Now I know you have tons of questions and I will do my best to answer most of the questions in my blog posts, especially those regarding to logistics and what God has been teaching me, as well this is where I will be telling stories of how we see God moving on the field and in my heart as I go on this journey. But if you get to the end of any of my blogs and have comments or questions, feel free to comment here or email me directly at [email protected] and I will do my best to get back to you.
Logistics:
In terms of a plan, we have no plan.
Or at least that’s how it feels sometimes. In reality there is a plan, it is just a very flexible plan. With COVID 19, national borders are constantly opening and closing in different areas so knowing exactly what will be open in 6 months is nearly impossible. So we are going to walk forward in faith and see what is open for each new step of the way.
Currently, our first location is Romania, and from there we will be going east through central, south and southeast Asia. The exact countries are still up in the air right now and really we are just praying for open doors. I’ll keep you guys updated as I discover where I will be going next and what the ministry will look like in each new place.
Training Camp:
I should probably start with a little explanation of what training camp is.
Training camp is a 7 day intensive camp in Georgia where my squad (the 30ish people who will launch with me on the exhibition route) meets and goes through specific training for the World Race. During this week we try out our equipment, sleep in our tents, go through travel and sleep scenarios, as well as learn about the world race, what their vision is and what our trip will look like. Within each squad we also get split into our teams. These are the 4-5 people that we will be serving with on the field. My team of 5 is an all girls team and I love them so much already. You will hear more about them in future blog posts, I promise.
So much more than just camp:
Training camp is so much more than just the logistical side of what we did. Training camp is designed to make you uncomfortable and in that discomfort you learn about yourself, your team and more importantly, how to lean into God and what he is calling you to.
When I showed up to camp in Georgia, I’m not going to lie, I was absolutely terrified. I didn’t want to do this. I wanted to be home, sleeping in my bed, using my shower, eating with forks and knives and not waking up at 5am to pack my tent in the dark and hike back down the mountain we had climbed the day before.
I just remember laying down in my soggy tent on the 5th night, sweaty, dirty and exhausted, setting my alarm for the next morning and realizing that I was going to be sleeping on the ground in a foreign country for the next year. That’s a really scary thought.
But something God was showing me was this idea of sacrifice. I was sitting there miserable because I was sacrificing my comfort and my desires to God. If I’m being honest, it crossed my mind several times, I don’t know if I am ready to give up this much of myself.
That is when God gently reminded me of when David said, I will not sacrifice to the Lord that which cost me nothing (2 Samuel 24:24). This is something I had never really considered. What are my sacrifices actually costing me? When I sacrifice 20 minutes in the morning to read the bible, is that actually costing me something? And how much more is the Lord worthy of?
So yes, what I am going to be doing is going to be hard, and uncomfortable. And some days I will wake up and not feel like walking 3 miles to my ministry placement. But these are the comforts and the blessings that I have had all my life, and to sacrifice them is a blessing. And He is so so worthy of my sacrifice. How sweet it is to look at how much this is costing me and say, “I have counted up the cost, and You’re worth everything”.
So I ask you, what are your sacrifices costing you and how much more is He worthy of.
This the August 2021 Exhibition Squad!
