No More Training Camp

We are officially done with training camp. Last week was our last week of training. We had a great week of sessions as well as some domestic ministry in the Gainesville area. Our sessions consisted of a lot more practical practice for on the field. We did things like simulating teaching kids classes and simulating house visits, and practicing writing sermons. For our local ministry, my team helped out a place called New Hope Ranch. This was a camp held for kids in tough living situations or who have experienced different struggles throughout their lives. We served by painting fences and other manual labor that was need from the ranch. We also were able to do some street evangelism in the Gainesville area for some more outreach. This was a very fun week, I really enjoyed being able to finally do some outreach. This week of local outreach has me very excited for leaving the country and serving overseas. We ended our final week of training camp with a lake day, which consisted of a lot of soccer and playing in the water.

This past week was the first time the guys and girls on our squad split up. All the guys went up to Western Kentucky to serve with Samaritan’s Purse in disaster relief. The girls went down to Florida to also do disaster relief. It was a little weird not having the girls around but it was a ton of fun. I feel like all the guys were able to grow closer together and we spent a lot of quality time with one another. My favorite thing was playing a new space fighting alien board game with some of the guys. Our work with Samaritan’s Purse was all very new to me but it was really enjoyable. We were helping build homes in Mayfield, Kentucky which was struck by a tornado a couple years ago. I have very little construction experience, so I was able to pick up on a lot on new skills while being here. I learned how to install trip and operate a bunch of new tools. My favorite thing was being able to drive the skid steer, this was an awesome tractor looking thing that I got to drive around and move stuff. This was an amazing experience to be able to support the community of Mayfield, and also hangout with some really cool people.

We are on the way back from Kentucky right now headed back to Gainesville for a week of debrief. We will spend the week debriefing all of training camp and outreach, and discussing anything else we need before we leave for the field. We leave for Guatemala on October 14, which is absolutely crazy. I can’t wait to finally get overseas and begin ministry in Guatemala. Please continue to pray for me and my squad this week as we wrap up our time in the states. Pray that we can spend this last week here growing closer to the Lord and each other. Also more specifically I ask that you would pray for me to not lose sight of what God is doing currently as I look forward to what is next. Thank you guys so much for all your prayers and support!