Hello Everyone!! 

I have some exciting news to share...

We got our specific ministry placements in Guatemala!!!

Before I go into the ministry details, I've been wanting to write an update to share with you how the last couple of weeks have been here at training camp in Gainesville, GA!

Training Camp!

As for living conditions, we have been: sleeping in tents, warding off MANY bugs, taking bucket showers, using porta potties, eating a variety of cultural meals, throwing items away that have either been soaked by the rain or have gotten moldy from leaking tents (thankfully, my things have not been moldy but, sadly, for many of my teammates that is not the case), hand washing/line drying our clothes, running from torrential downpours and soaking in the sun on beautiful days, and smelling not so great as stinky clothes remain in our tents most days... 

As for the Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical aspects, we have been having: daily personal time with Jesus, breakfast as a whole squad, worship, many teachings (such as: What is Truth?, The Mission Mandate, Who is God?, The Gospel, Identity, Life is Ministry & Ministry is Life, Forgiveness, Intimacy: Seeking the Lord, Culture & The Gospel, etc.), time for our squad to grow in intimacy with each other & put into practice what we've been learning, many more teachings, personal time (typically used to take bucket showers, do laundry, rest, build relationships, spend more time with God, meetings with mentor and coaches, etc.), squad meetings, and team bonding.

This past week, we were required to do a 2 mile hike with our packs on in 35 minutes or less. It was a little bit of a struggle, as my bag wasn't sitting correctly on my back, BUT GOD. He got all of us through! Each team had to run/walk in order to meet the time requirements but at the very end, most of us jumped into the brown lake with our hiking clothes on, and that was one of the most refreshing feelings EVER! 

Spiritual Preparation

Throughout the last couple weeks, it has become very apparent that the road ahead is going to be challenging and yet also rewarding. Three phases of this journey are expected for every World Racer: Abandonment, Brokenness, and Dependence on the Lord. Each racer will experience these stages at different phases of their journey with the Lord this year. I have been pressing into God, allowing Him to strip me of everything that I have been depending on that has not been Him, learning to truly depend on Him for my life and also the road ahead. 

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The last couple weeks, I have seen God move and speak. He had spoken to one of my coaches (Matt) about one of my heart's greatest struggles and I had barely even introduced myself to him. God also used another racer to confirm the Lord's voice during worship as we both received the same message from God at the same time! These things have been happening left and right for people at training camp... AND IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING!!!

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There have definitely been highs and lows of training camp as I am allowing God to show me the ugliness of my sin and therefore, the greatness of His mercy and grace. It's also been an adjustment to be in constant community and for all of us to find our place in this "new" family that we've formed. God is good through it all! He has taught me a lot and has made me realize that when we truly live in community as Jesus intended (Acts 2:42-47), we begin to be molded into people more like Jesus. It's a beautiful thing. 

 Ministry in Guatemala

We leave for the airport Sunday night (9/11) and will fly out to Guatemala on Monday (9/12). At that point, I will part ways with much of my squad (P-Squad) but we will reunite in a couple of months when we all debrief our first ministry experiences in early November!

(Left to Right: Abigail, Ruthie, Victoria, Katherine (Me), Caroline)

As for day-to-day ministry, our leaders prayed and sought God, and these beautiful women are the ones I will be doing ministry with!! We are all excited for what God has in store for us and for His Kingdom in the coming weeks!!

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WE ALSO GOT OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS!!! 

My team and I will be working with a ministry that focuses on bringing worship to various places in the community (i.e. coffee shops, parks, streets, conferences, etc.), Biblical training to perfect and grow spiritual gifts, and ministry to kids through sports  and Bible teachings. The ministry is extensive and there is more that I will share as we begin doing ministry, but here was the quick overview! 

How are you?

Please let me know how you are doing! I really miss each of you and want to stay up-to-date with your lives. I am praying for you and would love to know how to specifically pray for you in the coming days.

If you'd like to reach out to me overseas, feel free to search for me on facebook messenger or Whatsapp! 

Prayer Requests

- Please pray that hearts would be softened and saved through the Good News of Jesus Christ as we do ministry in Guatemala!

- Traveling mercies as we travel on Sunday (9/11)/ Monday (9/12).

- That God would give my team and me the gift of being able to understand and speak Spanish to further His Kingdom in Guatemala.

- That my squadmates and leaders would be able to have an increase in people who would desire to give financially, prayerfully, and in other ways to support what God is doing through them.