Pre-Swazi Training

This past week I experienced a time that has changed me for the best. I showed up in Atlanta on Monday morning with lots of butterflies in my stomach to say the least. With me being the oldest of the group, I had pre-deceptive notions of that I wasn’t going to fit in or no one was really going to include me. As soon as I walked into the atrium in the airport, I knew that this just wasn’t going to be the case this summer. Without hesitation, a blonde girl, who soon turned out to be Alexis from my team, ran up to me with arms wide open, welcoming me into the group of people waiting for this journey to begin. I sat down and immediately started connecting with people. Once I told several people that I was 23 and had graduated college, they didn’t give me the “oh my gosh what are you doing here” stares that I had planned for, but showered me with questions about my job, living on my own, etc. The fears that satan had instilled in me months before had suddenly disappeared into the arms of my Savior. God had completely blessed me and answered a prayer I had being honing on since October.

Finally we arrived at training camp and got settled into our cabins and immediately started learning and stretching our hearts and minds for what we were all going to encounter this summer. We learned about surrendering this to Christ that hold us back from truly serving and loving Him with all our hearts. For me, this was letting go of controlling my future, whether that was in the terms of a future mate, jobs, school or just how life will look like when I get back to the states. After letting all of this go, I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders and God whispering to me, “I’ve got this.” Throughout the week, we also fed our hearts the art of listening to the Holy Spirit and really including Him in the figure of the trinity. Another part was country debrief where we learned different things about what countries we were going to such as food, area norms, and safety tips. Others things were included in the week such as dance-offs, small group meetings, and my favorite part, the trip to the Boys and Girls Club. Here we got to play with the kids and invest our love in them. I met this one kid named D.J. who as soon as I saw him, I knew I had to talk to him. Other kids were picking on him while we were playing flag football and he still had the best attitude. He was really smart as well for only being in the third grade. After talking to him for a little while, I already knew he was a special kid and was always going to have a soft spot in my heart. Everywhere we went he held my hand and I got to show him the love of Jesus. It was definitely a good start to this adventure I’m about to partake in.

I’ve never been around such a large group of people worshipping God and having one common purpose. We are so on fire to bring the good news of Christ to the nations and will fight satan no matter what to have our attention on God at all times. I know valleys will come while in Swazi, but I also know that in 2 Corinthians 12:10 I delight in my weaknesses and persecutions because when I am weak, then I am strong. God wants us to get to that vulnerable spot in our lives when we don’t do anything but rely on Him and fully know that we are surrounded by His love and unconditional grace. This is the main thing I gained throughout this week. I always don’t need to have my ducks in a row. God is with me and even goes before me to breathe His radiance. This summer I hope to share this concept with the Swazi people so they know that a relationship with our Christ is not one with a rule book, but one with such a define romance that they cannot live without it or be able to substitute it.

I cannot wait for this journey to began and I am literally sitting in the Atlanta airport, waiting for my Paris flight, writing this blog post. I’m anixous, but this time in a good way. God has defined my one hope for this nation I’m going to and it is my honor to be His hands and feet to carry it out. I’m excited to bring your guys along with me on this journey. Please continue to pray for the team and myself and also be praying for the people of Swazi that they will have open hearts and willing minds when we get there until the very end. Until next time!

C