So training camp summed up in one word, WOW! Like I don’t even know what to say. It was long, exhausting, refreshing, fun, empowering and so much more. It prepared me for the World Race and there is not a moment about the week that I would change. Were there times I questioned my decision to go on the race? Yes. Were there times I was afraid? Yes. Were there times I wanted to go home? Yes. Was I changed? Absolutely. Did I grow? Tremendously.
I tried not to have expectations going into the week but to say I had none would be a lie. The problem with expectations is it can put God in a box or leave you disappointed if Gods plans are not in line with your plans. However, the other amazing thing about expectations is God has a way of taking our expectations and blowing them out of the water, going above and beyond what we ever thought possible. I have seen this many times in my life and training camp was another example of this. I expected God to show up and to change me and my team but he didn’t just show up he invaded our space and overwhelmed us. He brought our team closer than I could have imagined possible in a week. He broke people and healed people. I think I can speak for my whole team when I say we left the week exhausted but also renewed and with more passion and fire for the race than we came into the week with. I challenge you to find a racer or alumni who haven’t been changed by training camp because I bet you can’t.
The first couple days of training camp I was overwhelmed with meeting my team. I was trying to find where I fit on my team and just overwhelmed with the idea of leaving my friends and family and life in Canada for 11 months. But God got me through that. He provided me with an instant best friend (shout out to the lovely Breanna from Chicago) who I am so excited to journey with and grow not just as a member of my squad but as a part of my ministry team as well. He showed me my place on my squad and provided me with an amazing team I can’t wait to do life with. He affirmed my decision to go on the race and switch to K squad and just all around BLEW MY MIND.
God also changed my perspective. Going into training camp I was overwhelmed by how hard the race will be. A lot of that came from being overwhelmed by the simple living conditions, living out of a backpack and having a drastically different diet. Yes, I still believe the race will be hard, probably the hardest thing I have ever done but I am not as scared by these physical factors. The Monday of training camp I experienced my first bucket shower- which is pretty much how it sounds. We had a wooden shed type thing with like 8 curtain stalls and you fill a bucket with (cold) water and use a measuring cup to shower. Now let me tell you, I felt so gross and sweaty and smelly before that shower but absolutely AMAZING afterwards. As I was walking back to our camp site I verbally stated, “that was the best shower of my life.” It took me a moment to realize what I had just stated and was amazed by my perspective shift. That’s right I said, and meant, that the best shower of my life was a bucket shower.
My norms will be different while I am away. I won’t have many of the comforts of home but that doesn’t mean I won’t be comfortable. Yes, there will be times when I am very uncomfortable but there is a certain peace and security that comes from knowing you are living out Gods will for your life. That makes all the challenges that I will face on the race bearable. Through all the experiences and exercises at training camp I never felt deprived- In fact just the opposite I felt provided for and loved and that is one expectation I am going to bring with me onto the race.
