We all know the old, “It’s intense, and I am not talking about camping!” thing… ba-dum-ch!
However, in reference to training camp, I’d say it was both very intense and in-tents… see?
Ahhh hahahahaha I know, I know… I’m clever. 🙂
Anyway, this update is broken into parts so that you can read what interests you and then be on your way. Enjoy!
Travel: Both rides were a blast! From Grand Rapids to Chicago, I was talking with these two really cute little girls who were super excited to go on vacation in California. By the end of the conversation, I had scored a Silly Band and a Tootsie Roll, and in kid language, that means they liked me! From Chicago to Atlanta I set next to a guy named Jason who was in his thirties, had been in the Army for quite awhile, and is now a pilot and some other business man of sorts… he had some pretty cool life advice. Once I got to the Atlanta airport, I met up with the other World Racers and it was “game on” from there! 😉 I travel home on Sunday, October 24th – see you then! 🙂
Food: Each day, we had a new theme for our food; Sunday, for example, was “Latin America”. So for breakfast on Sunday, we had eggs, cheese, onions, and tortilla chips all mixed in a bowl. Not too shabby. 🙂 However, the fish porridge and everything else we ate on “Asia” day was hard for me to stomach since I don’t like fish or anything spicy. Ironically, guess where I am going on my trip? All Asian countries! We’ll see how that goes… haha!
Worship/Services: Nice! Worship in the woods of Georgia… fun stuff! God moved in many people; for me personally, I was delivered from something that I have held onto for a very long time. While I do not feel at liberty to discuss it so openly (blogs and the internet aren’t always the best for discussion of private things, you know!), I can say that it feels amazing to be free!
Schedule: 6:30 am – wake up! 7 am – squad exercises (everything from hikes to yoga to P90X!). 7:30 am – 8:15 – Breakfast (fish porridge!). Okay, after this it varies… but lunch, team games, free time, dinner, services, etc. are all in there somewhere. Our days usually wrapped up around 10:30 – 11 pm.
Sleeping: Good thing my sleeping bag is rated for 35 degree weather because it was 36 degrees outside Saturday night! 🙂 Sleeping in a tent isn’t too bad, and changing clothes in my tent was hilarious since I couldn’t stand up even halfway. In other news, I also didn’t bring a normal sleeping pillow, but an airplane pillow and a balled-up jacket worked decently. 🙂
What God Showed Me: (these are very general, more specifics on this later) To think for myself. That he loves me. I am beautiful. I am a speaker of the Word and of Truth. He is a wonderful daddy who provides for me and whose affections for me never end. I am blessed. To be more focused on eternity. He will use me to bring freedom and break bondage. Yes, I am still seeking him as my best friend, which is why “The Big One” for the week was this: He is my first priority. This week, I got a taste of what depending on Him wholeheartedly tastes like. At first, I really didn’t like it, but I am learning to. At camp, someone stated that on the race, we need to guard our personal time with God with our life. That statement made me evaluate how precious my time with God is. I will write more on this later.
People: Too wonderful for words! Here’s the first ever World Race Human Trafficking Squad!
…and here is my lovely team! Bottom is Jenna, Julie, and Kristin, top is myself, Lauren, and Nani. I will explain the team and reveal our super awesome team name in the next blog, so watch out! 🙂
Again, keep an eye out for more updates: a blog dedicated specifically to what God showed me at camp, a blog about my cute little team up there, and blog about my time in Chattanooga, Tennessee are on the way!
Much love, God bless! 🙂
