So I know it’s been a long time coming, but here it is: my final Training Camp blog.
This blog is about something very near and dear to my heart, and if you don’t want any spoilers about Training Camp, you should probably use caution while reading it.
This blog is about my team.
To help you understand things a little more, I feel as if I should explain how teams are selected at training camp. The team selection period lasts about 2 days. The first day was filled with team building exercises. During every exercise, we were put into new teams with new groups of people. Everyone would be given the same exercise to do as a team, and then afterwards, we would have one-on-ones with someone from our squad’s leadership team to talk about how we think things went with this team, what we thought the team struggled with, who we thought stepped up as good leaders, etc. Gradually, through this process, we were put into the teams we have now.
Now, let me tell you about my experience with these team building exercises.
The first day, we were put into 3 different team groups throughout the day, all of which I was fairly okay with, but I was never put onto my “ideal team”. After all, we had been at TC for 5 days now, and I had started to connect with people. There wasn’t really anyone I absolutely didn’t want to be with, but had people I would have liked to be with, and I was never really with any of them.
The second day came around and we were put into a new team for one final activity. The team that I was put into was less than ideal in my eyes. I still wasn’t really with anyone I “wanted” to be with. In fact, I was put into a team with 5 other people that I had barely talked to all week. After the activity, you could tell that no one was particularly pleased with things, and we all admitted that something just seemed missing.
I left this activity feeling discouraged. I felt like no one had listened to me at all during our one-on-ones, and to top it all off, there were rumors going around all day that these were probably going to be our final teams. All day long I was filled with so much anxiety. I didn’t want that to be my team. I was upset because I felt like I hadn’t been listened to, and I couldn’t understand why, out of all the people on our squad, I was put with these people that I felt like I barely knew. I wanted to be excited about team assignments, but I wasn’t. I just felt disappointed.
I found myself praying in every spare moment that God would give me peace with whoever my team was, that He would ease this anxiety I had. I prayed for the ability to trust in what He was doing, and that I be continuously reminded that He knows what He’s doing.
So, that afternoon, when it came time for team announcements, I could feel my anxiety building up, and I just sat in my chair and prayed for peace. When my team was announced, I realized that I was with the same people from that morning, except that one other person had been added. I felt my stomach drop. When they were done and everyone was cheering and getting into their teams, I was doing everything I could to put a smile on my face and push back the tears that were welling up.
Here’s the thing…as soon as my team got together and I looked around at all of them, I was filled with this overwhelming peace, and as we started to pray together, I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore.
They were happy tears this time.
I knew that God put me with the team I was supposed to be with.
Honestly, I’m glad I waited until Month 2 of the Race to post this. This past week, here in Serbia, is the first time my team and I have really been on our own, and it has been wonderful. We’re all really like family, and I truly have so much love for each and every one of them. I love them more and more every day.
Meet Team All Things:
So, if you’re going off to Training Camp soon, or if you’ve just recently left there, being a part of this brand new family, I encourage you in this: Trust the Lord. Trust in the place He has put you. Trust in the team you have been made a part of. Love them. Accept them. Embrace your new family. Enjoy the World Race!
I promise, you won't regret it!
An update on Fundraising: I'm currently at $8,763, which puts me $2,237 away from my $11,000 deadline on October 1, and $6,737 away from being Fully Funded! Please continue to be praying. Thank you to everyone for all of your support!
