but I’ve never been given the opportunity to pursue that other area of interest I’ve always had.
On our second to last day of training camp our team leader, Ben, stopped me as we walked past each other and told me he wants me to be the team Story Teller. Of course, the first thing to come out of my mouth was that I hardly know anything about cameras and writing! His response, “You’ll do great”.
Basically, myself and three other people on my team, will be leading our online ministry, through sharing stories of the amazing things Jesus is doing in our lives and the lives of the people around us from now until the end of our one year journey through the unreached nations of the 10:40 window. Isn’t it crazy that God doesn’t waste the dreams he’s planted in us? They are there for a reason. I promise.
Evangelism:
On our final day of training camp, after we said our goodbyes to the team, my teammate, Maryah, and I stopped by Chick-fil-a for lunch. While in line, she points to this scruffy looking man sitting on a bench and says she thinks she needs to talk to him.
I walked over to the man, put my arm on his shoulder, and asked if he’s hungry because I want to buy him something to eat. He proceeded to tell me that he already got a free kids meal that he’s just waiting for. I said, “That’s cool, but what are you doing today?” He said he was going to go to the store to see if he can buy a tent to sleep in because he doesn’t have a home. The Holy Spirit nudged at me, “Give him your tent.”
We invited the man to come have lunch with us. While waiting for our food I told him I had a tent for him. “Jesus gave me a tent and he wants me to give it to you”, I said. You can only imagine the look on his face when he found out this random girl he just met at chick-fil-a had a tent for him, which is exactly what he needed. It was so beautiful.
Maryah and I went inside to get our food, but when we got to our table outside, the man was waiting for us and he set the table so beautifully with napkins and sauces placed for each of us. He also offered us some water bottles from his bike. What a sweetheart. Am I right?
We shared a meal together and prayed for our new friend. We got to tell him that God loves him so much! I asked him if he owns a bible and if he reads it. He said he can’t read because he has cataracts. I was like, “Okay. Can I read something to you?” He obliged. While he nervously smoked his second cigarette, I read aloud Romans 10. He was so attentive to every word. He was drinking in the word of God in that moment. He even said he wants to go to church on Sunday. We prayed for our friend and parted ways with hearts full of love. He left knowing he was loved by Jesus and also a new home (tent) and a new bed (sleeping pad). They fit so nicely and compact in the basket of his bike.
God confirmed I have a gift of being relatable to people who are hurting and evangelism is one of my greater joys and purpose in life. It’s really a lot of fun!
These past ten days were challenging, humbling, revelatory, and completely worth it.
With all my love,
Tamara V
