Before going on the race you have to go to training camp. Some of you probably wonder what training camp is and what do you do there? Well, training camp is a week of preparation for the race and learning how to deal with situations that could possibly happen while on the field.
For me, training camp was probably the hardest week of my life. Seriously.
Why was it so difficult?
From day one I was out of my comfort zone. When you’re not in your comfort zone you feel out of place. You feel like you don’t belong and you don’t fit in. We slept in tents some nights, I slept in a hammock another night because our stuff got “lost in a airport” (which was freezing) and we even slept on a bus one night because “it was travel day”.
Ill admit,, the first 3 days at camp were awful! I was tired, sore, and actually homesick (which never happens) I didn’t want to be there. Those 3 days I asked God several questions “why do I feel alone? Where are you? Why don’t I feel you here? Who am I to you and how do you see me?” For these 3 days I prayed and prayed. I was so desperate to feel His presence! I tried to find comfort in my squad but it wasn’t the same. I thought about calling home to feel comfort but I knew I needed to rely ONLY on my heavenly Father. I was looking for comfort in the wrong places. I was looking for comfort in other people, in family etc instead of just getting alone with God.
After those 3 days everything changed. The night we slept on the bus some of my questions were answered. Sleeping on a bus isn’t easy or fun. No one could get comfortable and pretty much no one slept the whole night. I slept on the cold hard metal floor for about a hr and that was it. But, instead of complaining we spent that time thanking God for what we do have. We worshiped and people even got healed. During all this I realized God was here. After that night, and throughout the week I had several visions and a dream and everything changed for me. I wasn’t homesick, I didn’t feel alone and even though I was tired and wore out from all the activities and lack of sleep, I felt energized at the same time.
Now, by the end of the week I was still asking God “who am I to you and how do you see me?” I wanted to see myself how God sees me. My prayer was answered. I was chosen to be team leader! I will be leading my team to these 11 countries! What a HUGE responsibility! But I know God is preparing me for this role. LEADER = SERVANT. & I will be a servant for my team. I am so so so excited to see what God teaches me while on the field. I learned so much in just a week at camp so I can only imagine how much I will learn in a year!
So, at camp I learned that when we feel alone, homesick, out of place, tired and weak thats when we need to just get alone with God and just rest in Him. He is the only one who can give us true rest and peace. I didn’t understand why for 3 days I felt like this but its all in Gods timing. He was teaching me something in that. Even though I didn’t like it at the time, I am thankful for that and what He taught me.
I know times on the race I will struggle. It will be hard and I will want to quit but now I am prepared and I know to run straight to Him. That goes for all of us, when you are tired and ready to give up just go to Him. Don’t turn to other things to find comfort just turn to Him.
Please keep my squad and I in your prayers as we prepare for launch in 22 days. I will leave for Atlanta September 5th where I will meet with my squad for 3-4 days then we will head to India.
