Word on the streets is that Training Camp can be the most difficult part of the World Race experience and my exhaustion would have to agree. Something I have learned about myself over the years is that being thrown into social situations where I need to make new friends is mentally and emotionally draining for me. The accepting and joyful environment of Training Camp was no exception either—not to mention the fact that I needed to do it fully on my own. But my mentality was unique in this situation. The World Race will be what I make it and this week was going to be the beginning of that. So I stretched myself; I “stepped into it” (as alumni would say) and although I did not find a new life-long-best-friend I did make connections and was willing to be vulnerable with them.
For those of you who are still curious as to what exactly Training Camp is and why it's such a big deal, let me bring you into the fullness of the week. If there were a formal rule to describe the week it would be: “Learn to be okay with the unknown.” The only information we ever got in terms of scheduling was what our next step was (everything else was unnecessary). We had two days chock-full of teachings, evening worship that allowed deep emotions to surface, packing and unpacking, setting up our tents—only to take them right back down, a little green ribbon, daily morning workouts, devotionals, cross-cultural meals accompanied by training about specific customs (i.e. eating right handed on India day because the left hand is used to whip your tushie), sleeping arrangements set up to recreate different (possible) scenarios of the race, route changes, India visas, afternoon lake parties, dislocated arms, girl bonding, guy bonding, team-building, team formations, feedback sessions, wisdom talks (with “gems” like, “pack less”), campfires, birthday parties, squad wars (E Squad got robbed), lack of coffee, an African market and hammocks. So many hammocks.
If I were to break down each event noted above I would have to talk for an entire afternoon (and that was merely a glimpse of what the 7 days looked like). Now, imagine please what my (above) paragraph might look like after the 11-month journey. Get the picture? A laundry list of events, people, places, experiences, tastes and moments that have tugged on my heartstrings. But this lacks stories and gives you nothing to make you feel as though you were there. And I want you to be there. I want to fit you into my backpack and take you along the journey as well. So rather then waiting to ask me how it was or what I did once I return—join me now and follow along. Hear my stories as I experience them.
Throughout the upcoming 11 months I commit to stay connected by blogging. I will describe where I am, what the customs are, what I'm doing there, how my ministry contacts got to each country and I'll do my best to relate stories of the people I meet, their lives and day-to-day circumstances. I'll share my personal journey with you—what I am learning, how I'm growing and how my view of this great big world is ever-changing. I'll share pictures and I'll share my heart.
I am just one body—representing the dozens of dozens of supporters who believe in what the World Race is. Join us, join me.
