‘Now I am presently in the atrium, awaiting the arrival of the shuttle that will take me to Adventures in Missions in Gainesville.’ - My journal on September 11, 2021

The first night on the campus of Adventures in Missions I awoke in the middle of the night, started by the noise I heard bouncing off of the trees outside my tent, a lost echo of the night. At first I was surprised, then in awe. I heard a great many voices crying out into the night, ”Ghost over the swelling ocean storm.”. I did not know what to make of this until the chanting faded into it’s reality, an extremely  loud car on a distant road. My mind had tried to make sense of this noise, but in a way I believe it was God talking to me. Not until now, within week two of training, do I understand what the words meant. I thought of myself as a ghost, present but unaffected by the surrounding storm. I thought of the waves, a tempest tumultuously crashing around me. I pictured the darkness, the phantom body the only light. It was then that I applied it to reality. As Christians, we are set apart. We are held fast by God. We are true. We are lifted above the storm around us, protected and united. Unwavering in our beliefs we are unaffected by the cold waters and crashing sea around us. I also applied it to myself as an individual. What does it mean to be set apart? Here, at Adventures in Missions, I have felt a weight lifted by God, as if I had been lifted from the dark waters of the world and held safely above them. I have learned and will continue to learn and pursue God’s word and what it means to be a Christian. 

 Training has gone so well these past weeks. I’ve drawn close and will continue to draw closer with the other racers. I’ve found it not only a study, but now a practice to read the Bible every morning. It not only gives me a fresh start to my day, but also takes me on an adventure. Whether it be of self-discovery or application or just pure wisdom, I’m always able to gather a takeaway that I can dwell on throughout the day and apply. No matter the kind of day, I’ve always been able to find peace, wisdom, and comfort in the words of Paul the apostle. His faithfulness to God and focus on him were of the highest he could give. That’s what I’ve decided to do here at Adventures In Missions, to live faithfully and true, to be kind and give all I have to God. Soon, I plan on posting a blog about Paul and his time on the island of Malta, along with the lessons I have learned from the stories therein. Until then, God bless and much love!