3 showers
4 outfits
7 days
And
6 nights
In the woods of Tennessee
And what do you know…I SURVIVED!
Training camp was amazing. I know you would like to know more than just “amazing” but I am going to keep it a little bit of a secret due to future racers who are stalking blogs trying to get a feel of training camp…you know who you are!!! 😉
I’ll say this training camp was the first of a lot of things for me. First time in TN, first time camping/sleeping outside, first time not showering on a daily basis, and the first time I actually took in all of Gods beauty. The mountains and sunsets were breath taking. I felt so bad that it took me this long to appreciate what He has created.
It was also a new experience for me to be around total strangers but feel so connected and so much love for them. It was bizarre. This was my first taste of true, raw community and I miss it. I miss my team. I miss worshiping with them, and dancing and praying and sharing my stuff with them. I miss “the bathroom talks” and eating meals-yes I miss sharing a platter with eat other people and not being able to use utensils! (It wasn’t chicken fingers people, were talking rice and grits!!) And for those of you, who know me, know I don’t miss people. It’s easy for me to say good bye. I don’t get attached to people. But this was different, they are different.
We were able to come together, as one, and worship Him, the creator, the one true God.
So training camp was definitely a good preparation. To be away from technology, with no schedule, constantly in the word and having the word spoken to us was spiritually lifting.
I just want to encourage those of you who may not be stepping out in faith with something because you’re feeling “inexperienced” or not prepared. The old saying stands true, “God does not call the qualified but qualifies the called.” I never slept outside before but somehow never felt more at home. I am normally shy around new people but never felt as open and outgoing as I did this past week. And I have never been on a mission’s trip but God saw fit for my first to be almost a year long. Let him mold you and take you to places you never thought you would physically and mentally be able to. Because He will go before you and make your paths straight.
