Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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38 Things I learned at Training Camp:

  1. People in Nashville don’t know what “vegan” means.
  2. Hiking for 30 minutes while carrying 40lbs on your back isn’t that bad when you have a decent backpack. (Trust me, I learned this the hard way after backpacking for 3 weeks in Europe with a crappy one.)
  3. Sometimes you don’t realize you have expectations until they’re not met. Clinging to them prevents us from receiving what God has for us and says that we don’t trust that He is actually good.
  4. Don’t be a dirty idiot.
  5. The importance of grieving your losses regularly. “We must grieve the past seasons and painful losses of our lives before we can effectively embrace the present and future.”
  6. Putting on a pair of jeans can make you feel like a human again after basically wearing the same clothes for a week.
  7. You will never know what God can do through you until you take the risk of looking like an idiot.
  8. Headlamps came straight from heaven.
  9. Running for 30 minutes early in the morning is more fun when you do it with your squad…but only a little bit more.
  10. I have a lot more unforgiveness in me than I thought I did. Working on it!
  11. I really, really love eating with my hands out of the same platter as 7 other people and I wish it were socially acceptable all the time!
  12. My knees aren’t going to see the light of day for 11 months.
  13. Malaria is real. People get it. It sucks. Be smart.
  14. The Smokey Mountains are beautiful in the fall.

  15. “The issue of my value is settled at the cross.”
  16. “She bought a Honda, shoulda bought a Yamaha.”
  17. Prayer ministry training: People are desperate for freedom, but you have to find a new way to get to their brokenness.
  18. Stepping is not one of Z squad’s spiritual gifts.
  19. The healing ministry is limited when we leave it for leaders and preachers. It was given for all.
  20. “Zoa” in Greek means life or bringing life. Team Zoa is going to be AWESOME!

  21. Being “baptized in the Holy Spirit” can manifest itself in many different ways. We can’t expect Him to show up the same for everyone. Have expectancy without an agenda. It is a gift for every believer, not a reward.
  22. Our camp had the best bathroom graffiti known to mankind.
  23. The race won’t change you unless you let God change you through it. Have the race that you want. It’s a gift that you’ll never get back.
  24. Bringing out extra food is the surest way to turn humans into animals.
  25. The importance of taking responsibility for my own spiritual health and not being dependent on my home church since I won’t have it to fall back on for the next year.
  26. The enemy will try to tell me that what I experienced at camp or on the race isn’t real.
  27. We are not backpacking hobos.
  28. Positive feedback and constructive feedback can and will transform relationships. The only response to feedback EVER is “Thank you.”
  29. Jesus is not just living in America.
  30. If you’re camping outside for a week in the fall, the ground will always be dewy. This means your feet will always be wet. This means your feet will stink. This means everything you own will eventually smell like feet. EVERYTHING.

  31. Everything closes early in Murphy, North Carolina so don’t get too excited about the gelato place.
  32. An airport losing half of your squad’s luggage is a real risk, but it creates great opportunities for tent slumber parties!
  33. Buffs, long skirts and Tevas/Chacos are staples of the missionary wardrobe.
  34. Bonfire cookouts are great opportunities to confess your darkest secrets to 50 former strangers and be lifted up in prayer by your new family.

  35. Take it easy on the cumin. It will make your vegetables inedible.
  36. Don’t run away from police in the marketplace, but also don’t let go of your passport if you show it to them.
  37. The importance of ending well and preparing to be 100% absent at home to be 100% present on the race.
  38. Our route changed!! Four of our countries changed and more could change. We are now going to:

Zambia

Malawi

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

China

Mongolia

Thailand

Cambodia

Vietnam

Nepal

I think this alone is a huge testament to what God did in me during camp. If this had happened before, I would have been crushed. Uganda, Rwanda and India are the 3 countries that have been on my heart for YEARS and what God used to confirm that this is what He has for me. But training camp taught me to let go of my expectations and be open to change because that is what’s going to cause us to grow. God was just using those countries to reel me in, but now I am genuinely excited about our new countries. We are the first squad ever to go to Mongolia!

 

In conclusion, training camp was exhausting, wet, smelly and disgusting and I loved every minute of it. My squad now feels like my family and I miss them so much. I’m terrified of ending life here and the lack of time left is overwhelming and sad, but I’m also so excited for January. I can’t wait to see my family and start doing life with them!

Financial update: My next financial deadline is December 18th and my goal is to have a total of $7,500 in my account. (Only $3400 to go!) Please lift my squad and myself up in your prayers. We all have a lot to do in the next 2 months and I don’t want fundraising to get in the way of being able to end well at home. If you’d like to partner with me in this crazy adventure God has for me, you can click the “Support Me” button at the top or on the side and give a one time or monthly tax-deductible donation. You can also give cash or checks. Just talk to me! Your money goes a lot further than just my account. God is going to use it to transform lives all around the globe!

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