Orientation!

***These aren't going to be able to be super clean and edited since they are from my phone, so don't judge :) ***

 Orientation has just been an amazing experience.  I have never been surrounded by so many people who have a heart for missions like this! It is so encouraging to see how God is at work in young people's hearts all over the nation. I was nervous and anxious coming down here.  I was fighting insecurities and fears, especially after we started going over all the details and logistics.  Our enemy grabs a hold of those and uses then to make us question this calling God has assigned to us.  But God is so awesome and faithful and loving! He quickly showed us that we were all facing these same fears - we weren't alone in feelings of inadequacy!  It was a great lesson showing that we need to be open and honest about our fears.  We don't need to pretend and put on this face like we are somehow perfect and awesome. We are broken, imperfect people in desperate need of a savior, so why do we like to pretend we have it all together?

So.....I LOVE LOVE LOVE this team God has put together!! I know we are all going to grow so much closer on this trip, but I already love how God has been and continues to be at work in their life.  Its been so awesome to see how God is at work in all of these peoples lives, and how he is creating life out of broken circumstances. He is so active, and it has been such a blessing to see Him softening hearts and revealing himself to people in this nation so we can spread that message to all nations!

I have already grown tremendously during this time.  I've been pushed out of my comfort zone, had to be crazy vulnerable and open pretty quickly, but God's been so amazing and loving in it all. I was able to throw down the sins of my past that I still was clinging to (literally got to nail them to the cross...).  God has opened some wounds and doors that I thought I had closed in my past, but He has graciously shown me I never really dealt with them. I wasn't expecting this to surface at all, but God is intent on me giving it up to Him.  He is doing it in such a loving, fatherly way.  He isn't condemning me of my past, but reminding me I am his beloved daughter whom He adores.  

I can't wait to board the plane and finally get to meet the awesome long term missionaries there! I am so excited to just get to encounter God on this journey.  We have been told over and over that we need to be OK with the fact we aren't going to plant a church, and we might not see someone come to Christ.  And that's OK!! Its so easy to turn a missions trip into a works-based trip. Yet we have the amazing opportunity to learn about a community that God is at work in, and will be able to encounter Jesus more! What else even compares to that?!?

Prayers and Praises
- Praise to God for all the amazing mighty ways He is at work in the heart of these young people!
- Praises for the reminder of the gospel message and how it applies to us TODAY! Being able to throw our old identity at his feet and put on Christ Jesus :)
- Pray for all of the teams going out. Several had a hard time working out details due to some issues in host countries, and others need prayers to pass safely through security.
- Pray our team encounters God on this trip! Make us fully obsessed with God and His passion and love for His people in every nation, particularly Fiji!
- Pray for strength and energy.  Orientation has been a bit draining with so much information, and we could all use focus and energy as we head out.

- Pray for my own peace.  Today has been especially stressful with different situations, and I have started to feel anxiousness again.  Pray I remember the promise that God has gone before me and will equip me for His calling. 

- Pray that I don't run from my past and bury it all during this trip, but that I give it up to God.  Pray He continues to call me out and force me to discuss these things I have avoided for so long. 

I love y'all so much and appreciate your support!! Without God being so active in your life, I wouldn't be here.  I am so thankful that He has softened your heart to His commission and purpose in this world, and that you support His work in me this summer! :)