We Found Our Community At Training Camp.

We are truly struggling to write this blog because there really aren’t words to describe Training Camp. And even if we tried to put into words what those 10 days looked like, we would fail to accurately portray what really happened. 

 

Going into Training Camp, I (Ashley) was nervous and excited all at the same time. I was nervous for what was to come but excited to see the outcome. You hear stories, read blogs, and stalk Alumni Racers to learn all that you can before you go. But I think Adventures in Missions does a great job at changing the format each Training Camp, to throw us off (in a good way!). So all that stalking did me no good. In fact, I think it was hurtful to my expectations and completely shook my reality. I wish I wouldn’t have done so much research going into Training Camp. (That’s a tip for future racers!)

 

During those 10 days we: sweat like it was a normal thing, embraced bucket showers, ate the weirdest food in the smallest portions, and got little sleep because the sleeping scenarios were so bizarre. But more importantly, we grew closer to God and closer to our Squad. You see, God taught me a few things while at Training Camp. But the biggest lesson I learned was to trust the community that He was putting around me; my squadmates.

 

Anyone who knows our story, or has read our previous blog “When Hurt Becomes Thankfulness” knows that we have been wounded by the Christian community in our lives. And going into Training Camp we honestly didn’t trust anyone.  We didn’t want to trust anyone. We had no desire to let them all the way into our hearts. But, within the first few days, God began to reveal to us that He placed this group of people in our lives for a reason.  We watched as God began to soften our hearts and reshape our perspective of what the Christian community was intended to look like. It didn’t matter what we had done, our squadmates surrounded us and lifted us up no matter what. And THAT is how God intended for the Christian community to be.

 

Look at the way Jesus was with His disciples. He basically lived with them for a period of time and deeply invested into their lives. He recognized their gifts, built them up, and sent them out. But He also had the tough conversations with them, where growth was needed and He walked through trials with them. He never left them and they never felt unloved by Him. In fact, even when Peter denied Him and Judas betrayed Him, He stayed with them and He still loved them. 

 

Our hope for Training Camp was to go in and deal with some of the “stuff” we had been carrying in our hearts. And while we did that, we also opened our hearts to the love of 50 other people. We let 50 people see the deepest, darkest parts of us. And we never felt ashamed. We never felt like we weren’t accepted. Instead, we were embraced with grace and surrounded by prayer and encouragement. I am forever thankful for the moments we shared with our World Race community at Training Camp.

 

There were so many other things we learned at Training Camp and we didn’t want to leave those parts out. So here are a few things we wanted to share with you from our experience:

• Sweat is normal. And I need to embrace it.
  • Anyone who knows me, Ashley, knows that I cannot stand sweat. Why did God call me to something where sweat would become normal? I am still trying to figure that one out! But during those 10 days at Training Camp, I learned that sweating on the Race will be normal. And I just need to get over it!
• The food on the race will be weird.
  • Gosh, the food. Like I said earlier, reading blogs and watching videos about Training Camp didn’t prepare me for some things. And the food was definitely one of those things. Everyday food was based on a different continent. We had Indian, European, African, and more. I learned how to share food with others, eat smaller portions and be satisfied, and eat with hands that hadn’t been properly washed for days (Does hand sanitizer count?). It was certainly an experience. 

       

• Bucket showers aren’t as bad as they sound.
  • You just get used to it. In fact, when I came home to Ohio, I did not want to take a regular shower. I wanted to fill up a bucket and go outside with my shampoo and conditioner. But I knew my neighbors would think I was weird. Trust me, you just learn the art of bucket showers.

• A tent can become a home.
  • I never thought this would become reality for me. I love the comfort of my comfy bed and fluffy blankets. But over the course of 10 days, our tent become the one place we could “close the door” to getaway and talk at the end of the day. It became our quiet place, our home. (Even if we had to whisper because the next tent was only 2 feet away!) 

• Sleeping on the Race won’t always be normal. 
  • Almost every night we were thrown into an insane sleeping situation. We slept in a simulated airport that was loud, crowded, and bright (they left the lights on all night). We were dropped off in the woods with two tarps, some fire wood, food, and we were told to setup camp. And we lost half the squad’s luggage. It was a good time! (Yes, on the Race we will have normal sleeping scenarios most of the time that will allow us to have our own space as a married couple!)

             

• Hiking/working out is not my thing. But I have to take care of my temple.
  • We worked out almost every morning and had some type of physical activity throughout the day. And yes, I, Ashley Spriggs, worked out. (Y’all know I hate it!) But through working out, I learned that I need to take care of my temple. They say that while on the Race, all you eat is carbs. And many gain weight because of this change in diet. Well, looks like I will be working out on the race since I don’t want to gain the World Race 15!
    
• Our marriage will survive the race.
  • “The race isn’t built for married couples. The race is built for single people.” This is something we heard over and over again at Training Camp. And it was a HUGE reality check for us. But with God’s grace on our marriage and the people on our squad, we WILL survive the race and we WILL become stronger through it.
• The American Dream isn’t big enough for us anymore. We have Kingdom dreams now.
  • I don’t want to sound like I am belittling the American Dream but I have to be honest … it just isn’t for us. We have said it before, we just don’t want to settle here. This doesn’t feel like home. And while at Training Camp, God truly solidified that in our hearts. We aren’t comfortable with the idea of the American Dream. God has given us Kingdom Dreams that go beyond America. And we cannot wait to see them unfold! 

 

There isn’t much more to say. But I hope you caught a glimpse of Training Camp through our words on this page. You really cannot prepare for everything the Race will throw at you, but with God leading us, what do we have to fear? Nothing.

 

We will leave you with this song. It was the anthem at Training Camp! God is a GOOD Father. It is who He is. And YOU are loved by HIM. It is who you are. Embrace that!