Hey all! Sorry for the prolonged absence. These past two weeks I was at training camp in the rolling country side of Gainesville, Georgia. This was a time for me to meet the people I will be traveling with, prepare both spiritually and physically for the next year, and learn about the customs and cultures that I will be a part of for the next 11 months.
The first days were pretty interesting. Apart from being very hot (so humid that you forgot what it was like to be dry) and getting rained on every night, it was pretty great. Our squad of 55 immediately began to mesh really well together as we all realized that this is getting real and that launch is just around the corner. We did everything together. We worked out every morning at 7am together, set up camp together, had all of our meals together, worshiped together, and untimely said “YES” to each other in a verbal commitment to this year and our squad. I couldn’t be happier getting placed with these people, and I am so ready to live on Mission with them for a whole year.
At training camp, I was able to grow in my faith and take time to listen to God. The past year has been pretty hectic, and I rarely took time to just be quiet and listen to what God has to say to me. I often find that my relationship with God is a one-way street in which I am the one doing all the talking and planning. I try to put God in a box all too often, and I fail to realize that He is so much bigger than everything else. It was so refreshing to just be still in God’s creation and hear what He has to say to me. I found that if you create space for the Lord to come, He will fill it beyond what you could have imagined.
Also at camp I was able to forgive myself for everything in the past. In one of our nightly sessions we were being taught about the idea that you can’t live on mission and invest in people’s lives until you have forgiven all those who have hurt you in the past. For me, I realized that I am my hardest critic and always beat myself up for things I have done. Being able to forgive myself and hear from God that He loves me for the person I am now and that I am right where I am supposed to be was so encouraging. If the Lord of the universe does not condemn you, then who gives you the right to condemn yourself? I am no longer a sinner saved by God, but I am a child of God, adopted into His family.
Signing up for the race back in November feels like a lifetime ago, and it’s hard to comprehend that launch is only a few weeks away. All my gear is bought, the teams are finalized, and my fundraising is nearly complete. And now I can hardly wait to land in India to start this amazing journey. I know it will be hard and challenging at times, but I am so excited to give God these 11 months with no reservations. I can’t wait to see what He has for my life.
Thank you to all my supporters for the prayers and donations! Be sure to check into this blog regularly to see the latest updates on my journey. Also, be praying for my dad, brother, and I as we embark on a 70-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail this week. Photos and videos to come…
Finally, here’s some photos from training camp and a picture of the team I will be living with for the next couple months.
Our site at Training camp:
My Squad:
My Team, Team Tolmiros!
