Training camp… A never forgettable experience filled with freedom, love, excitement, exhaustion, joy, and rejuvenation.
I met 35 fellow World Racer’s who have such a desire to GO out into the nations and take His light to the darkest places of this world. As I think about the TFK Squad (my squad, human trafficking), I get a rush of excitement of thrill because I know that God is going to use us in massive ways.
We were divided into teams of 6-7, came up with team names, prayed together, heard each other’s stories, and began building unity amongst ourselves. We decided on the team name: illuminate. In the dictionary it is defined as: to brighten or to supply light. That is what our prayer and hope is to do in Southeast Asia and in the U.S. We hope to literally be light in darkness. To SUPPLY light through our actions, words, love, compassion, empathy, and in our general beings as disciple of Jesus.
As for my personal experience at training camp, all I can say is God spoke to me, He changed me, He healed me, and He revealed more of Himself to me. It was simply unforgettable. There were times of despair on my end… the first night of camp when I was alone in my tent, I wept, realizing that from that moment on things were about to drastically change. I was not going to be the same, my relationship with Jesus was not going to be the same, my lifestyle was not going to be the same, and my perception of this world and of people were not going to be the same. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for how God has already changed me in this process and excited for the future, but there is something hard about it. I cannot explain it… it was just a time to let go, and trust God.
There were times of absolute joy… long talks at night with fellow squad mates about life, and what God is doing, taking a hike alone in His creation, falling in love with God all over again, eating Ihop at 11pm with the squad, declaring who we are in Jesus… and SO MUCH MORE.
How did God change me during training camp??
Mostly, He broke me down… He broke down barriers I had up against His Holy Spirit, false beliefs I had about myself and Him, and all in all, I fell head over heels for my Savior, Jesus. He spoke to me telling me who I am in Him… that I am a success to Him, not a failure. That my past is in my past, and it does not define who I am now. He told me over and over again that He is my comfort. That when times are hard, sad, or derailing, He wants me to crawl into His lap, lies against His chest, and let go… He promised me that He will always be there to hold me. He will never let go, even if I do.
Yes, my squad and I complained about food quantity, freezing cold nights of sleep, and exhaustion… BUT when I think about training camp, that is not what I remember, nor will I in 6 months when we return from Asia. I will remember Jesus. I will remember meeting some of the most amazing men and women of God. I will remember learning to speak life into others lives… I will smile, and praise God for what He did in those 5 days.
I cannot wait to GO into the nations…to BE light some dark places… to SEE God show up and move in ways I never thought possible… to SPEAK God’s love, truth, and life into those we minister to… to LIVE in community with men and women of God…
