I haven’t been sure what to say about Training Camp. When people ask me what we did there, the only response I can think of is, “What didn’t we do there?” I’m not really sure how to describe what was probably one of the strangest weeks of my life. Since community was one of my biggest fears in signing up for the Race, and the most beautiful blessing to come out of Training Camp, I’ll start there.
I don’t know how to express what it felt like to drop out of my independent, self-controlled life and crash-land in the embrace of a community like A-Squad. I bounced back and forth between, “This is NOT normal life” and, “Why isn’t my normal life like this?” In Colossians 2, believers are urged to come together so that their “hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.” Training Camp allowed me a little glimpse of what that could look like.
Anyone who has ever participated in a World Race TC knows that it isn’t an easy week, and that it ends up being hard in all the ways you didn’t expect. I knew that I would be stretched and uncomfortable and way out of my comfort zone, but it wasn’t wearing the same clothes for 24 hours straight that really pushed me. It wasn’t sharing weird food (and not much of it), clothes, and space with 50 people. It wasn’t barely sleeping, never knowing my schedule, or letting go of the concept of personal space. It wasn’t even realizing that everything, from group discussions to getting dinner, was a team building exercise. The biggest struggle was realizing the level of vulnerability and openness that would be required of me to live in community like this. When I met my team, I knew I was looking at my co-workers, traveling companions, roommates, confidants, closest friends, and family for the next year. That is an intense relationship! I don’t imagine that growing and serving with our teams will always be easy, but I do think this is an extraordinary opportunity to live uniquely and meaningfully with some amazing world-changers.
I think that the World Race will help teach us how to love and serve without exception, whether out in the world or at home, but that we need our teams and squad to teach us how to love and serve without exception on the Race. Here’s what they don’t tell you about Training Camp: it doesn’t end when you go home at the end of the week. This in-between time isn’t taking a break from “World Race stuff,” it’s a chance to cultivate a spirit of loving encouragement toward those around you. I already have a wonderful support base with Team Awakening, and I’m anticipating a wonderful season of growth for the 7 of us. It’s all training, it’s all the Race, it’s all God’s.
Unexpected Training Camp Lesson #1: After meeting my squad and team, I’m EXCITED to live in community.
