Training camp is literally indescribable. In my last blog, I stated that I would drop my expectations at the airport. Well let me tell you I kinda did. So I had a few expectations because Training Camp did not meet the expectations I had. But I had this weird feeling from the moment I got there. After registration and boring stuff I threw on my 35-pound pack and my stuffed daypack to walk to our campsite for the next week. I suddenly felt this overwhelming peace. I knew at that moment I was right where I was suppose to be. I don’t know that I have ever felt that way but all of training camp I felt the same way.
So day 1 continues with worship. Now I love worship, I love to sing and talk to the Lord through worship but this was not like any worship I have ever done. A Christian rock band named “Collective Outpour” jams out hard while we sing and dance the night away. It was like a college party for Jesus!
Every night there is a different scenario during a travel day/night. So night 2, my teammates pack was lost in Africa. Ok weird…. I know that our route is subject to change but like Africa is like kinda far away but whatever. So here is Ashley and I in my little tent. Cozy to say the least. (BTW pictures somehow looked better in black and white. It doesn’t show the dirt and grime like color)
The other night I will talk about (I can’t spoil them all) is airport night. So we are all packed into this room that is freezing with crazy amounts of noise. I can hear the people yelling about what gate is flight 23 out of and the jets flying overhead. Now most struggled with this night and didn’t sleep at all. Me? I slept the best during this night. Shout out to Papa for teaching me to love white noise. It was so soothing. Too bad my route will rarely be filled with airports.
Everyday looked a little different but the first half of the week, I focused on my relationship with the Lord. The Lord and I are BBF now. I can talk to him and he talks back to me. We have conversations all the time. I will never again question if the Lord exists and training camp is to thank for that. We also learned about what grieving and brokenness look like. Ok so I know your shocked but I am super broken. No seriously I was. But training camp allowed me to greive my brokenness and instead of me being broken I broke chains and became FREED. How badass is that?!?!?
During the first half of the week we had very little squad time so I was stoked to find that the 2nd half of the week would be left for our Squad to build relationships. Now my squad is tiny but mighty. Capping at 28 squad mates and when you add squad leaders we are at 32. For me, I surely was not upset about this. I mean I thanked the Lord I only had to learn 31 names vs. other squads who were left to learn 60. And because I got to know everyone’s name so fast I created some of the deepest relationships I could have asked for. Tiny but mighty with abundant perks.
The 2nd half of the week was a blast plus I got my team. I present you team Relentless. Our name comes from this idea of Relentless Love. All of us are girls who love and love deeply. We love relationships and beauty in others. These girls will be who I will do ministry with for the first couple of months. SOOOOO STOKED!!!
From front to back Carlie, Sara, Meg, Claire, Misha, ME, and Ashley
So yeah that’s like a little of training camp. Now I am home. I miss being dirty and it being normal. I miss being nourished but never full. I miss never having alone time but in the spot-a-pot. I miss having some of the deepest conversations of my life with strangers who are now family. I crave community now that I have experienced it. I want to dance the night away with my squad. I want to cry in the arms of squad mates. I want to worship and lie on the ground to pray to the Lord with my team beside me. I miss/crave/want to be with these people again but instead I am here in Baltimore. But instead of wishing these next 2 months away I choose to be present. I am here. I am working. I am loving and worshiping every last minute with my family. I will not wish these last months away.
Wow long blog post right?? Stay with me for just a paragraph or two more. I am asking for a lot in this blog. First prayers. Prayers for my teammates, squad mates, squad leaders, for the people I will minister and for me. I am going to be selfish but right now I need prayers for fundraising. My next request is for donations. There is no better time than now for you to donate to me. Its not only tax deductible but it will allow me to continue this journey with the Lord. I need to further his Kingdom and serve. Please help me. I need to raise $6,500 before December 10th. That means I still need $1,700 just to reach that goal but I would like to be way more funded than that to launch. Next I am having a yard sale so if you live in the Baltimore area and have some yard sale stuff you would want to donate all the money from it will go towards my trip.
Thanks guys! I hope you enjoyed reading this. I love you and all pray that all is going well during this beautiful fall.
MOLS
