Training camp, kicked my butt. I was pushed to my limits and then a little further. Walls were shattered that I did’t even know exsisted. It broke me in every way possible. It was exhausting, exciting and worth it.
Meeting my team was the most nerve racking thing ever. I walked up to this huge group of people crowded onto two sofas and a couple of chairs. Surrounded by all the REI gear you could possibly buy. processing that I was going to live with these strangers for nine months, kinda made me want to go home.
Everybody was so welcoming though as soon as I got there! We were all in the same position. Facing the unknown, so we embraced it. Akward is awesome. We eventually got shuttled to camp and it became so REAL!!! AHHH!
Everything was different than what I expected. My first thought, what did I get myself into?
All week we were stretched to the max.
We took bucket showers, learned VERY quickly that porta pottys were the only option. Slept on tarps, cooked meals over the fire, got eaten by mosquitos and sweated off our meals. We prayed, worshiped and listened. It was hot. It was difficult. it was great. Because, we did it together and we had each others back.
The hard stuff is what brought us together and made us a team. We had to want it and fight for it.
I have countless stories from this week, here’s one of my favorites.
Allergy medicine… in the morning. NOT a great idea. Shortly after I was tired, distracted and completley lost my ability to focus. With an entire day ahead of me, I was only going down hill from there. I didn’t see it coming and I didn’t think the medicine would make me tired. I caught on soon enough, but not in time.
I fell asleep… several times. Cried a lot. Was forced to wake up and be involved, I was a mess. Standing up wasn’t an option and walking seemed impossible. I didn’t want to be there. I just wanted to sleep and be comfortable. I wanted the easy option. Don’t we all?
Sometimes, this is how we work. Without even being aware of it. We sleep walk through life. Through important lessons, valuable moments and everything inbetween. We lose focus. We get tired. We get comfortable and we want to stay where we are. Missing the point while taking a U-turn in the wrong direction. Why? It’s so easy, we just don’t realize.
I don’t want to sleep walk through life anymore and act like this isn’t important. To get comfortable and take a nice long nap. Then to realize that everything I could have done has already passed me by. I learned at training camp, to expect the unexpected. But, to also be aware that God is going to blow my expections out of the water. He already has.
I want to shatter the box that I had God in and get lost in the aweness of his prescence. So no more naps. No more getting comfortable.
Some people think I’m crazy to leave everything for nine months. All I know is my life is made with the purpuse to serve Jesus. I want to fight for his fame and stop playing it safe. No more sleeping, only striving.
