Hey everyone! Training camp has officially ended in Gainesville, Georgia. We stayed in cabins and guess what… bunk beds here have three stories instead of two! Maybe this is normal in the south, but I have never been so nervous to get into bed when I found out I was on the top! Throughout the week we were taught about sprititual warfare, traveling concerns, how to be proper men and women of Christ, listening for and to God’s voice, ask the Lord ministry (ATL), and we did tons of team building games. I haven’t taken pictures at all yet, but my new friends have taken a few of me so I might be able to upload those at some point. I think I may buy a camera when I get to Africa. Maybe….
Why am I not on an airplane flying to Africa right now? Well, it was not in God’s plan. I am very excited to see why God held me and my friend Johannah and one of our leaders Isabel back here in Georgia while the rest of the missionaries travel to their countries. I have lived my life by the saying everything happens for a reason, as well as not my will but yours(God’s) be done. My passport and visa did not arrive to training camp in time on Friday, in fact it was lost in route to Gainesville from Atlanta. I really wasn’t bothered by it. I knew from the get go that this new chapter in my life was going to test my faith and I knew that every little thing would be part of God’s plan. Therefore, I am remaining optimistic. When teammates asked what I was going to do I replied along the lines of, “Whatever God wants to happen, will. Sometimes we don’t get what we want. That’s what Christians do, we chill out and wait it out.” So what if I found out my passport came in this morning(Monday) at like nine as I finished saying goodbye to my teammates. God has a reason for putting me and Johannah on a flight this wednesday morning. We still have no idea what the reason is, but I promise you there is one. Maybe there is someone who is terrified of flying sitting in the seat next to us. Maybe someone in our terminal will need prayer, or someone is curious about Christ but is waiting for someone to reach out to them because they are too afraid. Christians are walking witnesses for life with Christ, He will use us in crazy ways if He wants to. I think it is great, Johannah took me into her home which is about twenty minutes from the training camp, and we are going to get a chance to chill out and bond before we fly off on Wednesday at 9:30am. Definitely cover us with prayer!
Sorry I haven’t been able to blog as much as I anticipated. The camp had zero electricity and the porto potties were a thrill. Don’t get me wrong, I had n absolute blast camping out for a week. Besides the wicked high humidity and millions of flies I was very content. I quickly realized that charasmatic and conservative are far more different then I thought. I am charasmatic, and I honestly felt out of place. I’m not sure if the other missionaries were just shy about the Holy Spirit and a few of the teachings leaning toward the charasmatic side of things, but I felt that I had to hold back the whole week. I finally cut loose on Sunday though. I couldn’t front any longer. I was jumping around and going nuts during worship, praying in tounges for people and well……. representing The Vineyard haha! I am not sure how often I will be able to come on here. I know for a fact that we are required to walk down to the Internet Cafe and pay for a few hours to blog once a week, but until I get settled I’m not sure how I will go about it. Continue supporting me and leaving love notes on here though! Hearing from you all make me wicked happy! Especially when the homesickness starts in!
My new friends are like family, the bugs are many, the living situations are tight, the laughter is ongoing, the fellowship is amazing, and the memories have already started. Thank you so much for all of you who have financially and prayerfully supported me so that I could have this oppourtunity! I couldn’t be more grateful. I should be able to mail stuff and have short conversations on an international phone as soon as I get to Africa, so definitely keep up your guard! Love you all.
XOXO,
Victoria
