Hello friends and family!
The last 2 weeks I have spent my time at a training camp in Gainesville, Georgia preparing to be sent out on missions for the next 11 months. God has stretched me spiritually, mentally, and physically in so many ways that I can not wait to share with you very soon!
One of the most exciting things God has done in my life, was stirring my heart to become re-baptized!! I was baptized at the age of 9, where I fully believe I was dedicating my life to the Lord, witnessed by my church, friends and family. It was an external declaration to something God had done in my heart, and a posture of surrender to Him.
This past week our squad was told that we would have the opportunity to become baptized following a revival message. When announced, I did not think I would choose to become baptized again, but over the course of the next 24 hours God spoke so clearly to me. We sat through the revival session, and truthfully, I felt a lot of confusion coming out of it. People began to be baptized but I knew I needed to spend some time with God to hear what He was doing in the revival room. I found a sunny patch to lay down in and pressed into God’s Spirit. I asked Him what His heart was for me and my squad during this time. I specifically asked for His peace and discernment through my confusion, and He answered! I immediately felt a rush of His peace followed by seeing a picture in my head of Jesus baptizing me and others in the pool! Seeing what God was doing in the room through a Spiritual lens got me so excited for my friends who were being baptized. I went back to the baptismal pools and celebrated my brothers and sisters who were either dedicating their life publicly to God for the first time or re-surrendering it. Gods’ presence was so tangible I could feel it. It was then that I felt God stir the desire in my heart to re-dedicate my own life to Him.
I remembered how this summer at a prayer room set at my home church I had felt God asking me to re surrender my life to Him. I got down on my knees as I felt His overflowing love pour over me as he was drawing me closer into a deeper relationship with Him. God was preparing my heart to reach the unreached, giving me a new passion and desire to share His love that I felt to the ends of the earth.
As my heart was beating fast with Holy Spirit driving me forward, I got in line to be baptized! To me, it was a dedication of my life from me to God alone. My church, friends and family were not there to witness it, but I felt that God was the one with me, and that He was all that mattered. As I was being baptized, many people were around the pool singing “My beloved is the most beautiful among thousands, Yeshua.” As I went under the water, I knew that their voices should have been dampened, but rather I heard their song growing louder, almost as if I could hear the saints and angels joining them in worship from Heaven, singing over me. After surrendering my life, I was prayed over by my new leadership and squad, who have quickly become family over the past 2 weeks. It is so beautiful that God allowed me to dedicate my life back to Him, right before being sent to Guatemala.
There were so many more details of what God did in my heart over this day that I would love to share with you personally! Feel free to message or email me if you want to hear more or have questions!
Lastly, I have some updates and prayer requests!
We are leaving for Guatemala this Sunday night and will arrive Monday!! Please join us in prayer that we will have safe travel, but also that we reach the heart of God’s people throughout traveling! We believe that God has called all Christians to a life with a mission of making disciples, and that does not just begin overseas, but rather should be our full-time privilege to share what Jesus has done for us. Pray God highlights people to us on our flights or even in the airport that are ready to receive Jesus! I also ask you pray for all of our ministries and hosts that we will be introduced to this next week!
I also want to personally thank each one of you for reading my blog, praying for me, and supporting me!! I have felt your prayers impact my heart especially since being here at camp!
Another praise- I am now 60% funded! Thank you for sowing financially in what God is doing in the world. Thank you for partnering with Him to allow me to bring the gospel to the unreached! I am so honored and privileged that you would choose to support what God is doing in my life and the lives of those around me!
My whole squad and our leadership!
A few of my new squamates I’ve gotten close to over the last 2 weeks!
Drying out our tents after Georgia flooding.
Kara! A little piece of home! She also went to Liberty!
Wonderful!
And of course I want to hear more??
I especially loved the part where during baptism, the song grew louder while you were taken from earthly voices to angelic!
Isn’t this beautiful?!! She is just the best! I am so excited about what Jesus is doing in and through her!
amen amen amen!!!!! So over joyed for you and your team ?? Go Jesus!!!
I am so excited for you sister! Praise God! I love you and proud of you!
I was so moved in my Spirit after reading your post, Abby. When you went off by yourself to hear God before being baptized shows a maturing in your relationship with God. I am excited for you, as you make Jesus known to souls that need Him. I’ll be praying, Abby!??
Sorry. I didn’t realize until later that my post ended in 2 question marks.??
Sobbing .
So proud of you .
Praying for you always .
Abigaillllll!! Wow. I am crying already at what God is doing in you and your teammates! Although I wish I was there to witness you in action, the way you wrote this was so beautiful and full of the Spirit. I can see Him and hear Him in your story(: I love you and miss you and am always always praying for you and your team! I cant wait to hear more!
Tks Abbey,
What a recap! I’m proud of you for seeking God, asking him to speak with clarity in the midst of some confusion, do you have a yes in your spirit and recommit, reconsecrate, reSurrender,
And yes, even rebaptize into a deeper death of self and the old woman into A greater fullness of all that you’re a good good father has in store for you. Love the obedience!
Great encouragement of a update sis,
Can’t wait to tell you more! Yes the singing was amazing!
Love you Kara!! So excited to watch you grow alongside me this year!
Jesus is moving!!! So amazing!
Thank you Shayla! Love and miss you!
Thank you so much! I am so thankful for discernment from Holy Spirit who gives so much wisdom and peace!
Love you Sky!! Miss you like crazy! Keep doing big things in the Burg!
Thank you so much for your prayers Sophia! I am seriously so thankful for you interceding for our team!
Thank you Matt! I am so thankful for you and how much you love and care for our team! thank you for the encouragement!
Wow. So cool. I think my favorite part is you hearing the amplified song in the water. And also I’m just so darn proud of you for seeking the Lord out and HIS voice over any other voice in the room. It makes you a STRONG and faithful, wise and gentle WOMAN OF GOD! Wooooo! Excited for you!
Abigail,
Your trust in the Lord’s voice is what is going to ignite the faith of our team this year. It is in the most uncomfortable situations, when you have trusted His still small voice, where you will witness the supernatural become your reality! How wonderful it is that we can run this race together on this Earth!
“Seeing what God was doing in the room through a Spiritual lens…” Yeeess!! Lord help us to have your eyes to see every situation and not get caught up in the physical.
This is so encouraging to read Abigail. I am excited for you to keep walking in more obedience and surrender this year.
Our faith is rooted on what HE says! Praise God!!
Love love love hearing these stories of intimacy with the Lord! In our life we will experience community and mission with other people, but the one who is always there and never changes is the Lord! Praise God for loving and being relationship with us!