Hello Everyone!

I have finished training camp and domestic ministry this week! So crazy to think that one year ago I left to go to South Africa and my life was changed forever. I am so exited for my life to be changed once more. Throughout these last two weeks, God has taught me how to rest in his presence without striving for it and constantly chasing an encounter. I have been able to be surrounded by a community that is encouraging, kind, and lives their lives like Jesus did. God has moved in so many different ways on this journey already. Im so exited to see how much I will be strengthened and built up through the trials and tribulations in the next 9 months. It is such a blessing to be here. I am so beyond thankful for your support through finances, prayers, and just checking in on me! It all means the world to me.

Coming into training camp, I felt like I could put God into a box. Like I could figure out everything about him and find out why he has done everything. Asking questions and being curious is a good thing, but for me it became doubting God instead of being curious. Every time I would worship I would judge others due to the way they worship or the way a worship team is leading a certain song. I was putting my mind over my heart. I had wondered why I felt far from God. Its because I spent so much time wondering what was right that I missed the whole point. I was taking the twig out of my brothers eye without seeing the log in my own eye. Coming into training camp I asked the Lord to humble me. I asked every day that I will not be greater than my brothers and sisters. God revealed to me that I was taking too much time being worried about others and not taking time to pursue a relationship with Him. Every day we would wake up and have group devotional, then breakfast, then a sermon/worship, then lunch, then another sermon/teaching, then team prayer, then dinner. It was packed, but it helped prepare me for domestic ministry.

We arrive at domestic on Sunday the week after getting to training camp. I didn't really know what domestic ministry was going to look like. I only knew that we were going to do manual labor. When we arrived at Camp Adrian in Adrian Georgia, I was surprised to see AC and nice showers to be in. I was so happy. After a week of being in a hammock and taking bucket showers, my life just got ten times better. As we walk around the campus and take a look at our home for the next week, we start to head to dinner. We walk into dinner and they serve us the best meal we've had in forever. Ive never been so grateful for a meal in a very long time. We start our work by immediately giving the guys chainsaws. As they explain to us how to use them, they ask if anyone has used a chainsaw. A couple guys put their hands up, and I also put mine up. I didn't want to miss out on the action, even though I've never actually used a chainsaw. So I spent the rest of the day cutting down trees and branches for 8 hours. Best day ever. The rest of the week was just more chainsaw and driving a side-by-side to drop off thousands of pounds of branches to the burn pile.

At the end of training camp, there are about ten roles that go to people to do certain tasks and responsibility within the squad. One of the roles was being the worship coordinator. Me and two other girls were graciously given this role! Last year I had this role as well when I went to Africa. It was so awesome and stretching for me. This year is going to be different. Ive already lead six night of worship playing guitar and singing. I think this year this role will push me so hard and bring me so much closer to the Lord through the difficult times. A huge request for prayer would be that I will be humble and I will lead furiously with the fire of the Lord and not through my own strength. Prayer for my mind that it will not be prioritized over my heart.

Thank you all for reading this and I love every single one of you guys. I will not be able to text when I get to my other country so if you would like to send me a text on WhatsApp or through Snapchat I will put my credentials below. I would also love an email as well, I will more likely only be able to respond on email twice a week.

I am praying for you and once again thank you,

Love, Marcus

WhatsApp: 719-246-4321

SnapChat: marcus.werne

Email: marcus@loftmusicvenue.com

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