I’ve never been through something that pushes me so much mentally, spiritually, and sometimes even physically. Let me hear it, Team Uganda! There’s no way I was the only one panting with a heart pounding as we lugged all of our baggage through the streets of Atlanta from the airport to the safe house. Then as we discovered every humanly way to push, shove, and drag our suitcases up the side of a snowy mountain to our cabin.
Back on track, training camp has not given me a break. The leaders and staff here are constantly finding new ways to make me grow. There is no such thing as break time and there’s no such thing as falling through the cracks and being left alone. The leaders WILL find you and WILL talk to you about how you’re feeling and how God is working in you, whether you want them to or not!
Yesterday was a rough day for me. From the time we left our cabin for breakfast in the morning to the time we dragged our weary bodies “home” and collapsed on our beds, fourteen hours had passed. That’s fourteen hours of worship time, listening to messages, having group discussions, eating, group activities, and one and one talk time. It is mentally exhausting.
When I had my one on one time with a staff member, I bawled in her arms. She knew exactly how I felt and what to say to me. I talked to her about how the first couple of days I wanted to give up. If the next four months were going to be anything like the past four days, I wasn’t sure if I had that energy and motivation to just push and push and push myself. They tell us Real Lifers over and over that in any situation, the easiest thing to do will be nothing.
After my one on one time, things immediately started to turn around for me. I have so much joy now! I’ve heard God speak to me more clearly here than I remember ever hearing Him speak. I’m surrounded by people who have such a passion for God and whose life consists of training people to go out into the world. They have more faith in me than I ever have had in myself. They believe in us that we will do great things and because of that we now believe it too.
I have watched my team transform in the past four days. Sitting at the airport on January 15th feels like a lifetime ago. We were a group of timid, unsure young adults stepping out of our comfort zones and taking a risk. Now we have more purpose and passion for the trip, certain that God will talk to and through us whenever we call on Him.
Lacey Wombles
