My week of Training Camp for the World Race was absolutely incredible, and I’ve struggled to find the words to articulate all that happened in such a short period of time. There’s so much that I want to share with you all, but in the interest of not developing carpal tunnel before I turn 25, I’m limiting this blog to 11 things that I’d like to share with you all about Training Camp. If you’d like to hear more about my experience, please feel free to contact me! I’d love to sit down with you face-to-face and tell you all about this crazy week over a cup of coffee. So here we go – 11 things that happened at Training Camp (in no particular order).
1) My teammates and I made our very first (epic) memory together that included a trip to Starbucks, a photo shoot at a pumpkin farm, and a delicious pizza dinner at Mellow Mushroom. Basically, the best day ever. Yes, this does mean that we were given our team assignments! Scroll on down to the bottom of this post to check out the wonderful humans that I’ll be spending the majority of my Race with, and show my fellow Team Awaken members some loving by checking out their blogs!
2) I was NOT assigned a leadership role, and I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to experience ministry as simply a participant and not a leader. I am beyond grateful for my experiences in specific leadership roles over the years, but I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me when I am not defined by my position in a group of people. I have received lots of sweet affirmation from the Lord and several squadmates that I am going to have the opportunity to use my passion for worship and singing during this break from a designated leadership role, and my heart leaps with joy at the thought! The Lord loves me so well!
3) My squad had the BEST cheer, hands down. Are you ready for it?
Ain’t no Party like a P squad Party, ’cause a P squad Party don’t stop!
Ain’t no mission like a P squad mission, ’cause the Big Guy’s watchin’ up top!
4) I got to test-run all of my gear and found myself audibly rejoicing over things like waking up to dry belongings after spending the night in my tent during a torrential downpour. Also, I have to admit that I was laughed quietly to myself every time I heard someone squeal upon discovering a spider/cricket/piece of dirt shaped like a bug in their tent. 🙂
5) I reached a whole new level of appreciation for CRU and everything that I learned through my involvement with this ministry. My life, my relationship with the Lord, and my World Race journey would not be the same without the staff and students that have made CRU the most incredible community I’ve ever been a part of. CRU @ UNCC, you all will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for your investment in my life and for preparing me well for this World Race journey.
6) I successfully completed 40 burpees perfectly in sync with 7 other women while we were tied together by a piece of yarn. Yeah, we take unity to a whole new level.
7) I slept through my time slot for our night of prayer, because my subconscious has perfected the art of convincing people that I’m awake when they try to wake me up. Welcome to the world of Cassady Schulte and Her Bizarre Sleeping Habits, P squad. Some things just never change.
8) I learned that the World Race doesn’t change you, God does. (duh. But it’s surprisingly easy to forget.)
9) We got our official LAUNCH date!! On Wednesday, January 7th I’ll be heading down to Atlanta, GA for a few more days of training and then I will fly out with my squad to our first month of ministry in Peru! I want to soak up every moment I have here in the States between now and January 7th, so that I can be fully present on the field when the Race starts. That means I would LOVE to see you!! Let’s go for a hike, lifechat over coffee (my favorite), and make some memories.
10) My teammate, Zach, and I proved that you can swing dance to dub-step music…and it’s AWESOME.
11) 54 wide-eyed wanderers arrived at AIM headquarters on Saturday, October 11th as strangers (because Facebook-stalking doesn’t count), and exactly one week later we left as a family. Bottom line – I met some incredible people, and laid the foundations for friendships that will last far beyond November 2015. These are friendships that will last for a lifetime (or, more realistically, for eternity).
Team Awaken – the beautiful souls that I’ll be spending most of my Race with! From left to right:
Nick (our awesome Team Leader!), Karissa, Eva (in the sunglasses), Angela, Zach, myself, and Laura. Check out their blogs and get to know them a little. Trust me, they’re awesome.
