With a broken, excited, and expectant heart, I traveled to Gainesville, Georgia to spend 10 days being trained as a World Racer. The 10 days I spent in the woods of Georgia were some of the dirtiest, hardest, most special days I’ve ever had the privilege to experience.
If you are a future World Racer, here is some advice to survive, and walk out a World Racer.
1. Bring snacks-When your first meal is a small bowl of broth and half an orange, that cliff bar will taste like a snickers.
2. Bring a change of clothes in a ziplock bag for the plane ride back, this isn’t for you, it’s for the poor souls who have to sit next to you.
3. Laugh, and keep a positive attitude. You are about to experience a week that is more physically, spiritually, and mentally draining than you have probably experienced up until this point, learn to find joy in it all, even the bathroom situation.
4. The leadership cares much more about your character than they do your comfort. Everything they do is very intentional, and it will all make sense once the week is over.
Now I want to introduce you, my friends, to my first Team, Beloveds
Nicole Taylor
Nicole and I met before Training Camp when she was in Houston for Passion. She recently graduated from OU’s nursing program (BOOMER SOONER, right??) so we have quite a bit in common. We just get each other, I connect with Nicole in a way that I don’t have with any other squadmates. I am thrilled to follow her lead, as she is our team leader.
Ali Sidoran
I also had the privilege to spend time with Ali before Training Camp. We met for lunch and talked for hours, and we could have kept going! Ali is so beautiful on the outside, but even prettier on the inside. She speaks and walks with such confidence! Ali and I started this journey together, and we were just meant to become best friends!
Savannah Joyal
Sweet Savannah, this girl has one heck of a story to tell. Her soul is beautiful and it is so evident with her sweet words, but more importantly how she listens. We’re both the quieter girls on our team, but ya’ll better get ready for Savannah and I, the wild side is gonna show soon! I’m so happy to do life the next few months with you by my side Savannah!
Campbell Stewart
Campbell is one of the most genuine women I have ever had the privilege to know. When you speak to Campbell, you experience Jesus’s love. She loves the Lord something fierce, and speaks love boldly. This girl is going to speak so much life into me, and I am so pumped to be encouraged each day by her.
Bailey Swartzenberger
I love Bailey’s heart. I can also tell she loves to seek out adventure, so I know her and I are going to have a good time exploring together. Bailey is a funny, confident, and strong young woman, and I have so much to learn from doing life with her. I’m excited to get to know more of Bailey’s story and love on people around the world with her by my side.
I also want to share a story of God’s provision, and how the Holy Spirit has moved in my life in the short time I have been home since Training Camp.
A wonderful lady, who I met over 4 years ago on the very mission trip I first heard about the Race on, came to my home the day after I got back from Training Camp, to make a donation to me in person. Now, I haven’t seen her in over 4 years, but she told me she had a dream about me, woke up, and knew she needed to find me that day. The very night she had a dream about me was the same night I arrived home from Training Camp. That was perfectly orchestrated by God, and is a beautiful reminder of his perfect timing. If you happen to be reading this Sally, know that you were an angel to me that day, and were a much needed reminder that God has everything in control.
Everyone on my squad and team are all very different, and we come from different backgrounds. We were all writing unique stories with our lives, and now we have all been brought into community to write a story together. There will be moments of glorious victory, brokenness, highs, lows, fears, and joy. But two things will remain true throughout our entire adventure on the World Race.
We will do it together, and it will be to the glory of God.
xoxo
Elizabeth
