U-Squad Photo Credit: Lexi Johnson
Where do I begin? It is so hard to explain how my life radically changed in the last 10 days at training camp. From having the “first days of school” nerves, freezing cold bucket showers, smelly port-a-potties that you could smell 5 feet away, bug bites for days, camping out in the thunderstorms, making a shelter with just a few items, creating a hammock city, having gut belly laughs, huge dance parties, the best worship you could ever imagine, just feeling the presence of God that I’ve never really felt before, and so much more. Here are some things that I’ve learned from training camp:
1. Jesus can do miraculous healing.
Yes, I know what you think. Duh, Janelle God can do miraculous healing. Either that or you are probably thinking well I never really seen anything like that so it can’t be true. Well let me just share you a little praise. I have really bad knees. Always have, ever since I was little. I have to wear knee braces while hiking, especially backpacking. Having an extra 40 lbs. on my back made this very difficult. I was so worried that my knees would dislocate and that I would probably get sent home. The first two days of training camp they did just that. My knees kept dislocating. I kept falling, even with my braces on. I started getting really worried and upset, until one night one of my squad mates prayed over me. She prayed for my knees, and the Holy Spirit was there, my legs went hot, super-hot, and for the rest of 8 days we had left my knees didn’t dislocate once!
2. Vulnerability = Courage and strength
I’ve come to realize that being vulnerable isn’t a weakness. That we all have feelings and it is okay to share them and to let people into your life. Being vulnerable is showing that you are not ashamed of who you are and what your testimony is. I learned a lot about shame. That shame is sign of fear. Fear is what covers up our shame. You can’t have courage without fear, so the more you choose to be who you are and have that courage the stronger the courage gets and the smaller the shame is. “By the power of your word, mountains become ant hills.” God made us who we are. We shouldn’t be ashamed of our test and trails to make us who we are today. He knows our past, and what lies ahead for us tomorrow. Be bold.
3. YOU ARE ENOUGH
That is all need to say. The beginning of the week I kept thinking I wasn’t worthy enough, or good enough. But the Lord just kept revealingly saying “YOU ARE ENOUGH, you are my daughter.”
4. God is with you always
It is so awesome to know that God is ALWAYS there. No matter what the situation is. Every moment of my life, whether it was before I was saved or just right now Jesus was by side the entire time. He was there all week with us at camp. Every time we had to face a challenge He was there. Every time we laughed our butts off He was there. Even when we had NO CLUE what to do with our selves He was there. He was there during my 2 mile hike till the very end. I’ve learned to just seek Him through any situation.
5. Community is everything
There are people who always care about you. Learn to appreciate the people you have. Living with 53 Jesus loving people in tents and hammocks for 10 days really made me appreciate them. We all come from different backgrounds and all have a different story. Choose to love the person no matter what. Pursue the spirit-lead relationships. If you show that you can love your squad and team people will see that light of Jesus just by looking at us. So many people around the world are waiting for that community.
6. Risk more than your comfort zone
It is okay to venture out of your comfort zone. Listen to the Holy Spirit and be lead. I’m the type of person that stays in my comforts zone always. I’ve learned to venture out, to say yes when the Holy Spirit calls out. There have been times where I have a felt lead to put my hand on someone to pray, to go up to someone and tell them that Jesus loves them but was afraid of taking the chances. Life is more fun when you take that risk and follow the Holy Spirit. I wouldn’t be here doing the World Race if I didn’t say yes to come. I could have stayed home in my comfy bed and stay comfortable with my community and friends back at home, but I said YES. I’m so excited to see where the Lord leads me this next year. For Him to stretch me thin, and be willing to say yes.
These are just a few things I’ve learned. It is so hard to express in words everything that experienced. Be willing to say yes. So without further or do, I will be going to Jeffery’s Bay, South Africa. My team and I will be working with another team and we don’t know what our ministry is exactly yet. I’m so beyond excited and I’m saying YES to whatever God has planned out for me.
Team Wimbi
Come on this journey with me. Say yes! Say yes to prayer for my team, or maybe the Holy Spirit is calling you to donate. I am still about $550 short from my next deadline and to be able to launch will my squad. There are many ways how you can get connected. I’m having a yard sale this Saturday, I still have my adopt a box fundraiser, and I’m raffling a coach purse. Also you can click on the support me tab on the link above. Do you want to say yes? I couldn’t do it without any of you. This isn’t just my journey it’s ours.
