Heyyyyy Y’all,
I have a testimony of redemption and healing that I really want to share about my internship team. First, there are a lot of us! I think there are around 40 right now not including leadership and a few more that will be joining us in Africa. Obviously, with a lot of people comes a lot of emotions, backgrounds, and perspectives and that can often lead to disagreements or conflict. But I really want to testify to the unity and maturity that I have seen displayed by my team in a couple of different situations.
There have been many moments were frustration and conflict have risen of course but the one thing that I have repeatedly seen is grace. With so many of us and so much to do there has to be a lot of directness and honesty with each other which can sometimes become challenging but I have been so grateful for how we remind each other that we all have the same goal in mind. We are all here to serve the poor and marginalized and be a light to the world. When we all have that mindset, we feel so much more unified and prepared to support and encourage each other through what is ahead.
The other thing that I have seen in my team is a constant desire to return to the Word of God and implement it in every situation. There was a moment in El Salvador where we had a pretty big moment of disagreement between some of us recruits (The individuals who are experiencing their first internship). Many of us were also struggling to cope with the poverty around us on top of the disagreement. Pretty soon it turned into a pretty intense moment. As it progressed, however, we were stopped and reminded that we need to bring Scripture into our conversation. Immediately, one of the girls brought up the verse in James 1:19 which says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.”
Then we all took a moment to pause and ask the Lord to be present in our moment. It was such an emotional van ride because so many of us were overcome with the poverty and pain around us, but the Lord showed up in that van. Every single one of us were crying from the bottom of our hearts and asking for the Lord’s help. It was so powerful and encouraging to be a part of that moment. That moment and the collective decision to stop and bring the Word of God and prayer into that moment immediately changed the course of the conversation. We were able to listen to each other, encourage each other, and ultimately solve it and end so much stronger than we were before as a team.
Something that I have reflected on is that this is not at all normal. On most trips or within most groups many people are to timid or scared of conflict to be honest and open with each other or when conflict does arise, God and His Word is not the first place they turn. Growing up conflict was something I always wanted to avoid because it was terrifying and usually ended in broken relationships. Now, praise the Lord, I am blessed to be a part of this team who is not afraid to bring the Word of God into every moment and challenge each other to honestly grow in our relationship with Him.
The coolest thing about all this is that those moments have drawn us so much closer together as a team! We have had so much laughter and joy and for me personally, that has been so healing. Coming from a chaotic and traumatic past, this team is such a part of my testimony of the healing power of the Lord to restore and redeem what has been broken.
I am so thankful for each one of you and the prayers you are saying on my behalf and I cannot wait to be able to share even more testimonies of the ways that the Lord is moving. Please keep us in your heart and on your mind as we enter into this next part of our trip. Africa here we come!!!!!! I honestly cannot wait!
Grateful as always for the faithfulness of the Lord,
Anthem Bloyer
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