Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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  The immediate word that comes to mind in describing training camp is intense.  You read past participants’ blogs, you hear from people who have attended training, so you think you know what they mean when they say it’s intense.  But the experience is still such a personal one, there’s no good way to describe it or to know exactly what to expect.  Each day has been jam packed – physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally.  It’s only Wednesday but it feels like it’s been much longer.  Training’s been tough, tiring, draining, as well as uplifting, powerful, and amazing.  It’s beyond any kind of retreat or conference I’ve attended in the past.

As an introvert, initially it was difficult to throw myself into quite a large group and try to meet everyone.  I wondered where I’d fit in, who was part of what group, how I was coming across, etc.  It kinda felt like being back in school on the first day of class, with doubts and insecurities, as well as hope that you’d find at least one person to relate to.  As we got more into the messages and team building activities, barriers started to come down.  While I may not show it often or enthusiastically, I’m encouraged and energized by the H Squad, the AIM staff, our coaches, the speakers, and the activities we’ve done and continue to do to prepare for what we’ll experience next year.

My background in a conservative church has given me a different experience at camp, where the style is more charismatic.  Although it’s sometimes hard not to be reserved when we do corporate prayer, prophesy out loud, lift our hands, it’s also been good to be exposed to different worship.  Every message has proven valuable.  The message that really hit me was the first session on modernity and how we’ve limited our view of God and made our faith scientific and logical.  Now I’ve opened my mind and my heart to God performing miracles today as He did in the Bible.  I know I’ll see some powerful healing on the race as well as have a hand in that healing.  Who am I to limit what He can do? 
 
Themes at training camp so far have been grieving, expectations, surrendering, and brokenness.  Most of the intensity has come from the staff trying to get our hearts to be in places where we’ll be prepared to minister next yea – being broken first before serving the broken.  In being broken, I’ve realized how much I crave control and am constantly overanalyzing every emotion, behavior, thought, word, etc.  The first few nights were discouraging because I didn’t find myself having the same emotional reactions, revelations, etc. that some other teammates were having.  I was asking God to show me His will, to let me be vulnerable and to surrender, but I wasn’t having the same intensity level.  Even though we were told not to compare, I was still worried that I hadn’t “made the cut.”  I even tried hard to shed a tear so that those observing would notice.  I had completely lost the point, which is that this trip is God’s trip.  It’s not AIM’s decision if I go, and it’s also not in my control.  I was too busy filtering and processing rather than resting, waiting and listening.  It took a few days for me to slow down and enjoy the journey.  I realized that I just need to rest in God and allow Him to work in me. 

AIM has gone above and beyond to make this a safe place, spiritually sound.. the staff is always on hand and God is doing great things through them.  Everything we’ve done, eaten, heard has been well thought out.  This morning I took my first shower since I’ve gotten here (I know, yuck right?  poor teammates) and survived the cold water.  There’ll be way more wake up calls next year.  Miss everyone at home, but training’s really gotten me pumped to serve w/ this amazing and diverse group  Now, to get through the difficult task of creating teams.. Please keep AIM and all of us in your prayers as they decide our family for the next year!