I have SOO incredibly much to say about training camp. However, I have a limited time frame in which I can say it. Therefore, I'm just going to hit a couple of the highlights. Don't worry, they're kind of phenomenal highlights!
Most of my family and friends back home know that when I left town 3 days ago, I was sick, horribly sick. I came down with a sudden head cold and due to some medicine I was taking, I was up the whole night before I was supposed to fly out of Memphis. Through much prayer, and I'm so thankful for that prayer, I am CONSIDERABLY better now! All that is left of that ill time is a small bought of laryngitis. Which brings me to my story.
Training has been amazing. I could not speak higher of an organization (AIM), of a staff of leaders, of volunteers(serve team), and of a generation that hungers and thirsts for the kingdom of God. There aren't words. In my inadequate attempt, I will tell you of my experience. I came to camp desiring to learn how to better discern what the Father was speaking to me. In fact, I had a fear about not being able to hear from Him or know when He was speaking. AIM has such a passion for missions and such a fervent desire for the things of God, that they anticipated this need of mine. I know that God prepared this weekend, to prepare our teams: Uganda, Kenya, Thailanda, India, Nicaragua, and Expeditions for the work that we will be doing and the trials that we will face. Now, I know that the Father is speaking to me, and I know what His voice sounds like. Where does the laryngitis come in, you ask? Well I love to sing, I love to talk, and being restricted from that has been HARD (to put it lightly). But I have to ask myself, if I was able to vocalize they way I always do, wouldn't I just do what I always do? Would I listen for God anymore now than I always have? The answer…probably not. Thank you God for taking my voice, and replacing it with yours!
I am equipped. My lessons aren't over, no they are just beginning, but this was a big step, and God used AIM to help me take my first step.
The title of this Blog is "When God Speaks, Life Happens." And this has been seen all weekend during camp. I want to share with you one quick story that is about another girl on another team, but it spoke to me. In fact, I know that it spoke to everyone of us here. It may sound a little simple, but after it was over, the whole room shook with our praise and wander at the power, love, awesomeness, and consideration of God for us. A young woman arrived in Atlanta, but somehow her bags didn't. This means that for the entirety of this weekend, she hasn't had clothing, hygiene products, or most importantly, her passport. She shared with us last night during an exercise to learn how to listen to God that she had been feeling like she should just give up. She felt that nothing was going right, and giving up seemed like a viable option. During this exercise, she was an individual that was being prayed over. She shared with the whole room what God had used another person to tell her. She said God had spoken to her to tell her that this journey is worth it and not to give up! Amazing right?! Well, what happened next was so very God that I get excited all over again preparing to write it down. One of our AIM staffers, who I don't remember seeing when the evening session began, stood up on a chair, having come out of nowhere, and said to this girl, "by the way, your stuff just got here." And with that the whole room errupted in praise and a joyful noise. God's timing is PERFECT and He is so wonderful to give us such an obvious display of his consideration of us!
My team leaves tomorrow for Uganda!!! Prayers are appreciated. Also, I am a blogging fanatic, if you would like to keep up with my personal blog (all about Uganda, but different stories from what I share on this one) click the following link: http://idwellinhope.blogspot.com.
Here's a few of us girls waiting to blog! (Yes that is a green handprint on my face…) There's another awesome photo on my other blog!
