I can’t believe I’ve been here for one month already!! Friday was our last day of training camp in Gainesville and the joy of the Lord that I had was overflowing when they announced it was over.
I would be lying if I told you that this past month has been easy. It was a month filled with tender and challenging moments with the Lord and my squad. But I can say that every moment of it was completely worth it. I remember right before training camp began I kept on saying that I didn’t have any expectations for it. Speakers kept saying that these few weeks were going to change me and I didn’t believe it. Turns out they were right when they said that. I realized that I did have an expectation that training camp was going to be easy and that I was going to be able to do it on my own. I thought that I was in a good spot and that it was just going to be a bit of a growing experience without really taking me out of my comfort zone. I was so wrong. Every day the Lord humbled me and showed me how much I needed to rely on Him and surrender to Him. I thought that I had the strength within myself to leave everything that I was comfortable with from home and grow in a few things that I had already decided I was going to grow in before I got to training camp. God really does have a great sense of humor guys. When I say I was humbled, I really mean HUMBLED.
As I surrendered my dependency on others, pride, unforgiveness, and American luxuries like washing machines, dryers, a real mattress, a real shower, a real toilet, being able to eat whenever and whatever I want, and always having access to my phone; God slowly but surely showed me just how much I relied on things other than Him before the race. It took using porta-potties, hand washing clothes, taking moldy showers, sleeping on the ground, and being away from all the people I love for a month to see how truly blessed I am with the life that I have. Doing all of those things were definitely uncomfortable for me, but the more I did it, the more I grew in appreciation for the American luxuries that I have at home. More importantly, I grew in my dependency on the Lord. Training camp consisted of long days filled with sessions when all I wanted to do was listen to music and be alone, long team building exercises that frustrated me to the point of surrender to the Lord when all I wanted to do was be in my comfortable bed at home, eating a lot of food I did not want to eat, and going out in public and surrendering my reputation for Jesus by evangelizing in a Walmart. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!! This past month has been so incredible and I am so excited for the next 8 that have to spread the Gospel with new friends that I love. God has truly blessed us and I am so so grateful and expectant for more challenging but worthwhile moments with Him.
Pray for my squad and I as we serve with Samaratin’s Purse these next 2 weeks! We just arrived in Jackson, Kentucky to do flood relief here. We will be working for around 8 hours every day cleaning and gutting houses to prepare them for contractor work. Please pray for unity in our teams and that we will focus on the people over the work. We are here to first love people and spread the Gospel to them. We want to give them the hope that we have in Jesus in the midst of their chaos and poverty. These people are broken and have lost pretty much everything they own and need to see that they can have a hope in Jesus!! After Samaratin’s Purse we are going back to Gainesville for a week of debrief, then we head to Nicaragua!
It is so encouraging to know that you guys are at home supporting me through prayers and reading my blogs! Please continue doing so! I love you guys and miss you all so dearly!
Much love,
Ryann
