Training camp is this Thursday. WHAT?! Yes, you read that right. Training camp is finally almost here. It doesn’t seem possible after waiting for this for so long. But this is my reality. On Thursday, I will leave super early in the morning [maybe even at a time that would still be considered Wednesday night] to catch my flight from Detroit to Atlanta. Then I will have a little bit of time in the Atlanta airport before the new adventure begins for the next week and a half.
I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. It’s been a whirlwind the past few months. Work has been busy where I have worked nice full weeks [& full paychecks – thank you Jesus]. Bible study at church has started up again [love studying the Word deeper]. Friend time has happened frequently & spontaneously [such great encouragement & fun]. A weekend in California to be in my friend’s wedding [yay! they are married!]. Family visits [both coming & going]. And many other transitions and plans.
Before October began, it felt like it was already over because the calendar was filled to the end of the month. But I’m thankful. I’m thankful for after a season of months of waiting, life is in full bloom and full of encouragement, charging full speed ahead. The days are tiring, but excitement for what’s ahead keeps me going.
I don’t really even know what to anticipate for training camp. All I’ve really heard is lots of team building and the Lord working on our hearts. Two things I love, especially in working in camping ministry. It sounds incredible! I can’t wait to finally meet all of my teammates. I have talked with many of them on google hangout and texted through our group chats. But I’m excited to have real live conversations and put personalities with the people I’ve only scratched the surface of a relationship with. I cannot wait to find out who is going to be on my smaller team, whom I will be living in community with for the first months of the race. I can’t wait to find out where in Mozambique I will be in January. I cannot wait to find out what ministry we will be partnering alongside. I even cannot wait to sleep in a tent in a sleeping bag on a sleeping pad for the next one and half weeks. I just cannot wait.
All that to say though, I still have no idea what training camp is going to entail. I can imagine it to be overwhelming at times with all the newness and information overload. I can imagine being tired and exhausted by the end of the camp. I can imagine growing a strong bond and heart full of so much love for my teammates. I can imagine coming home all the more excited to leave in January. But just because I imagine it, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily going to happen in the whirlwind of time spent in Georgia.
The only thing I am certain of is the expectation of the Lord showing up. The expectation that He’s going to be working in my heart these next couple of weeks even more than He already is. The expectation that He is going to do far more than I can even anticipate and imagine right now. And that is what really makes me the most excited for training camp.
So as I live in another whirlwind these next couple of weeks at training camp, please be praying. Pray for God to be working in my life and in the lives of my teammates to become this cohesive squad that is preparing to build God’s Kingdom over the next year. Thank you for your steadfast support and encouragement throughout this journey!
