Jabin Jones
Currently at the airport with my teammates and finally get the opportunity to reflect on what I experienced at training camp. Going into training camp was a time I very much looked forward too, to be able to meet the people I would end up spending the next 4 weeks of my life in Swaziland, Africa with was exiting. What I didn’t know was how God was going to grow and mold us from a bunch of individuals to one body of believers under christ. The first full day my teammates opened up about some real spiritual problems that satan had spoken over them and so we got to encourage one another in the venerability we shared with each other. It felt as though we were becoming more of a team by the minutes we spent together. We as a group did a lot of challenges and obstacles to better our communication as a team. I saw many of my teammates face these challenges with bravery and trust that we would be there for them. I can honestly say I have already grown so much into the Lord and as well as my team and we haven’t even gotten to our country yet! I am so glad that God has called me and equipped me for this trip and I cannot wait to see what our Heavenly Father has in store for us. All glory be to God and all the nations will shout his praise.
Delilah Froese
Right now I just want to say to my family that I AM ALIVE! These past few days have been incredible, life changing, hard and very full of trust and vulnerability within my team. To all the other parents who are reading this I LOVE your kids!! I have learned so much from these people, they have taught me that being vulnerable is 100% okay and so is crying my eyes out during worship. This weekend has taught me that God is madly in love with me and everyone here. One lesson that God is literally putting through me right now is that whenever I am broken, he is there and he doesn’t just sit back and watch me try to figure out things on my own, he helps me and he is truly a light in the darkness. The verse that gave me peace through this lesson is Micah 7:8- Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me. This verse just blows my mind! Like he doesn’t just do nothing and watch you fall apart he does something! And he just continues to help you through whatever you are facing.
Yesterday before we went to bed me and a few other girls were talking about how the devil was trying to convince us not to go on this trip and against all odds we are going! As we want to go out and serve the Lord the devil is following us close behind and continues to convince us that we are not good enough and that we are not capable of going on this adventure but nothing that the devil tells us is true and God will help us to see this and know that he is lying directly to our faces. This past weekend has most definitely been a growing experience and I love everyone here and I can’t wait to grow with them and see how they grow. I also can’t wait to be challenged by God and see what God has in store for us in Swaziland. Also Happy Canada Day!! đŸ™‚
Sydney Price
Hello Everyone! We are finally at the airport and are ready to go on this wonderful journey! This past three days at training camp It has been amazing to see how God has been so presence in all of our lives. Being so surrounded with the Holy Spirit has been a life changing experience in itself! I am so excited to see what God will change in all of us and the people we are ministering too! I know that God has wonderful things in store for all of us.
Leah Dawson
Hey guys! Let me just say how unbelievably blessed I am to have met these people and be on this team. The past few days at training camp have been super amazing, but also really hard. Satan has been really defeating me and telling me, “You are unimportant, no one cares about what you have to say, you don’t belong here, etc.” When we were in worship last night, I prayed that the Lord would just take that feeling away from me and all the sudden I got this vision of Jesus holding me on his thrown and he said, “you are my child and I love you”. Obviously I started to ball my eyes out and then after the service, we met with our groups and I sat down and I felt God telling me to tell them about how I was feeling. Nervously, I said, “guys I have something to talk to you about.” Once I was done telling them about what I was feeling and what I had seen, I started to cry and my whole team gathered around me and laid their hands on me and prayed. I can’t remember the last time I had cried so hard, but also felt so free. This team was truly hand picked by God and I am so thankful for them! I can’t wait to see what else is in store for us and the memories we will make! I love you guys đŸ™‚
Abigail Brown
I have been so blessed in these past couple days with my team. As soon as I sat down with my team the first night, I knew that’s where I belong. God has really been working through us already. He’s given us holy confidence and freed us from so many chains already. I’m so excited about what God is going to do. He’s shown up so strongly and it’s only the beginning. I let y’all know as more happens, but for now, I’m alive and I can’t wait to see my future home. Xo
Emma Williams
Welcome back! This has been a real journey; I could tell it was going to be since the moment I walked through the doors of the training center. As of now, the biggest and most life changing month of my life is within steps.
My favorite part of this weekend was meeting my friends, everyone was so welcoming and warm, and we bonded almost instantly, I have never laughed harder in my life with any group of people.
I’m so excited to continue this adventure I’m on, in what will hopefully be my favorite places in the whole entire world.
