Stepping into a role:
Each squad has roles that people are asked to step into. They lead different aspects of serving within the squad. The roles range from logistics to hospitality to health and safety. Each role is vital and helpful in different ways.
I was asked to step into the role of health and safety along with two other members of my squad. I am so excited to serve my squad in this way! I will be checking up on my teammates to see how they are doing physically, emotionally and spiritually. I will also be making sure my team mates bring everything they need to the hospital, help them fill out incident reports, and be an encouragement to them.
I am so excited to step into this role because I have been through some hard health problems so I can relate to people and help them in the best way possible. I pray that no one will get hurt but in the event of that happening I will help in any way possible. I love and care so much for my team! They are awesome and I can’t wait to serve them in any way possible.
Training Camp is over:
God transformed our lives in just four short weeks. We were constantly being poured into and learned so much physically and spiritually. Walking out of training camp, I feel stronger in all aspects of life. I feel so close to my squad and can’t believe I get to spend eight more months with these lovely people. They are such a blessing!
Now that training camp is over, we are headed to North Carolina for two weeks which is so exciting! We will be serving in various ways and sharing the gospel!
After North Carolina, we will head back to Georgia for a debrief and then head out to Guatemala! I can hardly wait! This is such a sweet season of my life, and I am so grateful!
Learning to open up:
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been working on opening up. I used to bottle everything up and suppress my emotions which did not go well. Now I’m learning how to let them out in a good way. My team has a rule where we have to answer the question how are you with an honest answer. We are all learning to be vulnerable and not just say good. Good is not an answer here, and I’m so thankful for that. We have to go more in-depth, which helps us all to be in tune with our emotions. We have grown so much closer together because we are vulnerable.
God is helping me to open up more and not be so guarded. He wanted me to be broken at training camp so I would depend entirely on Him. As a result, I cried a lot during training camp because of God’s goodness and vulnerability. God is teaching me that I don’t always have to be great. Sometimes I need to be broken, so I can see His goodness in a new light. God is so good!
Keep us po
We pray for you daily, it’s helpful to know what areas to be praying about.
We love you Grace keep up the good work.
It is wonderful to follow what God is doing through this journey!
Praying!
YOU’RE SO AMAZING!! I love you so much and miss you but I am so genuinely proud of you and you answering God’s call!
Congratulations on finishing training camp! I wish all Christians had the opportunity to go through what y’all experienced. I can tell that you each own your faith and see what dependence alone on God and focus on Him looks like. Your squad is prepared to keep issues in perspective during your upcoming journey. What an amazing Pilgrim’s Progress story! I appreciate that you’re learning how to be a genuine Christian. Our transparency and honesty, admitting that we are all “works in progress” while becoming more Christ-like, should set us apart from the world. I’m proud of you and that you’re able to edify your squad in your new position. You’re like a white blood cell that goes throughout the body, communicating and strengthening the rest of the body. 🙂
Grace, thank you for sharing more of your experiences, what God is teaching you, and how you are serving your squad. You seem well-suited for your task and I am fully confident that you will fill the role with grace and strength, as you continue seeking God’s strength. Congratulations on completing training camp and your first days of your newest adventures in loving and serving those in your community and in North Carolina! How exciting! Thank you for giving us glimpses into what this season of life is looking like for you currently. I am proud of you for continuing to put one foot in front of the other when pain or discomfort with expressing your vulnerabilities to God and your trustworthy team have entered your picture. Brokenness before the Lord affords us the opportunity of seeing Him through a fresh and deeper lens.
“May the Lord bless you and protect you; may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
Congratulations on you assignment for the squad. I know you will be great at that and the squad will be blessed. Thanks for sharing that the Lord is teaching you vulnerability. It is a precious gift that we often run from. As we bring things into the light there can be healing for us. Praying for you as you serve in NC. See you soon in Georgia.