Wow, can I just say reality hit. I am really doing this. I’m sitting here in Gainesville, GA in serious descipleship training to truly step out. To go into the unknown and fight for the lives of others. I am choosing in, to the way I’m living each day the way I am. ( cleaning laundry in a bucket, sleeping in a tent for weeks, rain after rain, consistent community, portapotys, even dealing with mold due to the rain). God has been moving so much in my life this past month, every single day. As much as I was battling getting settled and getting used to the differences each day. I feel strongly, that sometimes I ask myself why am I here right now. I, Melinda Erickson, was hand picked by God to be here doing this exact thing. He knows my next step before I even take it. To be able to have this season of growth so strongly with God being my way to lean on and fully choose Him.
I went through a few hard days.. but that is just making me stronger and stronger. I’ve learned sooo much this past month. From sessions every morning and evening. Some topics: shame, honer, guilt, vulnerability, cultural lenses, forgiveness, seeing Gods true character, etc.. it goes on and on. Preparing our hearts and minds in ways I never even thought to imagine.
Alot of my past hurt kept surfacing from some of the teachings and I was confused and letting that bring me down. Asking, “why would God remind me of this pain?” I had a conversation with my squad mentor about it. She responded with “you are hearing these voices louder then Gods voice.” I never once looked at it like that.. I was letting all these small thing depict my true identity in God himself. God was allowing those lies and hurts (which I surrendered to Him) to resurface, not to hurt me but to take them away from me. I was carrying them for to long now.. Then she said, “you know Melinda, I can see that God is taking this season to work on you and you identity.” I have never felt so sure in my life this is exactly what he is doing. He spoke straight to me through her.
2 Corinthians 12:10 For when I am weak, then I am strong.
She challenged me to get up at 6:30 am to spend time intentionally asside for God. This has already benefited me so much. I’ve never been so curious and so sure that this ( asside from missing home, normallity, my people) this is exactly where I need to be! He has already moved so much in me. I know the challenges coming will be hard but I have all I need right here with me. Especially knowing that all the people I love and care for are home loving and supporting me from a distance just for a small amount of time!
I pray.. God break my heart for what breaks yours.
A DAY IN THE LIFE of training camp..
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Devotion time ( time spent with the Lord )
10:00 AM – Our morning session ( we have heard from several different previous racers, mentors etc. teaching about many different things preparing us to to grow closer to the Lord in a whole new level )
12:00 PM – Cleaning
12:30 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – Free time ( I usually journel, chill in my hammock, do my laundry, or nap )
3:00 PM – Squad time ( we do different things together every day like exercise, games, fundraising )
4:00 PM – Afternoon session ( we have been doing for of a teaching in series like this week we learned about servant leadership )
5:00 PM – Dinner
6:00 PM – Team time ( this is time set aside intentionally for each individual team to get together we do different stuff each night to grow and know eachother more deeply )
7:00 PM – This changes depending on the night. Monday is women’s night, Wednesday is corporate worship ( which is incredible ), Friday is movie night, Tuesday/Thursday is free for us to do what we want.
11:00 PM – Lights out
We are finish training camp! Next step is our domestic missions in New Orleans, Louisianna. We are helping with the hurricane relief through Samaritans Purse for 2 weeks. Then we will come back for a couple days for debrief then GUATEMALA!!!!!!!
