Let’s go to Puerto Rico!

Yesterday I got the opportunity to meet 25 teenagers who will change my life these next few weeks. God has called me to lead this team on a mission trip to Puerto Rico! What an exciting mandate! 5 of the 25 students are students that went with me to Swaziland last summer, and I cannot wait to hear about all God has done in their lives this past year. The remaining 20 students I’ve never met before, but somehow I already feel connected to all of them. I have this love for them, a love I can’t explain other than it’s a love that God has obviously put in my heart for these world changers. 

God has gone before us to plan out this whole experience, and we get the privilege of experiencing Him as He moves and works in our midst. An incredible thing is happening as we speak…let me paint you a picture. Yesterday 28 of us gathered here in Gainesville, GA to begin training camp. Just in case you missed that, I did say a team of 28 -it’s a bit on the huge side!  We’re all strangers and you could feel the nervousness about what’s about to happen…it’s a beautiful combination of anxiousness and excitement. During the next 2 weeks as we journey together to the incredible island of Puerto Rico we’re going to become family! We’re going to live together, eat together, play together, worship God together, brush our teeth together, love on people together, and encounter our living God together!! Two weeks may not seem like long enough to bond and become family, but you’ll be amazed at how quickly we mesh. It’s already happening. It’s been less than 24 hours since everyone converged here at the training center and our team is already engaging and sharing their hearts with each other. It’s so fun to watch what is happening. 

I’m amazed at how alive they are in their faith at such a young age, ages 14-18.   These courageous teenagers have answered God’s call, stepping outside of their comfort zone and into an experience that will forever change their lives. God has brought us all individually together to do something corporately to advance His Kingdom…and we’re diving in!!

Who is God to allow me the opportunity to experience Him work in and through these youth? What an honor it is! I love these guys!  They’re hungry, they’re passionate, they’re FUN, and I get the honor of spending the next 336 hours with them! 

I’ll do my best to post more blogs and pictures soon. Thank you guys for covering us in prayer during these next 2 weeks. You are such a vital part of what God is doing here and your love and support is greatly appreciated!