I grew up just like my many of my childhood friends, Catholic families on both sides, baptized at only a couple months old, attended mass every week, attended Catholic school and addition went to mass with my class every week.
I went to a Catholic high school and then half way through switched to a Presbyterian school.
There, instead of mass we had chapel. Current Christian music was played as well as young speakers, instead of priests talked about the gospel that related to our high school lives. This was new to me, I really enjoyed it but still continued to grow in my Catholic faith, occasionally attending catholic youth group, catholic heart work camp mission trip, as well as my high school’s Presbyterian youth group and occasionally going to church there.
Fast forward to college where it was the first time I attended a public school. I met one of my best friends to this day, Bailey who I attended Catholic mass with every week. The Sundays I didn’t want to go she would motivate me and vice versa.
The priest at St. John’s in Oxford Mississippi really knew how to relate to college students and we had contemporary music along with hymns with a modern twist played by Ole Miss students. Father Joe really made a tremendous impact on my 4 years at the University of Mississippi.
Now that I have graduated I often say one of the things I’m going to miss most about Oxford is attending mass at St. John’s every Sunday.
After committing to the World Race I searched and searched for blogs trying to find an alumni Catholic racer. I came across 2 and one saying that the World Race wasn’t for Catholics. WHAT?!? She herself was Catholic but having a hard time with it on the field. This scared me to death.
I am firm in my Catholic faith but like many people know Catholics worship in a different more internal way. My church doesn’t lift up their hands with praise or dance, we stand, we kneel, and we celebrate with the Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist. Was this going to be too much of a change for me?
Some people don’t understand Catholicism so how would this affect me at training camp?
Well ready or not I arrived to training camp. I knew to expect my peers raising their hands, and dancing with praise but the first night of worship I was completely out of my comfort zone! I quickly thought, nope I can’t do this, I’m not supposed to be here, all these people in the room are amazing Christians and I don’t know what I’m doing, I know a couple Christian songs but none of these, I’ll just need to make a new plan for the next year because this is not it, BUT I WANT THIS! I’ve been planning on this since I was 16, God please give me a sign I belong here. Right when I said that the song changed to “Oceans.” Wait a second! I know this song! I love this song. I got chills from the tip of my toes to my head, this was the song I listened to on repeat when I’m having a bad day, struggling with an issue, and even helped me cope with the loss of my Gram. Okay I thought, never mind my previous thoughts I hear you Lord, I am meant to be here!
Training camp was 10 days straight outside my comfort zone, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I wasn’t my normal loud goofy energetic self. I was sleeping outside, taking bucket showers (only showered 3 times), experiencing HEAT HEAT HEAT plus extreme HUMIDITY, early mornings, no coffee, strange food with extremely small portions, porta potties filled to the brim, 47 new squad members to meet, the list could go on and on.
But training camp for me was a validation that I can survive outside my comfort zone.
Training camp confirmed that with new and exciting adventures comes the unknown and uncomfortable.
AIM’s vision is to see the Mathew 10 chapter put into reality for this current generation. “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness….Freely you have received; freely give.”
Mathew 10 ties perfectly with one my family’s favorite hymn “Will you come and follow me”- Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?”
I am ready to be uncomfortable in exchange for the experiences of the World Race and what God has in store for me. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Again, thank you so much for everyones love and support. I am extremely grateful to each and everyone of you.
$3,500 – Due 6/12/2015 (Fundraising Goal 1)- COMPLETED
$10,000 – Due 8/21/2015 (Fundraising Goal 2)- COMPLETED
$13,000 – Due 10/31/2015 (Fundraising Goal 3)
$16,267 – Due 12/31/2015 (Fundraising Goal 4)
