V SquadTraining camp- the best, hardest, sweatiest, amazing, challenging, life changing, and stretching 10 days. 10 days (plus one day of storytellers) changed my life.
I was not prepared for training camp. Going into training camp, I did not know what to expect. I tried to not have any expectations, which was hard when the night before you read every training camp blog and watch every vlog there is about camp, just to prepare yourself. But I was so not prepared. I was not prepared spiritually, physically, emotionally, or mentally for the challenge that these 10 days brought. Before camp, my prayer was for God to push me out of my comfort zone and to be okay with being uncomfortable. I thought that it would be easy, and God would just put me a little out of my comfort zone. But man, was I wrong. During camp, I got to do things I would never normally do. I got to sleep outside in a tent almost every night, participate in different sleeping scenarios (ask me about it sometime, I don’t want to ruin it for any future racer), try new ethic foods from all around the world, eat a cricket, take bucket showers, live in community with 26 other amazing people, hike 2.2 miles with my 30-pound pack, and so much more. And I loved every single minute of it! Giving up 10 days of my comfortable bed, a warm shower, and a real bathroom was so worth it. I want to live a life of abandon, because giving up my comfortable life is nothing in comparison to the amazing calling God has placed on my life.
Training camp taught me to say Yes to God. I learned that uncomfortably is where the most growth happens. That when you press into the uncomfortable, hard, dirty, and dark places of your life, freedom happens. I learned how to truly be vulnerable with the people around me, and fully embrace the past because when you give it over to God, Joy comes. I learned what it means to genuinely live life as a church. I saw the power of the Holy Spirit work in the lives of the people around me. I saw salvations, healings, joy, grace, forgiveness, and freedom. I learned what it means to say YES to God, and whatever that looks like. Not just a Yes to the World Race, but a Yes to every aspect of this journey. A yes to anything that He puts before me, a yes to embracing the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work though me.
Training camp turned strangers into family. 25 strangers became my family in a span of 10 days. We laughed, danced (we won the dance off!), worshiped, prayed, had fun, camped, and said yes to the journey God has for us, together. We got to be trained by the best training team that embraced every part of us. They loved us, prayed for us, encourage us, and challenged us. I left camp with a brand-new family from all different places, different backgrounds, and different stories. I left with 21 sisters and 4 brothers in Christ that I get to go on this amazing journey that God has called each of us too. I am so excited to travel the world with these brothers and sisters to share the love of Jesus, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick. In 6 short weeks, I get to take on the world with these amazing people.
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
??Jeremiah? ?29:12-13? ?ESV??
I am almost to my $10,000 deadline, and in order to launch with my squad in August, I need your help to reach this goal by July 21st. To donate, just click on the ‘donate’ button at the top of the page. I am so thankful for all the love and support of each of your so far! Please prayerfully consider donating to help me become fully funded.
Yours in Christ,
Courtney
