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Greetings, Jacksonville and the world beyond! Our team has just finished our first, awesome week at RAD. We all made the journey here to Gainesville, Georgia last Sunday, the 16th. The drive was nerve wrecking interesting to me as I drove my 1989 Toyota, which has over 200,000 miles on it. Naturally, I was a little freaked as I started to head away from Jacksonville, but by what must have been a direct intervention of Jesus, I made it here with absolutely no problem at all. It is also wonderful to note that I survived the Atlanta Auto Baun on the way here.
Our typical day begins at six in the morning with a wake-up call to jumping jacks and jogging, followed by devotions and breakfast. That is really all the structure we have had. We’re in the dark about everything else, as I’m sure we’ll continue to be. Our surprise classroom locations so far have included floating in Lake Lanier in life jackets and sitting around a camp-fire in the middle of the woods, which both were sweet.
This week has been very fast-paced and at times, overwhelming. We’ve been go, go, go from the moment we got here with anything from assignments to working on our cabins. Although it is challenging, it is good that I’m being stretched and grown by having my Floridian comfort zone shattered. Our team is doing well, as everyone has already began to be vulnerable and open with each other and I hope we continue to be stretched and knit tightly together as a team.
In as much as this week has been awesome, it has also been very hard. The enemy is heavily attacking the five of us in hope to destroy our desire and willingness to be here. Things you can pray for are spiritual warfare, discernment, willingness, transparency between the team and staff, self-control, gentleness, servant hood, motivation, destruction of pride and apathy, and love for others even when they are difficult to love. Our team, staff, and the ministry are in great need of prayer. So, please remember us all in your prayers.
Please also pray for financial increase for our team’s tuitions and RAD ministries as a whole. If you don’t know, my other team members are Katie, Yvette, Wes, and Josh, so please pray for all of them for individual financial increase. I have raised $2,230 thus far and I am in need of $6,000 total. If you’re interested in sowing in my journey you can send money to RAD with an enclosed note that it is sent on my behalf. Also, our team is in great need of finishing our cabins, but we are short of people and supplies, if you’re interested in a mission’s trip to help build RAD cabins contact Beth Bugg. God bless all of you!
In Him,
Matt
