God Knows Best…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”- Jeremiah 29:11-13

This past week I fell in love with 28 amazing men and women who are currently on their way to serve in Swaziland and India for the next three months. I went into this past week a little uncertain of how everything was going to go, but excited at the same time because I knew God was going to do something great.

Monday morning all the leaders showed up at the Atlanta airport ready to welcome the participants as they arrived from all over the US and Canada. I drove one of the vehicles and had the pleasure of getting to know one of the India leaders as we rode to the airport. I must say it can be a little awkward when you are put in a car with someone you don’t know for an hour, but God knew exactly what He was doing. Anna and I had a great time getting to know each other and allowed us to bond in a way we probably wouldn’t have if God hadn’t placed her in my car. We spent the whole day waiting in the Atlanta airport for everyone to arrive but finally around 3:30pm I had a full car and was ready to head back to Gainesville. I had the privilege to drive back with four members of the Swazi team who I would later get to know really well. I could tell they were nervous and tired, but excited for what God was about to do in their lives.

We arrived back in Gainesville and all gathered for dinner. It is always interesting to see everyone when they first arrive. You can tell everyone has no idea what to expect, and at the same time they are all trying to get to know each other and build a comfort level with one another. I had made a decision that I was going to be as involved with this training camp as possible. I really wanted to get to know these people and be able to love on them and help in any way I could. So, starting on Tuesday and ending on Friday, I spent almost all day and evening with the groups. I went on their “team builders” with them, ate with them, went to worship with them and even ended up getting smooshed inside of a huge 15 person hug at one point. I must say there are so many times this past week where I laughed, smiled, joked and even cried. Getting to know this amazing group of people was one of the best times I have had since I have been here.

God showed me a living testimony of how perfect His timing truly is. While speaking to various girls throughout the week, I was able to put into practice all the lessons that God has been teaching me over the past few weeks (see previous blog). There is no coincidence in that. There are so many stories I have about divine situations the Lord put me in last week so that I could minister to others the things that He had been speaking into my own life. I love that when we minister to others; those are the times when Christ ministers the most to us.

On Friday night we had a commissioning service for the two groups where we prayed over the leaders and then the participants and each group took communion together. After praying for the leaders I decided to sit back and pray for each participant individually. As I sat there looking at each group, tears started to roll down my face, and the Spirit all of a sudden overwhelmed me. I realized that I had truly fallen in love with these people. And the best part is that God has used them to minister to parts of my heart that He knew were hurting.

God showed me an important truth this past week: He uses even the hard times in our life for His glory and there is a purpose in everything even if we cant see it at the time. I realized that if I had to go through the hurt so I could minister to these girls, than it was worth it. I have chosen to follow Christ with my life and if that means I will have to go through hurt every day so that He may be glorified, than that is what I will do and I will find contentment in that because HE is worth it!

As I write this, the teams are setting foot in their respective countries for the first time. My heart is overwhelmed with how I know God is going to turn each life on this trip completely upside down for His glory. They are going to minister to the outcasts, the orphans, the lepers and the widows, and through it all they are going to see the heart of Christ. Whether they know it or not, in the process they are going to come back completely changed. On April 21, I will be driving back to Atlanta to meet these teams as they return back to the US. I cant wait for this day when I can run up to them as they get off the plane and give each one of them a big hug, and we can revel in all that God has done in and through them over the past three months. I cant wait for this day, for it will truly be a glorious reflection of how great our God truly is!

For His Glory,

Caroline 🙂

Ps. 56:3