Madness, Mountains, and Miracles: Week two in Review

What up blog!!

Training camp is in the rearview, and we’re now en route to Nicaragua! Let me run you through the whirlwind week we just had!

Travel Day Madness:
Our journey kicked off with a travel day scenario, packing our day packs as if we were headed out to the field. That night, a curveball hit us—some of our main packs went MIA in the airport, mine included! Huge shoutout to my mom for teaching me the art of travel packing—I was set for the night! While others were scrambling for a change of clothes and sleeping bags, we banded together to make sure everyone was okay. Our “travel” day also included an intense market experience for dinner. Picture this: thieves, beggars, partygoers, tourists, vans driving like they own the place, and more. It was a sensory overload! Our debrief was a humbling reminder of our mission: amidst the chaos, we needed to reflect Jesus in our actions. I learned a ton from this, and I’m feeling ready for the real challenges ahead.

Evangelism Day:
We took to the parks in Georgia to spread some good news. Nervous as ever, Bella, Stella, and I approached a lady on a bench. She said she was “so tired,” and that opened a door for us to chat. I ended up watching her kids while she shared her testimony with Bella and Stella. Sharing Jesus with the kids was incredible—they were so fired up that they wanted to spread the word themselves! I also connected with two homeless men and a single mother of five and got to pray for them. The best part? The lady we first spoke to got a miraculous update: her court case, which was scheduled for the next day, was canceled, and she received full custody of her kids. Praise God for such a miracle!

Mount Yonah Adventure:
Next up, we packed our day packs again and hiked Mount Yonah. It was only 2.5 miles to the top, but with heavy packs, tents, and supplies, it was not easy. The trip was intense, with no clear path and a lot of elevation gain. But we made it together—no one was left behind! The view from the top was stunning, and we capped off the night with a campfire and hotdogs. Oh, and I had a sleepover with about 14 girls in a 12-person tent—talk about cozy! At 4:50 a.m., we descended the mountain in the dark, and the downhill trek was surprisingly quick.

Storyteller Role:
Emma and I have been chosen as storytellers for our squad! We’re handling marketing for WR, keeping up with blogs, and running our squad’s Instagram (@osquad24). I get to use my photography skills to share what’s going on with our squad, so cool! If you know me, you know that this is right up my alley and the coolest part is that I was chosen for this role through prayer, they didn’t even know that this is literally all I do! 

Last and best night at camp:
We had squad wars which was so much fun, reppin the color blue for O squad and performing our dance/skit/rap/thing was hilarious. The highlight of the week was Revival Night, which featured baptisms. And guess what? I GOT BAPTIZED! This was my first time taking this step, and it was absolutely amazing. Declaring my commitment to live for God in front of family and friends was a powerful experience. My cousin Kylee baptized me, and I’m forever grateful to her for being a part of this special moment.

On to Nicaragua:
I’m writing from my bunk in Nicaragua now—spoiler alert, we made it, and it’s fantastic here! Stay tuned for updates on what God is doing in this new chapter. I’m fully funded on my website, but if you can support me with flights and other needs via Venmo (@maddymclaren), I’d be so grateful. Please also keep us in your prayers for health and rest as we adjust to our busy schedule and some of us deal with colds. Also (@maddyxwr) on instagram is where I post a lot of mini vlogs throughout my week!

So much love, Maddy!