One of the things that I realized at training camp is that a ton of people who sign up for the World Race know long in advance- upwards of a year. Sometimes the Lord works like that in my life, where I can feel Him leading me towards something, and He makes it clear to me as I move towards those things. The World Race was not one of those things for me.
A week past the first financial deadline, two weeks before training camp, and completely inconvenient timing- the Lord stirred up this crazy idea in my heart. He then made it so clear that this is what He has next for me.
To read more about the way He moved in me read my blog post- The Moment I Knew.
I knew God was going to provide for me financially in this situation since He called me into it (although I had my doubts), and I expected family to be my biggest financial supporters, with occasional gifts from people who are blessed with financial success.
Instead, God used friends who do not have a ton of money, strangers, people I have never met, and people that I have not talked to in years.
Somehow, someway- in only two weeks of fundraising- the Lord has brought in $4,746. That BLOWS MY MIND.
Family donations only accounts for 6% of my total raised funds.
70% of those funds came in the last 18 hours.
AND I met my first financial deadline in the Atlanta Airport (only two hours before it was due).
He is definitely reminding me that His plan is much better than mine, and that I need to trust Him.
I soon figured out that I was not the only one at training camp wondering what we were going to do for ten days. Only a few rumors from past racers shaped our idea of what training camp would be like.
Training camp was jam-packed full of events. Our days were full of getting to know the team, getting to know the trainers and mentors, team building, seminars, worshipping, meals, simulations, and the occasional free time that was usually used for showering. Our nights usually consisted of different field scenarios such as: sleeping in the airport, sleeping in a small community room, night watch/ prayer walks, backpacking, or just sleeping in tents.
We ate food from around the world like crickets in our eggs, cow’s stomach, chicken gizzards, chicken feet, goat, and countless others. I highly preferred the South America themed days of breakfast burritos and beans and rice.
We were all nervous for team building activities. I knew who I wanted to be on a team with- which was amazing that I felt so connected to these people after a few short days. After a few team building activities, I quickly realized that I would not likely be on the team with the people that I wanted to, and I grew anxious in that. After some time wrestling with God about the anxiety that I had for team formation, I finally surrendered it to Him to trust He would take care of it.
In the last team building formation, we were told that the people sitting with us would likely be our team. We went into one more team building challenge, and it went very well. It only took us about 4 or 5 minutes where other activities had taken previous groups up to a half hour. The floor opened for discussion for us to speak our minds about what we thought about the possibility of this being our new team.
Looking around I saw 6 people that I had not really made a deep connection with, and I did not know how to evaluate that. I knew I liked everyone and I had a lot of fun with them- but, I was being asked more than that. I was being asked if I felt comfortable giving my all to these people in the time to come- the good, the bad, the ugly.
In that moment, God opened my eyes to the potential that we have as a team, and rather than thinking about people I had made stronger connections with, I saw the world changed, and our team coming together as the body of Christ.
God can do big things when we surrender even the smallest parts of our lives to Him.
After our teams were announced, we were able to spend time with one another and it was amazing to see how unique and different each of us are, and what we can bring by living in community with one another in the next months.
To see my team, click on the link to the left! Read some of their stories and see how God has been working in their lives.
I have been so blessed to see the Lord work and change my life in the ten days of training camp through my squad, the mentors, trainers, and by taking more time to hear God speak.
I am excited for the work that he has been doing and will do, and I hope that you can be a part of that! Please subscribe to my blog so that you can hear more about how God is working in my life, and consider being a part of it by financial support and prayer. 100% of the donations made through the link on my blog go towards my trip!
God bless! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
