Cold Nights & A Gracious God

So Monday morning I left for training camp which is located in Gainesville, GA. I met my team in the Atlanta airport and we were eventually given instructions to find a way to get to the Atlanta Safehouse. For some reason it didn't even cross my mind that a safehouse is a homeless shelter, I just thought that it was a cool name for a restaurant, so yes dad my blonde moments continue :) . But, that's definitely not what it was! So once we got there we were taken to rooms with lots of bunk beds and everybody quickly claimed one. Then we went upstairs and got our dinner: a peanut butter & jelly, an apple and chips. I was very tempted to complain but didn't see how I could with so many homeless people downstairs. Our next instructions were given to us in an envelope and informed us that we would be spending the night on the streets of Atlanta, seeing firsthand what these people face every night. I was definitely scared and not to thrilled to be honest. After a long day of traveling we were all just looking forward to getting in bed. So we went out around 9:30 that night and were not supposed to come back to the safehouse until 4:00 am. So we went out and just talked to people. It was crazy to see how easy it was for hem to come up and talk to you. Almost every person would start out asking if we would pray for them and then once we did they didn't hesitate to ask us for money. We were told not to bring money with us so we didn't have to lie when they asked us for money and we said no. But once we told them we couldn't give them money they were not interested I talking to us at all. It was really discouraging that they would pull the "God card" to try and get something from us. A few of the homeless would 'prophesy' over us then ask us for money. The first person, Greg, did this to my group. Once we told him that we couldn't give him any money he told us that we didn't need to listen to men (our leaders that told us to not bring money) but to listen to the Holy Spirit who Greg felt like was telling each of us to give him money. He then accused a few people of not tithing enough, it was pretty crazy. It was definitely one of the hardest nights I've had but I'm sure by the end of the trip I will have many more. 


Yesterday we got to the AIM training facilities, and found out we wouldn't have electricity. So last night when it got below freezing I quickly realized I would not be sleeping, which unfortunately ended up being the case and morning definitely could not come soon enough. But God has given me grace sufficient for the day.  Just a few days in and I am already learning so much.  But tonight, they let us go up to the main cabin where we meet & have meals so I am so grateful for a warm place to sleep tonight.  Tomorrow is our last full day of training and it has been pretty intense so far.  I'm having to learn that just because some people worship a certain way doesn't mean that it's wrong for me not to, that my relationship with Jesus is my own.  So I have continually prayed for my worship to be my own, for me to not judge other's worship and for me not to change the way I worship just so it will be like everyone else's.    

I have been told we will be able to update our blogs Monday, February 1 but I'm not sure what internet will be like in Swaziland.  It is Africa so I know things like that are not very consistent but I hope to update as much as I can. Friday we leave for Africa and I absolutely cannot wait to be there. This time in Georgia is necessary for our team to get to know each other but my heart aches to be in Swa ziland. It has been really 'neat' (mom) to see how God put our teams together.  I looked around and saw that each team has its own personality and the girls on my team are so awesome.  Actually right now they are all doing push-ups because we are going to have a workout group in Africa.  We will see how long that lasts!  


I covet your prayers as the Lord is already stretching me. Next time I update I will be in Africa!

The picture is of the homeless shelter we stayed in. Not a very good picture, but it's all I have so far, hopefully the next ones will be of some beautiful Swazi people.