Today is the eighth full day back here at the Adventures in Missions base in Georgia and the experience has been amazing already. I love the people, the food, the scenery, and the amount of intentional time spent diving in to God’s word together. For those of you that don’t know, boot camp in June was a four day long camp to introduce us to the organization and training camp is a five week camp that prepares us more in depth for leaving the country next month. Although boot camp and training camp are similar thus far, they feel completely different.

Boot camp was amazing. The months of anticipation were finally getting realized and profile pictures on screens were becoming real people. It was exciting to finally get to use all of my camping equipment, to eat cultural foods, and to have amazing worship. Nothing could have taken my excitement away. We were open and vulnerable but nothing was truly as hard as it could have been because of the constant, underlying excitement. There was no reason for me to worry because I knew that even if things got rough, I would be home in a few days anyway. The time came and went quickly and we said our temporary good byes. I left full of validation from the Lord in the decision that I made to join the organization and full of joy and thankfulness to be apart in a Christ-centered community.

This time is different, but not in a bad way. This time it’s real. I flew In this time to an airport I knew, to see people I recognized. We pulled in to a camp that I could already describe in detail. I set up my tent in a campsite that was comfortable and familiar. However, one thing had drastically changed. I knew that this time, I wouldn’t be back home for a very long time.

The thought of nine months can be daunting and obviously has its challenges, but it is also unexplainably exciting. I know that for nine months I will get to be challenged, poured into, and comforted by a scripture based community. I know that the amount of unique experiences and laughter will only go up exponentially as we travel the world and grow much closer. I know that the memories and pictures will only hold a small portion of all of the amazing work that the Lord will do.

Although boot camp and training camp have felt so different, I’ve found so much comfort in the exact same God. He has already shown up in more ways than I can describe in words. It’s truly amazing. The intentionality of time spent with the Lord here is both refreshing and convicting. On one hand, the Lord has so many great things stored for us, and He simply waits for us to come asking. It’s in these moments of dependence that His love overflows in our lives. On the other hand, It makes me all the more aware of how I often struggle with intentional time with Him at home. Thankfully, His mercy is new with the morning, and I know that I need to have grace for the things in my life that I can’t go back and change.

Thank you all so much for partnering with me in this journey. It is awesome to know that there are so many people praying for me and supporting me back home. I’d ask that you please continue to pray for my squad and I as we continue to step into so many new things. Please pray that we have hearts of service, hearts of surrender, and an amazing Christ-centered community. Also, please pray for the countries that we will be traveling to. Pray for health, healing, and ultimately for more people to know the name of Jesus than we can even imagine.

P.s. go check out Psalm 27:4. It has been on my mind for several days now. There is nothing greater than dwelling in the House of the Lord.

As always, thank you for taking the time.

• Carter