To the racers just getting home from training camp...
Wow, what a week you just experienced, but you made it through, congratulations. You’re probably so hungry, sore, tired, confused, excited and scared after the week you just experienced. Know that it’s ok to be all of those things. Go eat some good food, take a good nap, and know that all that you experienced was worth it. You’re probably still wondering why you had to eat fish head soup, and month 5 into my race I’m still wondering the same thing. You’re probably still trying to figure out what the words “feedback,” “processing,” “abandonment,” “grieving your losses,” and so many more mean to you and your life, but here me when I say they are important. They are even life changing if you let them be that for you. Coming home from training camp can feel like your just in the limbo phase of life. Here’s a list of things that can help you during this time that I learned or wish I knew with the time I had after training camp and before I left for launch.
I know that it may seem impossible to get everything you need into your pack, but trust me, you don’t need as much as you think. I know everyone says it, but when it comes time to carry your pack, and daypack, and purse for the girls, you quickly regret bringing all the clothes and random things you thought you would need. You truly can find everything overseas, even in Africa. For those of you who are already trial packing and stressing out about fitting everything, it’s going to be ok. All in all it actually doesn’t matter what you bring. There are so many packing blogs out there telling you this brand or this size, but pack what makes you happy.
somehow, it always fits
Value the time you have now with your family and friends. Don’t rush away the time you have with them because you’re so excited to launch. When your on the race, you realize just how much you miss them and you’ll wish you spent a little extra time just being present with them. The race is exciting and the months leading up to them are filled with things to do, make sure one of those things is spending time with those you love.
I wish I could tell you that those things you walked through, found freedom from at training camp won’t pop up again, but they will. What’s important now is that you remember you are free and choose to walk in that everyday. Don’t let the devil get you down with his lies. They are just that, lies, and it’s your job to battle them with truth. If needed, call you new family up and let them speak truth over you. You’ll be surprised by how much your squad is for you now because of the time you guys had together.
my P squad family
Trust that God will provide what you need, and humble yourself and ask for help from people when needed. I struggled to ask for help from people with things I needed before the race, but was always so blessed when I sucked up my pride and admitted I needed their help. God blessed me in so many ways, especially with my gear and stuff when I finally started asking people. You might be able to afford everything on your own, but before you buy them, see if God has a blessing in store for you.
Love your squad. They are your new family. Cover your team, squad leaders, and squad in prayer. Fight for them when it’s needed. Take the time you have now to further those relationships you made the past week. You can become so much closer to your squad if you put in the effort with the time you have now. Some of my closest friends on the race now are people that were intentional about forming a relationship with the time we had from training camp to launch. Do things like google+ chat (you can video call up to 10 people at a time), text them when you need prayer, and use your Facebook group page. Include your squad leaders in this. Sometimes it may seem like they are on a whole different level than you guys are, and in a sense they are, but they love you guys more than you know. Be intentional about your relationship with them. One of my best friends on the race is one of my squad leaders and it’s because I treated her like she was a friend and not just my squad leader. All of these things can be monumental in your relationships if you take the time and invest.
nightly google+ hangouts
It’s ok to not know what your getting yourself into. The race is designed like that. I still don’t know what I’m getting myself into and I’m about to hit the halfway mark of my race. Everyday there’s a new challenge to face whether it be with your team, personally, or with God, but it’s always good. In the moment it may not be good, or going how you want it, but there’s always growth from everything you go through.
Go to things like the REI used gear sale, used gear stores, Amazon, or all those discounted gear sites. Let’s face it, gear is expensive, but there are so many sites and stores out there that have really great discounts on things like that. I borrowed my pack for training camp and then was able to get one at a used gear store for $80. I went to a REI used gear sale and got an airporter, waterproof daypack, headlamp, Thermarest pillow, and an Eno hammock for $150 when the daypack alone would of been $100. If you live in the same state/city as some of your squad mates, use the used gear sale as a time to hang out and bond. Gear is important, but when it breaks on the race it’s not the end of the world. You really do get a whole new mindset and realize that it’s all just stuff and it’s not what’s important about your race.
praise the Lamb for used gear sales
Know that God has got you, He sees you, and He hasn’t forgotten about you. He called you to this thing, so trust that He’s not going to just leave you now. I struggled so much with not trusting that God was going to allow me to make it to launch because of finances. I thought He was just going to take it all away from me right before launch and rub it in my face. Once I remembered that I don’t serve that kind of God, I began to trust Him. It didn’t come immediately, and honestly I was still walking through trusting God with my finances month 3, but He’s been faithful and will continue to do so. He knows your hearts desires so trust that His plan is good for you. Also know that your fundraising journey is your own, don’t compare it with your squad mates. Rejoice when they get fully funded and fight for those who are struggling, even when you’re one of them. I can tell you from experience that it’s hard to rejoice with your squad mates when the possibility of going home is on your mind, but God honors those moments of humility.
This journey your about to go on is crazy, wild, intense, scary, and life changing, but you are made for it. You are equipped. You are called. God will provide. You are worth it. You are made new. You are a force to be reckoned with. You are a world changer, now go get em’
