It has been 13 days since we got on a plane. It has been 13 days since I left everything that felt comfortable. It has been 13 days of laughter, joy, tears, pain, frustration, patience, forgiveness, mercy, and vulnerability. These 13 days have felt like 3 minutes, and 3 years at the same time. Keeping our eyes focused on Jesus is the only thing that’s keeping me grounded. Everything else fades, everything else eventually goes away, everything else sinks deep. Keeping my eyes on Jesus is the most fulfilling and rewarding choice. Giving Jesus my “yes” has been the best decision of my life. Seeing what He can do in and through me has been incredible. Learning how others operate and function has been challenging but so intriguing. Now there is one thing my entire squad has in common, and that is the undeniable love of Christ. We are already a family. We are already connecting in ways I couldn’t imagine connecting with friends at home, and that is because we all gave Jesus our “yes.” 

Last week, we were taken to training camp in Pogradec, Albania. Our place was right on Lake Ohrid and a couple miles away you can see the Macedonian border. One of the mornings I was sitting on a beach chair in front of the lake, just worshiping our Creator, and I was thinking about Paul. I was thinking about how Paul had probably been to this lake. The same lake that I am sitting before and asking God to prepare my heart for ministry, Paul had probably sat here and did the same thing. How incredible is that. Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He wants to do with us the same things He’s done with others. My purpose in life is to serve others in a way that Jesus would. That is what I’ve been put on this earth to do. And right now, I am here, serving others, failing, making mistakes, growing, and learning. God continues to prove faithful and all He needs is our “yes.” 

I have been reading Nehemiah this week, and I know an aspect of it applies to our squad and the ministry God wants to do through us. God told Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. When Nehemiah tells others of the Lord’s instruction, they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they strengthened their hands for the good work that was ahead. We are going to rise up and build, but first we must strengthen our hands. That is the season our squad is in right now. With this, comes a lot of prayer, and worship. And let me tell you, this group knows how to worship. A pure hunger for heaven is the only way I can phrase it. The tangible presence of the Holy Spirit floods the room every time without fail. It is such a blessing to be a apart of. 

After training camp, we made our way over the mountain to Kotodesh, Albania. We are in between a couple of villages surrounded by mainly Muslim communities. We are praying for open hearts and open minds for us to be able to build relationships and share the gospel. Stay tuned for how God shows up in that!!