What a crazy two weeks! These past two weeks at training camp have been a rollercoaster! I have faced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows all in just 14 days! So much has happened, it’s hard to know where to even start!
Welcome to Boot Camp! Training camp is not for the weak! 😂 Consisting of sleeping in tents, using only PortaPotties, taking bucket showers, and handwashing our laundry, conditions are not the most comfortable! But, there are also so many great parts of training camp, like awesome worship nights, thoughtful sessions, gorgeous sunsets, fun bonfires, and lots of laughs with my squadmates! Through all the ups and downs, the Lord is drawing me towards himself and more dependence on Him! And all of these crazy conditions have created some sweet bonding moments for my team! Getting to know all of my squadmates has been amazing, and I am so thankful for all of them! It is becoming such a wonderful, loving community, and I’m excited for the friendships that are already forming and will continue to form and deepen!
God is Moving! Just in 2 weeks, God has already moved in some incredible ways in my life and the lives of my squadmates and everyone around me! God is teaching me new things about Himself each and every day! The main thing I feel that the Lord has been teaching me lately is to surrender everything to Him. For most of my life, I have strived to please others, always trying to achieve more, be accomplished, and be well-liked by others. Just in the past 2 weeks, God has been inviting me to give up my desire to be perfect in the eyes of others, and to instead rest in knowing that I am perfect in Him. As a symbol of surrendering everything to God, I got rebaptized on Thursday night! I was baptized before when I was 8 years old, but I wanted to get rebaptized as a symbol that I am giving everything to God, even the things that I have so desperately wanted to hold on to and keep in my sphere of control. God is already meeting me in my surrender and I know that He will continue to meet me there.
Picture Time!
Me and Jaylynn handwashing our laundry!
Getting baptized!!!
A beautiful rainbow, a reminder of God’s promise!
Fun nights around the bonfire!
M-Squad (my squad) after Squad Wars with a humble 2nd place finish! 😉
Praises!
- Friendships with my squadmates, centered on Christ!
- God is moving in the hearts of so many people here at training camp!
- An overwhelming sense of peace and confirmation that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be even throughout the challenges!
Prayers! As we head into our final week of training camp before heading off for a week of ministry in Mississippi, here are some ways you can join me in prayer!
- Health for my squad and everyone here at training camp!
- My heart and mind to be focused on Jesus and allowing everything else to flow from there!
- Continued bonding and strengthening of community within my squad!
- Openness of the hearts of the people we will be serving in Mississippi!
Thank you all for your support and prayers!
Much love,
Alia
