As training camp came to an end our world race teams were finally announced. Anticipation arose as each of the squad members were named. Team 1, the married couples. Then team 2, team 3, team 4, why had my name not yet been called? The members of team 5 were called. Finally team 6: Tara, Zach, Patrick, Maithili, Jes and Jessi! Total shock (good shock) set in as I listened to the names of my team members. I had fully expected to be a member of an all girls team, but praise the Lord I will be traveling the world with brothers! What a great team and what a surprise!
Our first task was to come up with a team name. We threw out many suggestions but in a comment of confusion we found or perfect name. It was to be the TexMex Ballerinas. We mischievously laughed in agreement over our team name while we decorated the program manager’s car that he had so gladly lent to us.
Returning to camp fashionably late, decorations in place, music turned up and sounding the horn made for a well attended arrival back in camp. “What have I done…” could appropriately describe the look on Jimmy’s (program manager) face as we laughed and proudly displaced our work. A memory well made.
After the fun came to an end our team name had to be rethought as, after all this is the World Race, not junior high camp. Again suggestions came forth until we all settled on team JOY an acronym for Jesus Overcomes You. Through out our camp experience, one thing was for sure, we had all been overcome by Jesus. In the Lords amazing love and grace He touched down on each of our hearts healing our hurts and strengthening our character. He personally ministered to each of us through refinement and encouragement to be the sons and daughters that He designed and desires us to be. We were overcome. Our fleshly and worldly desires became mire shadows in the brilliant light of His love for us, birthing in us one new and uniform desire…Jesus. To know, love and be like Christ. That is what this world needs and that is what we desire for this July World Race 2008.
The verse we chose is Romans 15:5-6 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
