There is so much that I could say to describe my time at training camp in Georgia. I could describe the living conditions, the bucket showers, the teachings on the Holy Spirit (and how you could see him move), the charismatic worship, or the food. But I want to focus on a single lesson that I learned: the weights we hold.
These could be regrets of things done, of things not done, of people we have hurt, of anger towards people who have hurt us, anything. These are any weights that keep us from focusing entirely on God. These are the weights that the enemy uses against us.
On the third day of training camp we were asked to write these weights on a piece of paper. Acknowledge them. Recognize them. Face them. We then rubberbanded this list onto a log that we were then to carry on about a 45-minute solitude walk through a trail in the woods where we were to surrender these things to God and pray and worship Him instead of focusing ourselves on these weights.
Okay, to be honest the log wasn’t that heavy….but it was awkward. It was annoying and distracting and the walk would have been a WHOLE lot easier if I wasn’t carrying it.
At the end of the walk we got to throw out our log; symbolizing the surrender of these weights that have been holding us back. I can’t even describe that feeling. You will just have to do it yourself. It is so freeing. I no longer have to focus on these things. God has already taken care of them. He had forgiven me for my past sins before I ever committed them. THAT’S how awesome our God is.
There are many things that I learned in training camp. There are many experiences that I had. But that made the biggest impact on me as I begin my next few months in India. I am free to focus on Christ, his mission for my life, and this wonderful ministry here (and yes, I have only been here two days and I can already see how wonderful this place is).
Thank you all for your prayers. They are heard. We will be starting up are daily routines in the next few days and I will update you as soon as possible about SCH, the children, my team, and how God is working here.
God bless,
Hayley Harrington
