I’m back in Asia this summer for a missions trip with the World Race, but first, I had an incredible week of training to prepare my team and I for our time in the field! On May 31, I showed up to the Adventures in Missions base in a van full of people I’d just met in the Atlanta airport and it was amazing to see how quickly we bonded as a group. My squad consists of 19 racers and 3 squad leaders who are all different ages (18-29), from various places across the US, and who all grew up in different church settings, yet we are united through our belief in Jesus Christ. The concepts of love and unity were at the center of many of our conversations throughout the week. I was constantly reminded of the different giftings that people have and the ways that all of these strengths can come together to create a stronger, more humble, and more loving team (Romans 12). This was essential so that as we arrived at our ministry hosts abroad we could reflect Christ’s love as a group (Ephesians 4:1-16). It is amazing how unity in faith can lead to the most vulnerable conversations with people who many would say are complete strangers. The people on my squad and the other squad at camp are some of the most generous, understanding, and humble people I’ve met!
The week also consisted of evangelism training, team-building activities, and so many amazing times of worship! Coming out of a final busy semester of college, my heart was not necessarily in the best place at the start of training, but I am so grateful for the encouragement and teaching I received each day of training. Throughout the week, my posture towards sharing the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit in me shifted (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) and I got baptized! Although I was baptized as a baby and went through the confirmation process in high school, I’ve felt the calling to have a full immersion baptism, and the community at camp and the teachings we received throughout the week, particularly about the Holy Spirit, confirmed this desire.
In addition to all of the spiritual growth and learning that filled the week, we also had so many moments of laughter, fun, and challenges. Some of these included doing bucket laundry, tenting in the rain, squad wars (which my squad won, go H-Squad!!!), many group meals on the porch, and group dish cleanup after meals. My squad also celebrated my birthday with a cake, a birthday crown and sash, and decorations which was so sweet!
One of the main takeaways from the week of training was this: “Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). Coming from the high-achieving, independent community of my college campus, I am grateful for the reminder that “We are confident in all of this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).
I’ll end with this verse that seemed to be a cornerstone of much of the time at camp: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’” (Matthew 12:28-30).
From Atlanta, we had a long travel day to our first country, Cambodia!
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