Before training camp began, I rode in the car filled with fear on our drive there. I worried about my team dynamic and connection. I worried about my strengths and my weaknesses being revealed with no place to hide; because once the race begins my group and I are always together. I also started doubting the wisdom in Christ that God has blessed me with.
But once I arrived and training camp began, all those fears quickly disappeared! We sang a worship song with the verse “ I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God!” These words not only reigned in my heart during that moment but will continue throughout this journey! It doesn’t matter who we are, where we stand, or where we come from, God can use us as a useful tool for his kingdom when we seek him in all that we do.
Training camp was 10 days of Awakening. An Awakening of God’s work within me, an Awakening of exploring new ways of worship, and an Awakening of my identity in Christ. The World Race is a journey of abandonment and that is what we experienced over those 10 days. From the freezing cold buckets showers, tons of bugs, living in small tents, limited clothing, filthiness we felt daily, the loss of our electronics, to the small servings of food we received leaving us hungry throughout the day, we quickly learned about the things that are most important. We started to find thankfulness in the small things. Our meals no longer became worry of what we were having, but a joy to be eating. Our natural worldly comforts were gone but yet we realized how we had so much. Yes, this was only 10 days, but these are the daily lives of many around us!
This is where we ate our daily meals. Each meal depended on what country we were learning about each day.
A difficult moment for me was when we did a scenario of being dropped off in the middle of the woods with only food, 2 tarps, no bathrooms and a change of clothes. Not only that, it was a monsoon raining so hard that it was like walking in a river. As I walked and stood there terrified of the bugs, soak and wet, freezing and wondering if I would make it, I realized that I wasn’t alone. Not only did I have my new family around me but I was able to experience comfort and peace in the Lord.
This is a moment that not only applies during this time, but also applies in our daily struggles and trials in our lives. No matter how bad something may be, God is holding you and he is always there for us to cling to. Training camp opened my eyes to the wisdom God has instilled within me and the work he has before me. He has set me free in worship and I am so glorious of the paths he has laid out before me. When I say, “God is Good!” man, “He is so good!”
Training camp opened my eyes for the work that God has in store for not only me but my awesome new family that I am so thankful to be apart of! I am so joyful of the World Race ahead and I thank you all for helping me get there!
