Week 1 – Training Camp Update

Week 1 is officially complete but somehow I feel like I’ve been here for so much longer and like I’ve known some everyone my whole life!  

Last Sunday we said our official goodbyes to our parents and started Monday morning! Our days typically consist of morning devotional at 8:15> breakfast> worship> session/teaching > squad debrief > lunch > personal time > session > squad/team time > dinner > campus clean up > either more personal time or team/squad time!!! Also, 2 out of the 7 days we have a 7:15 am workout. So some days go from 7:15 a.m. to 10 p.m., which ends up being really long days We have 2 more weeks of training here before we start state-side ministry!  

We have learned so so much including deepening our relationships with God, prayer, cultural practices around the world, activation, healing, storytelling, etc. It is definitely a lot of information each day to take in, but we are also learning how to process what we learn so it sticks. Reviewing what we learned while it’s fresh in our minds and then forming our own opinions has been a big topic this week.

It’s definitely taken some adjusting with 39 people in our squad & leaders all living in tents (mostly)  side by side, the occasional bucket shower, hand washing/ drying laundry, and tight schedules. I’m already learning how valuable it is to appreciate the comforts and convince of living at home and in America. Every day I get more and more comfortable in this arrangement and it’s already starting to feel like home!

The community we have here is really awesome. Our squad is our whole group, leaders, and mentors. Then our teams are our small groups, with whom we will do daily ministry with daily, which consists of 1 leader per team with 6 to 7 of us. We all get along so great and it’s so evident every single one of us was picked by the Lord to be right here with each other in these teams and squad we are in!! The Lord has been working in each one of our hearts here and I’ve seen so much growth in the lives of everyone around me! God has been really showing up and showing us all He is bigger than we can even understand!

Side note: I’m officially FULLY FUNDED which takes a huge weight off of this mission and my time here! I’m so so thankful for everyone who is part of this journey! I am more excited than ever for this next year and to see how God continues to show up in our lives and the lives we will be reaching around the world!