Lots of people have asked me how training camp was, so I thought I would share five of the lessons God taught me while I was there!
5. You aren’t in It Alone
The first night I set up my tent was a trial. With no directions, tons of random poles, and enough fabric to clothe a small army, it was an incredibly daunting task. Getting it down was just as hard, and honestly my confidence was a bit shaken. How was I supposed to backpack around the world when just getting my tent up and down was a trial? Those were my thoughts at the beginning of the week. At the end of the week, only 168 hours later, I realized that I had not only mastered my gear but learned a more important lesson from God. You see, I gained confidence at training. My confidence was not from my own ability to take care of my gear, but because I realized that every night, no matter how late it was or how tired we were, the minute someone finished pitching his/her gear, they walked around and asked if anyone needed help. God showed me that even if I couldn’t conquer my own challenges, He has surrounded me by people who can and will help me make it through.
4. Others will be Generous
Adversity brings people together, but adversity plus God brings out the best in the people who come together. At camp this week we shared clothes, food, tents, and gear. But for me, the most meaningful moments were when an entire group of people split a package of candy, each taking only one M&M to ensure everyone in the squad got one even though we were all hungry and craving something sweet. Let me tell you, that was one of the best M&Ms of my life. That’s true generosity, giving at the detriment of one’s self, especially when there is no Walmart to go run to or pantry to go grab things out of. God taught me how generous His people can be, even with something as simple as a bag of M&Ms.
3. Limits will be Overcome
Everyone who knows me knows that I love sleep. In fact, if asked, I would happily give up pretty much anything else to ensure I have time to get some sleep. This week pushed my limits physically as well as emotionally and mentally. Packing a huge bag? Sure, I excel at finding things to bring with me. Carrying the 50-60 pounds of gear I have for two miles through the woods and over the hills? That’s a different story. And if that wasn’t hard enough, we never slept in the same place or situation twice. After the first day, we realized that there was not going to be a nice long night’s sleep in a tent with a sleeping bag and pad. In fact, on nights where we had two of those three items in our possession we rejoiced. With very limited (if any) sleep and grueling daily physical exercise, our limits were definitely pushed! Yet by the end of the week, God showed me how He could support me even when I shouldn’t have been able to make it through the day. I know this trip will be long and hard, but I felt so empowered and grateful for His grace.
2. Priorities will be Changed
When you arrive at training camp, one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is ‘do I need just the quick dry pants or is a quick dry shirt and pants combo better?’ Now at some point that question was answered for me, but by the time it was all my priorities had already been blown away. Within 36 hours, I was crying as I heard testimonies of past racers, soul searching for God’s will, and seeking His voice with renewed fervor. As I went through training camp, His priorities continued to become mine more and more every day, and the beauty and magnitude of the impact God allows racers to have on the world was so impressed on me. It was no longer about what I could take with me, but what I could give those who God allows me to impact.
1. God will Show Up
‘Ask and it will be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be open to you.’ Luke 11:9
At training camp, we were nurses, business owners, chefs, graduate students, artists, teachers, consultants, etc. We were all gathered together to seek God with the knowledge that we were deliberately devoting a year of our lives to helping others. We were seeking, and He was more than willing to show up. Never walk into a situation like that expecting to come out the same. I know I’m not. God broke me, renewed me, taught me things I never thought I’d learn, and showed me His heart for the poor and needy in the places we are headed to. I saw God in the moments we helped each other pitch tents at the end of a long day, in the times we shared a pack of M&Ms, in how daily He spoke to my heart and changed the way I view the world. It was hard, painful, and exhausting, but all I can do is thank God I’ll never be the same.
