Recently some of my squad and I signed up for a hike and it really showed me how I really feel about community and the race, it truly put everything in to perspective.
Here is some of the things the hike showed me:
-Signing up to climb Volcano Concepción (the second largest volcano in Central America)and being warned before hand that you may not ever make it to the top.. So we vowed to encourage and push one another until we made it!
-Thinking you started the hike and you just finished the 45 minute walk before the hike starts they forgot to tell you about. Together we found joy and laughed it off!
-Encouraging each other as we struggle through the hike
-Deciding to give up because you can’t give anymore but your squad mates response is, “Cassie you did not come this far to give up now! Check this thing off your bucket list!!”
-hearing your squad mates screaming and jumping as you round the top of the volcano and embracing you with the biggest, sweatiest hug as they yell, “I knew you could do it!!”
-as you slide alittle to far down the volcano and scrape the crap out of your knee they are there to help you up!
-they laugh with you when you rip the seat of your pants on the rocks
-they share their peanut butter when you forget yours
-they laugh with you instead of crying as your tent floods with water from a massive storm and everything including yourself is soaking wet!
-They help you physically hold your tent up because the massive storm is destroying it.
-they pray with you for wisdom and guidance in times of panic when you need clarification from the Lord on what to do next
-they help you down the volcano in
the dark as you run for shelter
-when you make it to this little shelter that is still leaking they again laugh with you because we know that’s a better solution then crying!
-they offer to share their dry clothes because you are completely drenched
-they let you cuddle with them at 2 in the morning because you are scared, your clothes are wet and you are freezing
-you feel sick to your stomach and they offer up their protein snacks to help you out
-they pray with you for strength when you have no energy to carry on down the rest of the Volcano
-they rejoice with you the next day when you finally make it off the volcano ALIVE, WET AND EXHAUSTED!
The Race has its hard times and it’s good times but one thing the Race has shown me is a healthy community is vital in life!! At the beginning of the race I didn’t know how I was going to survive doing life with this many people, but I now count myself lucky!! It has shown me how much these people have my back, how much they will fight for me, the importance of feedback, and the importance of prayer! When done right community can be a true gift! God has blessed me with an amazing squad that I will forever cherish!!
I was able to check off my bucket list, climbing a volcano to the top and sleeping on a volcano. I however do not want to sleep on a volcano again. But I was glad to be able to make that memory with my squad!
