As many of you know, I had my World Race training camp last week. What a week of being stretched, prodded, challenged, empowered, and commissioned. Through being pushed physically, mentally and spiritually I’m now starting to feel the weight and depth of this opportunity that I’m going to get to experience.
There was so much that happened during the 10 days I was in Georgia. It wasn’t easy, but that does not mean it wasn’t GOOD. So here’s to a week at training camp, a week of being vulnerable. A week of remembering that I can’t be perfect, and no one expects me be. Here’s to a week of being able to learn how to better love God, love people, and love myself. Here’s to a week of living out of a backpack, giving up the right to know the schedule, eat the food I want, sleep when I want, and leaving stronger than I came in.
At training camp I got reintroduced to the immense love of God. I got invited into a family that was willing to support me, cry with me, and most importantly, speak truth and love over me when I couldn’t see it for myself. I met teammates who linked arms with me and who amazed me with their abandonment to the Lord. This is my squad (Q squad). These are the people I will be traveling from country to country. I have come to genuinely love and care for everyone in this picture!!!
This is my team (team F.U.E.R.T.E). For those of you who don’t know the difference between a squad and a team let me explain. We are part of a squad who we travel from country to country but then we split into our teams which are the people who we will be doing life and ministry with. So here are my girls….Mary Jane from Tennessee, Shae from Oklahoma, Denea from North Carolina, Katy from Colorado, and my fellow Texans Kristen and Andy.
I also met leaders who listened and poured into me with much love. In just 10 days these trainers have made such an impact in my life and will forever be grateful to them and for them.
There are too many memories to share but i can say i have never been physically challenged like I did. I could go on and on of the physical aspect of training camp including 6:00 am wake up calls, packing and repacking my pack and tent everyday, bucket showers, sleeping on the ground, eating weird food, 30 minute workouts in the morning, 3 mile hike under 50 minutes (with a 40 lbs pack), different field scenarios and team building activities. But the best memories where the ones not planned. Having worship session with my squad or having bond fire talks were definitely the icing on the cake.
In just 10 short days I cried. I was exhausted. I rejoiced. I was insecure. I was broken. I was loved. I was encouraged. I was challenged. I was reminded of the father’s love for us. In all of that, there was never a time where I felt that He wasn’t present. I may not know what the future holds but I know who holds the future.
