The World Race needs both Introverts and Extroverts. So… you lovely extroverts I apologize but this blog is really about helping introverts or mostly introverted better prepare for training camp and the World Race experience. (Psst…if your EXTROVERTED…this might help you better LOVE your INTROVERTED Squadmates…so read on if you DARE!!!)
- Once you’re accepted for the World Race…You’ll probably be pretty ok with 1:1 conversations/calls, chatting on Facebook, or even doing a Google+ with a handful / majority of the Squad when you guys/gals first get accepted…just not all at once. This may give people the appearance that you are totally comfortable and feel connected with the Squad…but at Training Camp when you’re processing “What on earth did I just sign up for?” (most all racers ask this question in some form or other) and are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of AWESOME people you are hanging with people MIGHT be able to better understand where your coming from if you express your introverted-ness ahead of time.
- Conditioning…BEFORE getting to training camp no matter how dorky your feel or how “in-shape” you think you are fill your pack up with stuff you THINK you’ll be taking on the field and hike around your apartment complex or backyard regularly several weeks before arriving at Training Camp. Unpack / Set-up your stuff and say…is this working for me??? Laugh at yourself, call up a good friend and tell them what you’ve just done if they aren’t already hiking around with you, take some photos or video…because all “good” World Racers will learn to Blog or photograph their dork-level on the race…it’s a necessity for SURVIVAL.
- Training Camp Meet and Greet…expect that 50-60 some people are excited to see you and are ALL going to want to HUG you…yes I said it…HUG you. Again either let people know ahead of time if this is totally going to freak you out or how you may/may not handle this. If you’re not sure…think about any kind of family reunions you’ve ever gone to and how meeting a lot of weird but cool people whose names you couldn’t remember made you feel. Fist bumping or high fives might work…OR be bold and say ok God…as an Introvert I am going to “LOVE” my Squad by receiving these people and all these hugs as best I can. Why you might just let them hug you??? Think about on the field…how many churches/locations where men/women will kiss you on the cheek, hug you, babies and kids will grab your leg/arm other body parts…this MIGHT be good “practice” for that.
- Your TENT…it can be your HOME at times on the race. So do yourself a favor…buy yourself a good sized tent under 5 lbs…so that after the 50-60 people have come and hugged you…you aren’t becoming claustrophobic just by setting up your tent and realizing you have no place to really “hide” if you need to take a minute to process what just happened. Make sure you have some wiggle room, can sit up to read or awkwardly change in your tent if you need to. Invest in some sort of solar light you can get some for as cheap as $15 “The Lucy” or if you’re willing to spend a bit more in the $90-$112 range you can get a solar light where you can use it as a light and you can charge at least one USB type item off of it.
- World Race Staff at Training Camp… assume even though it totally seems like the Trainers, World Race Staff, and your Squad Leaders are analyzing, observing, and watching to see how you react in different experiences during training camp / besides wanting to get to know your AWESOME self…legitimately they are doing this because they want to place you on the best teams possible that will challenge you, help you grow, and help you be most effectively balanced as a team on the World Race for ministry. They are doing this out of L-O-V-E…and not some crazy science experiment gone wrong. Ask questions. Seek out their knowledge and discernment. How did THEIR training camp go…what did they like, dislike, learn, grow from that experience???
- Packing…you may read 50+ blogs about packing (hopefully not). If you get to training camp and you’ve done what you feel is “a lot” of camping but it’s been more in the (weekend to week )time frame verses living out of a pack for a year…seek out a World Race staff and ask if they’ll give you some pointers for packing…or what stuff you might not need on the field. Be ready for honest questions / answers and really be ok with not having “everything” you think you need because God / your teammates will learn to “share” and find you have exactly what you need to serve well on the field.
- Scenarios at Training Camp…maybe you won’t feel comfortable feedbacking/discussing / raising your hand to talk about what you just thought about a particular experience. That’s ok. BUT…do talk to SOMEONE about how certain things made you feel. It is highly likely someone else had the same feeling or may be struggling like you are. Journal about it and maybe later share a bit of it with someone. Say for instance…you’re most concerned in a scenario how you’ll be able to get out and use the bathroom without having to climb over people…or if THIS THING catches on fire and I’m not sure how we’ll all get out safely (because you really do care about your whole Squad)…talk to someone about that before you cuss like a sailor…because maybe someone else was wondering about the same exact things…or there are simple ways to make it more enjoyable/livable for ALL. These scenarios are done out of love to better prepare you for legit situations that may happen on the field. You may have some super sweet ideas of how to make the experience better for the entire group…BUT if you don’t share they won’t know…and you ALL might miss out…or be really irked when you realize some people were even able to sleep through that experience.
- Asking for help…do this…you ALL need help during training camp, on the field, after the World Race. Don’t feel like a burden or that people won’t understand or help…they love you and you really are in this TOGETHER. Especially if you have any inklings or thoughts about peacing out or going home early…or that maybe the World Race isn’t for you or you for them. MANY MANY MANY people feel this way for a wide range of reasons. Love yourself and your Squad well enough to talk to SOMEONE ANYONE about this so they can help you talk through this, you can face lies, fears, or maybe even a healthy dose of truth. Love your teammates through this kind of struggle…there WILL be times on the field that you wonder if THIS is where you are supposed to be. Satan loves this kind of stuff…God LOVES to LOVE you through these kind of concerns…THIS is a NORMAL feeling.
- LAUGH and SMILE…this will help in “most” any situations. Even if you feel you’ve lost practice in smiling at people…start with one of the random World Race staff…it’ll totally make their day…they might even come talk to you and ask you how you’re doing…correction…they will almost always ask you how you’re doing. Be honest…and just maybe they’ll tell you a story about someone they knew or a story about themselves and how they experienced training or the World Race. Don’t assume they are ninja’s forcing you to stay on the World Race…they truly want to help any way they can.
- ALONE TIME…you’re going to want this. Bring an Ipod…I repeat…BRING an IPOD. Have healthy conversations about how often and how you might use said Ipod. Realize that your “expectations” for alone time may or may not be realistic…BUT do talk to your team and tell them that you get “recharged” by having time alone with yourself, God, nature, whatever so you aren’t the mute of the group on the field trying to figure out how to readjust to the great “hermit” life you may have lived as a 30’something going on the World Race…or any other age for that matter.
- Expectations…some things you’ll need to throw out…but expect that you will have to speak up / ask questions about the BASICS…where to get pure water, food you can eat, where to sleep if its rainy or you have tent/hammock issues, where to find more toilet paper, you need medicine because your body is acting weird after certain foods (or check some of the blogs out for suggested medications to bring)etc. ASK PEOPLE…you really do need this stuff.
- ENJOY the World Race. It is the most extraordinarily RAW, WILD, God-filled experience that will STRETCH, SHAPE, and RE-MAKE you…and in the process CHANGE THE WORLD.
