Thursday we left.
I thought about what some of the things were that really impacted me during the week. First of all, I look at spiritual warfare differently. Seeing sin and difficulties as attacks of Satan helps me to see just how providential God is. When I start understanding life as a series of spiritual battles, as it really is, I am able to fight back in the way that really makes a difference. I don't think you can see the full extent of God's goodness until you acknowledge the full extent of evil. I've definitely seen that this week. Keeping your mind in the realm of the spiritual warfare aspect helps to keep your mind in more in tune with the Spirit just in general. I've seen and understood more about the Spirit's role.
I think another thing I view differently is worship and prayer. With the IBC team, we would pick up in singing and prayer every day. Tom would assemble a couple people in the lobby or the lounge or on the roof, and more of us would just sort of join in. It was all about maintaining the spirit of worship, the right heart for our shows. The focus was so right when we did that, and I think that's why we were so effective. We took a count, and on one of the days there were over 70 people that we prayed with. Our worship and communion with God didn't just affect us individually, it affected a ton of other people as well. One time we took up singing in the lobby of all places, as we were waiting for everyone to get down there so we could leave. Hotel workers and other guests would stop and listen. Several workers and guests even got saved. Those two men, Camroy and Alex, rededicated their lives to Christ because of our open worship. And it wasn't as though those times were just like other shows, done for the express purpose of leading people to Christ. Those were just our personal times, and they were authentic.
As an intern, I also have to say that I learned more about leadership and about how much of it is being a servant. Being the go-to person means being the "fixer of problems" and that's something that required patience and willingness to serve. I got to observe other leaders, like Amy, who took on a lot of stress in booking lodging for, at times, 90 people. And I got to see Roger, who always made sure everyone else got food before he ate, and who spent every show watching the perimeter. I saw how every intern had something different that he or she did, and how everyone did what he or she was good at and didn't try to run everything. One body with many members with different functions.
On the whole, the trip was good. It was demanding physically, spiritually, and emotionally, but we prayed for each other and supported each other. God always provided and we were successful.
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