Everyone has been so welcoming, treating me like I've always been a part of the crew, which is exactly what I needed.
So what does a week look like here? My days start around 5:30am, which thanks to the jet lag was very easy to get used to! Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings I work in the offices- accepting people's applications, answering emails and helping people get settled here on base. Wednesday and Friday mornings we have class room time and then most afternoons we are in the prayer room. And then in the evenings we have different community outreaches. We are busy preparing ourselves and the base for all the new students. Very busy, but in a wonderful way.
We were presented with three different classes we could pick from: worship and songwriting, biblical studies, or preaching and teaching. I was going to do biblical studies and The Lord challenged me on it. I get so nervous having to talk in front of huge groups of people so I didn't even consider the preaching and teaching class. But The Lord told me, "you can do either one, and I will bless both. But one will teach you some good skills, and one is going to really challenge you and make you grow." So, I am doing the preaching and teaching course.
One of the first nights here we had a worship night and The Lord began to speak to me about this season being about learning perseverance. One of the girls came up to me and said that she felt like The Lord was speaking James 1:2-4 over me.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
So, on Wednesday night I had the worst sinus headache I have had in my life, and unfortunately missed out on an apparently amazing message. I was so disappointed. And then yesterday I stepped in a hole and twisted my ankle on my left leg and bashed my right knee (that I hurt about a month ago and I was finally to the point that I could walk normal.) So, I have been stuck in bed since yesterday morning not really able to walk. And I this point I got so angry, I was alone in my room bawling because I was so mad, and I just started yelling at the enemy, "beautiful are the feet of those who carry the gospel! You have no hold on my feet! " and so on. That's how all of yesterday went, I kept having moments of being so fed up with the enemy, and yelling at him, to moments where I started thanking The Lord for bringing me here. Then last night one of the girls from another room came in and said,
"I was praying for you and I got a picture of a blacksmith shop. And the enemy had this sword that he was hammering. You are the sword. The enemy thinks he is winning because he is hurting you, but God says, 'he doesn't know what he's doing because he is strengthening you for Me.' The Lord is building perseverance in you, a strength that you didn't know you were capable of."
So, needless to say, this week has been hard, but I'm not getting down about it. Honestly it's just made me want to come out fists punching, not taking anything from the enemy. I am bound and determined to become the leader The Lord has anointed me to be and I'm not stepping down, or getting discouraged.
Because,
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" Romans 10:15
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31
So if you think about it, please lift me up in prayer. I appreciate all of your prayers so much.
