Where in the heck was Jesus in all of this?
Everywhere I tell ya. Everywhere.
so I know this post is way overdue but when something as big as training camp happens, it takes me a while to get over the “I can’t think about that experience because I want to die and go back” stage. It’s safe to say now, a few weeks after training camp, that I can start thinking about it again, watch videos, and listen to the songs without crying and wanting to stay in that place. “What?! Dylan crying? Nooooo” – Courtney Cosgrove “Canada”.
So without further ado, I present my thoughts on Training Camp 2015.
I pull up to Training Camp after a very long drive (2 minuets) and park in this grassy field only to be welcomed by, what I would soon realize to be, some of the most amazing people I have every met. As we got our name tags I soon began to memorize my squads mates names to no avail. Alexa Kapsalis will forever be Alexis -sorry not sorry- 🙂 After that we would set up our tents in the 357 degree weather. *side note: Yes. I am from the south. No. I am not used to this heat. We don’t go out and set up tents and run is this stuff. We sit on our porches with ceiling fans or by the pool with our sweet tea in hand* So needless to say one of the best things God provided at Training Camp was shade, and ENOs. Thank God for those precious hammocks that hold up our sweating bodies and cool us off (ENO should really be paying me honestly) So with all of these people setting up their tents around me talking and laughing and just conversing with each other, I kept wanting to pinch myself that this whole experience was so real. The folks that I video chatted with every Friday evening were finally in front of me!
As the days went on, the food got weirder, my body was more sore, and I was looking a hot mess. Probably didn’t smell that well either, but in spite of all of that, God was doing a huge work in me that I didn’t realize to the fullest yet. It was only until Thursday night of worship that I understood what God wanted of me. As I stood there while “Good Good Father” was being played, beside 2 awesome worshipers, Ashely Ancona and Amanda Jen, God began to speak to me in a huge voice telling me to just let go. I had a sense of confusion because that whole week God had been pulling back layer after layer of me and getting to the core. My Father, though, wanted that thing that I had been hiding for years. Those lies and deceit that I did an awesome job of stuffing away. I stood there shocked that God wanted that. I was convinced it was too big and began to bargain with him. I don’t know if you all know this but God wins. every time. period. As I lifted my hands up in surrender I felt this peace compass me. Such sweet peace. I could finally worship God with no boundaries. I didn’t have anything between my Father and myself. I knew
FREEDOM
Those ugly rusty chains that held my sprit down for so long were broken and tossed away. Those things I bound myself with, God shook them off of me. My face was tingling all down to my arms from his presence. I was so relieved! I didn’t know what to do with all of this liberty. I wanted everyone else to feel this so I grabbed the girls hands on each side of me and lifted them up and it was like a complete circuit of the Holy Spirit. I don’t know how to explain God’s freedom and spirit with these simple words. It’s better felt than told. I walked away that night so high on Jesus. Knowing my Abba Father loved my so dearly was the greatest thing I took from those 10 days.
There were some things that were challenging at Training Camp. Sharing my testimony, speaking the words God gave me in front of my Squad, and also hiking 18 miles of lovely terrain and having to rely on God for strength to just name a few. All those things tested me; made me uncomfortable, But God never promised comfort 24/7. He promised He would abide with us the entire way. Someone is reading this and you are at your wits end. You’re trying to hold on to that little piece of anything to get you through the days, and you may even be crawling to God’s will scraping your hands and knees during the process. You’re waiting for your Good Samaritan to pass you by and help you. Can I just say hold on because God is passing by! Keep striving, Keep holding fast to the promises He made you! HE LOVES YOU! “My problems are too big for him” and I say to that, that he sees them as a grain of sand. Don’t forget God is everywhere. He’s behind you pushing you on your way, beside you holding your hands and in front of you calling out to follow him. He’s a good good Father, and He cares for us in ways that we cannot comprehend. Don’t you dare give up on God, you’re still breathing reading this blog and I dare say that this is not the only obstacle you’ve come across in your life. Look back on your life and think who brought you this far. Do you think He’ll leave you now? No. He’s there till the end no matter what.
I love each and every one of my Squad mates and if you are reading this please know that Dylan Ledford prays over each one of you. We can do this guys! When we don’t see a way… BOOM! God makes a way.
And to those of you who have supported me monetarily, prayers, encouraging words, anything.. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s so hard to convey my love over words but I am giving you a giant hug right now and wouldn’t be where I am without you.
10 things I learned from Training Camp:
- Never play “What are the Odds” with Anissa Lotti or Logan Cahoon on a big scale. You will lose and you will die. period.
- Get and ENO for your life. You will never regret it.
- Cold water will never be taken for granted by me again as well as bathrooms with air-conditioning and showers without buckets.
- Out of all the MVP’s at Training Camp, Rich and Eileen pulled through with the Starbucks and just being them. They are amazing people and I am moving in with them. Sorry mom.
- The “Interesting Facts” game on the man hike, stays on the man hike. I won’t ever look at a few of you the same way again. Brought that game to a different level.
- Have access to s’mores? TAKE ADVANTAGE!! Anything better than s’more and Jesus? I THINK NOT!
- If you do not regularly run with 20-30lbs on your back for 2 miles before Training camp. Please do not try and bust out your inner runner for the fitness test. Your inner runner is a 3 year old idiot who is on a sugar rush and doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Just Don’t.
- You will hear “IT’S SO HUMID” about 1,000 times, and they’re not lying. The humidity doesn’t go away but I guess it’s satisfying if you speak it.
- *Soak in all of training camp as much as you can. Embrace every experience, good and bad. It will be over before you know it and TAKE NOTES! Even if you think it’s worthless and you don’t have a pen ready, prick your finger and write down in blood everything those awesome speakers have to say.
- We have our plan and God has his. If you didn’t catch it in the previous paragraph. He wins. all day. everyday.
- BONUS TO FUTURE RACERS: Be prepared for fish and heads and soups. It’s real. You’ll love it I swear.
ps. I still need $6,500 to be fully funded and if you feel the need to support me please click on the appropriate “support me” button and follow those directions!
