Dear Future World Racer,
Hi! This is Stephanie from the X-Squad writing to you. It’s the 7thnight of Training Camp right now and I’m taking a rare break away from everyone at the squad. We do get a lot of quiet time here at TC, but sitting here at the table with my laptop has been the first time my time here has reminded me of what I usually do at home.
The past 7 days have just been amazing. In fact…AMAZING is not a strong enough word! I didn’t have many expectations coming in to Training Camp. I was excited by reading glimpses of TC from previous Racer’s blogs, but I had no idea what it would be like. Mostly I was nervous about meeting my new Squad. I had read their bios on the WR blogs, and we had communicated on Facebook, but really, everyone came from such diverse backgrounds and ages and walks of faith and of life, I just didn’t know how it was going to work out! For a month before TC, every single day I would feel a weight of fear coiled in my stomach, and I would have to pray or just trust the Lord that it would all work out.
I won’t give away anything that happened at TC, since part of what’s so good about it is that you have no idea what to expect, but I do want you to know that:
1. Embrace the unexpected
Be ready to come to TC and be completely flexible. Some of the things you may be asked to do may really test you or require some sacrifice of your comforts. Keep a positive and thankful attitude and embrace the experience, and you will enjoy and learn so much from your time at TC.
2. Be unified
Be a team! I am so blessed to have a team who really took the initiative to bring us together, to openly share love with one another, and who have a complete team-mentality towards every task. It wasn’t the individual strength of anyone, but the unity of our group that allowed each task to be done so well.
3. Be ready to be transformed
Some of the stuff that happens at TC is pretty heavy. You will have to examine and deal with some of the hurts and relationships in your life. But I’m sure you knew this when you signed up for the World Race, so just be open but don’t worry too much about it!
4. You are CALLED
You are CALLED. A dream or hunger was planted in your heart, to know the Lord better, to give your life to Him, to serve Him in different nations, to learn to live in authentic community. You’ve examined your motives, prayed, talked with spiritual mentors, applied, been interviewed and accepted. Remember that the Lord will provide for you! Trust in Him and don’t give up. He will equip you and give you the strength to do everything you need, and He will walk with you every step of the way.
Lastly, I want to share just how awesome the staff are. It’s definitely not an easy thing to organize 11-month, 11-country missions trips for about 150 Racers, but they are SO organized and SO available to you. They are praying for YOU, and they put a lot of time and effort into planning the TC and into providing every resource possible to help you and equip you for your Race.
So, Future Racer, I am SO excited for you, because TC has already been such a transformative and rewarding and fun experience for me. My fear of inadequacy and whether I was called has really disappeared over the last few days, and I am looking forward so much to the start of my Race with my new squad and teammates.
Step out without fear, you are going to have a blast at Training Camp!
