Stillness (training week 1)

Without words you strum a tune
The leaves wrestle,
The rain… pitter patter
Soon the rain fell harder and the wind blew faster
But there rang a steady heart beat.
Beat. Beat.
I’m built on You
In the midst of the storm stillness fills this place
I’m able to listen
To be, just BE and nothing else
Your strum is all I want to listen to

Stillness is where I sit and soak in this past week of training. It’s been so full. A good kind of full! I have met my amazing team and it feels like I have know them for years. I have run head first into the Lords love for me. I have been a child singing and dancing with God my father. There’s just so much!

Meet the team!

My team is a blessing from God! Each one of them carries a different and beautiful gift that makes up our team! We have grown so quickly together and I am excited to see what God continues to do in and through us.

We are all currently living in tents at our cute little campsite. God has been so gracious with the weather, which has been beautiful and not too rainy. With the rain, our campsite hasn’t flooded which is so good. This campsite won’t be home for long. We will only be there for another week before leaving for Guatemala!!

Some funny things!

• tried this thing called cloud fish which is basically marshmallow and a dried sardine. It wasn’t bad but the texture was a bit wild.

• We washed our clothes in buckets last night. Of course it rains but at least it got a double rinse

We’ve had lots of laughs and giggles, chasing sunsets and dance parties!!

Teachings

During the week our squad and five other squads have come together for a time of worship and teaching. We have soaked in so much and there has been so much to process. Here is a sweet thing that I have been sitting in and learning about

The fathers Love for his children

He is my loving father and he wants me to be his child. With a child like heart i can let go and let God take control. When God has the control who knows what could happen! I’ve loved this perspective. Gods love casts out anxiety, shame, control, and fear. I can live in childlikeness because I’ve been born again!

I love kids! Their curiosity, their genuineness, their hearts. They don’t care what anyone thinks of them. I want that kind of heart. I want to live in that kind of love knowing that my father allows me to be his child.

We were encouraged to ask God how he sees us and I was so encouraged. It’s different for each person but this is what came to my mind.

• A girl prancing through a field of flowers in the rain
• The wind making noise in the trees
• A child watching someone strum a guitar in amazement
• A child looking up towards Gods loving kindness. God coming down to give a big hug

All of these ways that God sees me, led me to write the poem at the beginning of this letter. I am not a big poem writer but it was mentioned to me a couple of times, so I thought I’d try it. Through the stillness and through the craziness I can still rest, look towards him and see his loving kindness towards me!

Prayer

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

• A couple of us have been congested which is nothing too bad but pray that it doesn’t get any worse.
• Pray that there would be a continual unity and thank God that he already has blessed us in that area. My teammates are Frida, Grace, Ressie Mae, Alicia, Amanda, Bianca, Erica, Kayla, Olivia, Sarah, Shania, Jackson, Nathan, and Nate. Our leaders are Julia, Abigail, Lindsey, Lucas, Tim and Lisa. 
• Pray for us as we fly out Friday. That we would have safe travels.
• Pray that we would continue to learn and grow. That we would be confident in what we are learning and we would act in boldness!
• Pray for those who still need to support raise. Me being one of them. I have about $6,000 left and I know that the Lord will provide the funds! All of us except 2 people have to raise support. Pray that the Lord would provide those funds for us.
• Pray for the ministry partners we will be coming alongside. Pray that they would blessed.
• Pray for those who will hear the Gospel. That hearts would be softened and opened to the Gospel. God is working!

Thank you for reading this!!

In his Love and Grace,

Sydney Hood