How our Savior is Sovereign through the Sweat and the Struggle (A Training Camp Story)

Training Camp.  

Where to begin?  

It’s crazy how it’s already been a week since training camp ended. It’s been over two weeks since it started! Looking back at it now it feels like time flew, the months leading up to training camp and training camp itself.  

But for the most part while I was there, the days felt like they had 36 hours instead of 24. One day felt like two. Two days felt like 4 days a week felt like, well, refer to the above clip.

Though at times it seemed like Training Camp would possibly never end, I had an incredible experience, and I am so thankful for all that they taught me while I was I was there. 

For example, I learned that sweating profusely at all hours of the day is ok. It’ll probably happen 10 out of our 11 months anyway.  

I learned to embrace the dirt and the smell. There are only so many showers for 300+ people, and sometimes baby wipes are your best bet until you find an opportunity to go.  

And by find an opportunity, I mean, running to the showers with 6 squadmates, banana sandwich in one hand and your daypack in another so you can shower while everyone else eats breakfast.  

Also real showers are things of the past, and bucket showers are just as glorious. We had this luxury in India, so I was happy to go back to my water dumping roots.  

I learned that wearing the same clothes is ok. This isn’t a fashion show. Do your clothes smell from previous dirt and sweat? Well yes, but so does everyone else.  

I learned body spray is also important. We might be accepting our new fragrance, but that doesn’t mean everyone else is.  

I learned how to set up my tent and my belongings. And then pack it all up. And set it up again. And pack it up.  

I learned that tent stakes don’t always hold up during heavy wind and rain. So you might think your tent is safe during random power shower, until a squad mate informs you that in fact has been blowing all over the place. 

Kidding aside, our World Race training team, really did teach and train us well. To not give it all away to future racers who may be reading I won’t go into specifics, but feel free to ask me anytime!  

Training camp was like a boot camp. They took real scenarios that have happened to previous racers, and made them at least twice as hard to make sure we could handle them. They wanted to prepare us for everything, which I am glad for, but I know I can speak for all of us when I say I was pushed hard.  

Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Training in the morning, sessions throughout the day, team building.  

Thankfully there were moments of downtime, pretty good food, and worshiping the Father with so many people was beautiful.

But it was definitely tough. There were days when the desire to be clean, cool, and rested was strong and it made me want to leave.  

Over 3 years ago when I was at my first training camp, I had a hard time. It was nowhere near like this, but it was the first time I had ever been away from my family, and the realization of what I was doing and for how long got to me.  

I cried the majority of camp, to the point that my team leaders were sure I was going to go home and not leave with them that week.  

Thankfully we laugh about it now, and obviously I left with my team. With a whole lot of leaning on Jesus and my family I made it through. And the rest is history.  

Fast forward to now though, and Satan was feeding me lies left and right.  

“You’re not ready for this. You were a mess last time, why would it be different now? You do know how long you are going to be gone right? That’s too long. You don’t need to do this. This is a mistake. You can still leave camp you know.” 

I knew coming into Training Camp that he would use that against me, and I felt it. I was prepared, but it was hard and I still had my moments of struggle. 

During our moments of down time I was in Acts, reading about the disciples and how they were spreading the gospel to so many different countries. It was spreading so far and so fast that people who wanted nothing to do with it where getting mad, to the point that they were finding these disciples, beating them, and threatening them to not speak in the name of Jesus again.  

In Acts 5:41-42 it says that once the disciples were released they rejoiced “that God had counted them worthy to suffer in disgrace for the name of Jesus.” They also continued to teach and preach. 

Can you imagine that? They rejoiced in their suffering. Rejoiced that they were being tormented. That’s not exactly normal.  

But then again we aren’t exactly called to live normal lives.  

The disciples rejoiced, because they knew through it all that they were bringing about change in the name of Jesus.  

Looking at the disciples, my struggles don’t seem so big.  

I can rejoice in them too.  

I can rejoice because I know that Satan is scared. He knows that in 6 weeks my squad and I are going out into the world to share the incredible story of what Jesus did for all of us so many years ago.  

He doesn’t want change. So he feeds me these lies. He feeds my squad lies.  

He tries his best to make these struggles seem too big and heavy. 

But we serve a powerful God. A God who meets us where we are and walks with us through our struggles.  

And I am so very thankful for Him.

He was right there with me through the process. He calmed my mind and strengthened the desire in my heart to leave and love those who don’t know about Him. 

I’m also thankful that I have 49 brothers and sisters with me through this journey. We made it through training camp!  

We leaned on each other for support and encouragement, and we praised God as we walked through our struggles together.  

I feel prepared on all levels and more ready than ever to start this adventure with such strong men and women of God.  

Get ready to be witnesses to incredible stories and life changes! I can’t wait to see how God is going to use me and this squad to lead people to Christ. All to the glory of God and His kingdom.