“Devon Kester!” I heard chanted loudly from the group of leaders in front of me. All of the sudden I was in a dark tunnel and my walk from where I was standing to the person who had called my name seemed like miles long. It was hot and the sun was beating down on the pine-straw below me. The brown straws shifted as I walked. They existed like lifeless corpses just to provide an illusion and expectation of soft ground. “Don’t have any expectations.” I remember Adventures telling me. Expectations, such a strange concept to fight off. But it is reasonable they ask us to dismiss them. Expectations are mainly just ideas on which have not yet been acted upon and they often reap inconsistant results; due to having factors that include multiple parties or lack of proper resources. I hadn’t until the day before my name was called had any pre-thought out thoughts for training camp. I had prayed God keep my heart ready for anything and it was until they brought up the idea of an all girls team. The day before announcing the official teams I was asked about my thoughts of being on an all girls team. My mind loved the idea simply because then I didn’t have to struggle with men. However in this moment my name was being called by a voice several octaves too low.
I took a deep breath of warm Georgia air in as I picked up my pack to meet the rest of my team a few feet away from me. My Co-ed team. The four other girls and two boys eyes met mine. I struggled to find joy as I knew this was my family now. I’ve never had many good solid Christ focused men in my life. Most of my life I have interacted with men on a day to day basis who do not believe in my Jesus. My father struggled in his own faith, so we did not speak on the subject often. My older brothers picked other paths of faith and lifestyles as they grew older. Having Christian men on my squad (now knowing that I could be on an all girls team) is sort of a new growth for me. I wondered only for a short while why God had brought the idea of an all girls team up just to stick me on a Co-ed one. It wasn’t but a few moments before I knew why. The guys on our squad are PASSIONATE Christ followers. Both immediately verbally promised all of us girls they would protect us. They reminded us of our worth and our beauty through Christ. I have never been so encouraged by two men before. They opened up about their struggles and their desires for ministry before any of the girls had to ask. Everything you wish all the men in your life prior could have said to you was spoken over us before we even had a chance to grow too deep in doubt.
We went out on our first group outing, and with in 15 minutes of being outside of camp grounds we had already met and prayed for a woman at a coffee shop. The team had no problem finding and working off of each others strengths. The guys were a hoot and the girls were sweet and loving to the woman I brought over. We instantly fell in love with her and each other. I knew then it was going to be a good year.
I am excited about my team. I’m glad I was put on a Co-ed one. There will be days where I know I will struggle with understanding the counterparts on our group, but I love my team already.
