Coming Alive

“He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.”-Psalm 24:5-7

Today closed out an amazing week. I just got back from helping send off over 100 college students to the countries of Thailand, India, Jeffreys Bay, Mozambique, Peru and Swaziland. I am continually amazed at how I can fall in love with a group of people so quickly. This group of young people are absolutely amazing and pursuing Christ passionately. As I type this they are all on planes with excitement of what the Lord has ahead of them. They know they are going to grow and be stretched, but I don’t think they know how much this experience is going to change their lives. They will hold orphans, care for the sick and dying and be Jesus to those who have never known Him before. God is going to show up in big ways, and I can’t wait to hear their amazing stories in 2 months at debrief.

I got so close to so many and truly fell in love with them. I never wanted to go home, because I just loved being around them. Hearing their excitement, fears, life stories, jokes, heartaches and laughter blessed me in ways they will never know. I saw people set free of burdens and hurts they have carried for years. In the process, God showed me so much about His heart and the heart that He has given me. I have always been someone who loved people, but He has taken that heart and instilled in it a compassion that I have never known before. The last night at the commissioning service I just couldn’t help but cry because I realized that I truly loved these people in a way that is only from the Lord. God showed me that He has taken a business woman, and turned her into a woman who cares more about people than money: a woman who wants to see lives changed and hopes to be used in even a small part of that. I want more. I want more of Him and more from this life than just trying to get ahead. This week I came alive in a way that my heart has been yearning for. They are my heart.

Saying goodbye was hard. The last night I had the privilege of praying over some of the leaders that have become such good friends since meeting them at leader training in April. It was extra special to me, because I was able to pray over my roommate and sister who will be leading one of the trips to Jeffreys Bay. It was overwhelming for me to be able to send off my friend to minister to the nations. When my team touches the ground in South Africa, she will be the one there to meet us. What a reunion that will be. God has started turning my focus toward the Swaziland team I will be leading in less than 3 weeks! He has started instilling in me a love for them that I can’t explain. We have all been emailing each other for about 2 months now, and I have gotten to speak to some of them on the phone. They all are getting excited along with Sean (my co-leader) and me. This week I got really close to the college team that is currently on a plane to Swazi. Lord- willing my team will be able to spend time with their team at one point during our trip. What an amazing thing it will be for my high school students to be able to spend time serving and worshipping with one of the teams I fell so in love with this week. I can not wait to see them again while serving in Swaziland. 

God is working. I can’t see everything He is doing yet, but it is so obvious He is there and preparing His path for my life. I just don’t think I can put into words how the Lord has ministered to my heart this week. I am still processing it all, but so thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness and for once again showing His heart to me. Only 3 more weeks and I will be in Africa…let the countdown begin!!

Here are a few pictures from the week. Enjoy!

For His Glory,

Caroline 🙂

Ps. 56:3