By the way Mom and Dad I am alive and thriving. I have taken my medicine every day and I went under the budget the first week!
See y’all sooooon
-Emma grace Williams
James Martin
Training camp was so joyful for me. The community of believers loved me and welcomed me with open arms. The Lord loved me and taught me what it means to be a wildflower. Whenever and wherever the wind (His Holy Spirit) blows me, I will go. All the days of my life I will dance and sing praise to the Lord Most High in His field. I love you so much Jesus. Thank you for this trip. Thank you for pushing me and stretching me in my faith.
All my love,
James L. Martin II
Abby Smith
These past three days has been truly incredible. The change in myself I see already has been such a gift from God. He has been so good to us all throughout just the beginning of this journey I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us all. Our team has so quickly become a family and that completely blows me away. I am so ready for this coming month in Swazi and I pray the Lord changes me in more ways than I can imagine. To my family, I love you all so, so much. I pray for you everyday and think about you all the time. I am doing well and having a really joyful time here. I can’t wait to tell you all about my time on this journey and pray you are all on our own back at home.
Love you all, Abby Smith
Maria Croyle
I can’t believe I am finally here waiting in the airport for our first flight to Africa! I have waited for this moment to happen for so long. To be truthful I was super nervous for training camp. I had thoughts that I wouldn’t be able to fit into the team or that I would be so homesick that I would just turn around. But training camp has showed me incredible things and how incredible God is and I haven’t even stepped into Swaziland yet! Our group bonded immediately; I don’t feel like a stranger in a big group (something that I thought I would feel like) but I have found my new family for the next few weeks. I feel like the Lord has been with me so far, especially during worship, I felt like the Lord was standing right next to me. Also, one of the sessions we heard was how to be able to practice learning prayer and one of my goals for this trip is to able to practice learning prayer in a whole new way! Also bucket showers weren’t as bad as I thought it was, very refreshing! Well that is it and I am super excited to start this new journey with the Lord and my new family!
Serena Michal
Real Quick Hello and Bye: Alright, first off…. I’m still alive! Training camp was amazing! My team is literally the best and I love all of them! And we leave for Swazi tonight! I’m so so so excited! Just counting down till we board the plane! Talk to all y’all soon!!!
Makayla Babcock
I have had an amazing experience at training camp! My team has been such an encouraging, supportive group of people and I cannot wait to get to know them better as we minister in Swaziland. Training camp gave me practical tools to utilize in country as we do ministry, and I am looking forward to these next four weeks!
Mackenzi Sandberg
three days and ive taken two bucket showers, been squeezed through a tiny hole in a rope spider web without touching the edges, slept with sheets under a hurricane of wind from fans i didn’t know could ever be so big, watched some of the funniest dancing ive ever seen, and only peed in porta potties that could not have smelt worse in the georgia heat. but most importantly ive made fifteen new best friends. fifteen people from all over the country (plus canada heheh) that were clearly hand picked by God to be together. something about jesus that makes strangers family.
Isabella Harris
ive filled my notebook with journals, prayers, and notes throughout these two days (I CANT BELIEVE ITS ONLY BEEN TWO DAYS!!!! ah). i love my notebook already, especially the quote on the front. it reads: “perhaps this is what this season is all about: trusting in the unknowns, finding gold in the little things, trading fear of what’s uncertain for freedom to thrive within it” -morgan harper nichols. i think this quote perfectly describes this season (yes i did write that quote on my notebook myself so it’s not too much of a coincidence haha). i am trusting in the unknowns!!! currently i’m sitting in the airport. i haven’t touched my phone yet and have no idea what’s happening back home. i have no idea if my suitcase is under 50 lbs (PLEASE GOD make it light!!!) and i have no idea what awaits me when i step off the plan in AFRICA!!! yet i’m here, i’m trusting! i’m finding gold in the little things! i’ve taken two bucket showers and LOVED it! me and my neighbor in the next stall over laughed and talked about our days. it was a time! i am thriving in the uncertain! my heart loves falling asleep with so little on my mind besides africa! i don’t have to deal with drama back home or what to eat the next day. i have no idea what’s happening the next day and it’s so nice; i am thriving in this uncertainty! that’s all for now!!! in two short flights all this unknown and uncertainty will become a reality and we will be in swazi!!! can’t wait to update you all on all that!
