Each team created a canvas during training camp to express what God’s doing in their team and the calling he’s put on their hearts as they head out to the nations.
I don’t think I have ever prayed and honestly thought that God would answer my prayers like that. But He does! He hears us and answers us back! Later that day we were once again at a training session. This time it was all about hearing the Lord. Now I am not a person that really believed that God really can talk through us. But let me tell you HE DOES! Yesterday something absolutely confirmed for me that God talks to us and through us. We were told to turn and pray for the person on our left. I don’t know this person but I listened to God and felt like I was to pray over her that God had her. That God was going to wrap her up in His arms and hold her tight. Later that night she called me over and showed me her journal and what she had written the night before. I spoke the exact words she had written in her journal. God speaks; we just need to listen!
The Treasure in a Field by Jake Smith (Kenya)
The “Kingdom of God” has always been where my thoughts lay, my heart dances, and where my God’s words end up in my mouth. These couple of days, God has been showing me how to use my talents, gifts, attitude, time and words to further the Kingdom in any way I can. Training here in Georgia is so fun! Pulling into AIM on the bus was so comforting because it was out in the stix….out in the middle of nowhere. This place is a field out in the woods, and just looking at it gives me peace. Training hasn’t been everything I expected; actually, we just had a sermon on our “self-centered expectations”… oops…. haha! My team & I were so ready to get to where we’re going, but I’ve found that we’re just excited to see God move right here in the lives of leaders and followers, givers and takers, prayer warriors and some crazy worshipers. I’m so excited to be working hard for the Lord beside these people. I’m ready for Kenya; ready to work hard to give glory to my KING! I’m sellin all I got to gain this treasure in a field. Matthew 13:44
Life Lessons by Amy Johnson
I have grown a lot in my relationship with my Father because He is DEF-I-NATE-LY taking me out of my comfort zone…my safe zone. God has revealed to me that He cares more about my character than my comfort. On this trip He is stripping me of my comfortable lifestyle so that I am able to grow and become more of the woman He wants me to become. I have also learned that when He takes away my comfort it doesn’t mean that He doesn’t love me, care for me, or have my best interest in mind. It actually means the opposite. My Father loves me deeply, cares for me infinitely, and wants the ABSOLUTE best in mind. He has the grand plan in mind and even though I might me uncomfortable at the moment….or two months…the Amy that I will be at the end is going to be a woman more after God’s heart.
In an Atlanta homeless shelter, written in a small corner of the wall, in a room packed of twelve girls and all their two months worth of stuff was a quote that said: “We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation, a peculiar people, that we should show forth the glory of the one who brought us out of darkness into HIS marvelous light. In that moment the reality of this trip set in. We ARE the chosen generation, we will impact the world we were called to serve. I have learned very quickly that this is the biggest leap I’ve ever taken but God is here and when I give God the openness of my life and heart, and surrender my worldly problems and concerns God WILL TRANSFORM ME.
GOD BLESS YOU WITH YOUR OWN DESIRES AS YOU DELIGHT IN HIM. SERVE HIM WITH THE WHOLE OF YOUR HEART. REALY, OUR GOD IS SO FAITHFUL.