Well we survived training camp. It was a challenging experience, but so necessary before we dive into this challenging experience together in India. We bonded as a team, learned about the Indian culture, talked about the spiritual warfare going on all around us and especially in India, worshipped together, and planned a little bit about what we would be doing specifically when we get to India. 

They told us going into it that we would be roughin' it all week, and well ... that's exactly what happened. I was thinking we would be sleeping on the floor all week, and I was pleasantly surprised to have a pretty decent mattress – and on the bottom bunk too! I didn't really care about not having mirrors, and I actually didn't mind the cold showers – they were usually very refreshing and VERY needed as well.

We got pretty sweaty and dirty with all of our team building activities all week. It is amazing what you can learn about a team by putting them through an obstacle course. We quickly found out who the determined ones were on our team, the quiet ones, the problem solvers, etc.

Have I told y'all that I love my team? Because I do. I LOVE MY TEAM. It's crazy because we are all so different and we all come from such diverse backgrounds, but I absolutely LOVE them. Just to give you an idea of what we're dealing with here –

I am the oldest person on the team.

There is one guy who is also 22 and just graduated from college like me.

Then there's a girl who's a sophomore in college.

And then the rest of my team just graduated from high school.

And those are just the differences in our ages. We all come from different backgrounds from all over the country. But I love it. I know that there will be some days that we will have to fight for unity, but I believe that God placed us so specifically together for this trip. I mean, people don't just go to India for fun. I believe we were chosen to go. We all feel very much in the will of God about this trip, and we're all excited to see what God does in and through us.

And I love our leaders. I believe God placed them so specifically together to lead this team.

JANE is 27 and has traveled all over the world as a missionary. She did this thing called "The World Race" through AIM where she and other young adults went to 11 countries in 11 months. She's amazing and she has amazing stories.

JENNIFER is 23 and just graduated from Clemson University. She has been to India before through AIM and has such a huge heart for the people of India. It makes me so excited to hear her stories about the kids she knows at the orphanages we're going to.

Keep us in your prayers as we begin this adventure! I love each of you and I miss all of my friends and family so much. Let God change you while I'm gone just like He's changing me here.

~Blessings~