Have you ever watched a fire burn? Flames jumping around through the burning hot coals. Have you ever experience getting drenched in bucket pouring rain, yet God gave a way for warmth or dryness? Have you ever walked along a path and down to the end of a dock to experience one of the greatest stories telling you’ve heard? Have you ever used port-a-potties for 10 days in a row, shared with 150ish other people? Have you cried one moment that is followed by a bellying over laugh the next? Have you danced and sang in a room full of people like you would in the emptiness of your own home? Have you felt the Holy Spirit weave His way through a body of believers? Have you experienced what it truly is like to not be selfish with anything whether that be food, warmth, water, space, clothes, toiletries, or most importantly love. Here’s a big one for our generation…Have you ever turned off all forms of technology for 10 days, or seriously had LIMITED use?
All of these things plus many more happened at Training Camp. I couldn’t possibly touch on everything that invited me into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Loving the way He loves, caring the way He cares, being present the way He is always present, listening the way He listens, hurting the way He hurts, living in complete joy for the life He has given us, and inviting Him into all the mess that He makes beautiful.
So as the fires flames bounced around and the coals glowed God began to show me something. He creates a fire in each and every one of us where our heart breaks and loves in ways not everyone else’s does. To be on fire for the Lord and each place that He calls us to, but sometimes our soul will be like a burning flame and sometimes it’s going to be the burning coal. Each is important to keep the light shining.
God is there through the storms. No one wants to battle the storms alone. The night of torrential down pouring rain would have been miserable without our Father, and without our squad. It was amazing to see our squad come together and contribute to making it one of the most memorable experiences of camp. There was a point it seemed pointless to try and build shelter, much less a fire with wet wood. Yet God provided sustainability to work it all out.
There is light, storms, truth, being uncomfortable, redemption, love, grieving, discernment, trust, giving, worship, lessons, vulnerability, and most importantly there is our family in Christ.
He said Go, He said leave everything you are comfortable with yet isn’t breathing life into you, He said share the truth and hope to all. And we said YES!
If you are reading this as a soon to be entering the World Race Training Camp my hope for you is to be ready to embrace every single moment no matter what it looks like. If you are reading this and are not going on a mission with the World Race my hope for you is to allow yourself to become uncomfortable and see what doors Jesus opens up.
My squad and team will be leaving at the end of this month with South Africa as our destination. My team…Team #LOL (LadiesofLaughter, LadiesoftheLord, LadiesofLove) consisting of 6 other amazing ladies Allison, Hannah, Kacy, Kristen, Mallory, and Shaylee will be in East London, South Africa ministering at Hope School. All of the children at this school are infected, orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS. Please keep U SQUAD in South Africa, team #LOL in East London, and all the people we will be blessed to share the love ofJesus within your prayers.
Jesus,
I thank you for every moment we had at Training Camp. The way You moved in and around us was beyond our expectations. Lord, your presence in each one of us was beautiful. We have You to thank for the opportunity and privilege it is to be able to go into these countries and be Your hands and feet. Thank you for the leadership of squad mentors/leaders and squad parents you provided for our squad, and Lord for real people who have a story to tell because of your redemption. I pray for open hearts, open hands, and ready feet. I pray for those who we will be coming into contact with. Lord, I pray they feel your presence there. I love you! In Jesus name I pray – Amen
