Training Camp in Gainesville, GA

Hey friends and family! As I sit here writing an update blog from Gainesville, GA, I can hardly believe that training camp is coming to a close and P squad leaves for Guatemala in less than 48 hours. Our two-week training camp has been such an experience!

The couple weeks leading up to our launch on August 27^th were full of emotions as I packed up, finished work, and said goodbye to so many people I love. It is hard to leave everything familiar, but the reward of walking in obedience and following Jesus will always be worth the cost. I have been encouraged by Philippians 3:8, which says “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”.

We met in Atlanta, GA on the 27^th and drove to Adventures in Missions on the 28^th.  The next two weeks consisted of sleeping in tents, bucket showers, handwashing laundry, and a 2-mile walk with our packs. It stretched us physically to get out of our comfort zones. The first step in the process of surrender is abandonment. We surely experienced this as we adapted to training camp. Our days were spent in training sessions, answering questions like, “Who is God?”, “What is Truth?”, and “What is the Gospel?”. These teachings were life-giving and set us on the firm foundation of Scripture. Sessions on forgiveness, community, culture and contextualization, and life on mission created space for hard, vulnerable, refining, and edifying conversations within our squad.

Over the last 14 days, P squad has become such a close-knit community. This is probably one of the most impactful things I experienced during training. It is unreal how sweet the friendships are after such a short period of time! The Lord has blessed our squad. I am so grateful! Community has been a hard theme in my life, in different ways depending on the season, but I can already see how God is redeeming hurt and discouragement through these relationships. Though a little nervous, I am excited to grow in intimacy with these people and pursue emotionally safe relationships that encourage and call one another higher. I can already see the Lord working and developing life-long friends.

Our squad vision is to raise up leaders, walk by the Holy Spirit, and create capability and confidence. It is a gift to be a part of this squad and to be led by such humble, godly Squad Mentors, Coaches, and Leaders. Here is our squad vision/value statement: “Because we bear the image of Christ, and are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will steward what the Father has entrusted to us through love, integrity, faith, truth, and service.” I share this with you because I know that you are bought in on what God is doing and I want you to know the heart of P Squad as we live on mission.

I will be writing again in the next few days with updates about our first teams and our ministry in Guatemala!

Please be in prayer for us as we travel on Sunday and Monday to Guatemala. We will arrive at the AIM base near Antigua on Monday. Pray that we would be aware and obedient to God as we travel, that we may share the good news of Jesus with people we meet along the way! Please pray for peace as we leave the country and disperse in Guatemala to serve.

As always, send your life updates or leave a comment! I love to hear from you.

You matter to God, so you matter to me, Kara <3