Sorry I haven’t written any updates since training camp. Life has been crazy. That being said, grab your coffee and settle in for a long blog.
Training Camp.
The drive to training camp was crazy in and of itself. Usually I’m all for back roads, but I simply wasn’t prepared for this. I spent the last three hours of the trip driving some of the curviest, scariest, most beautiful roads I could have imagined, most of the time without radio or GPS signal (thank the Lord I took screenshots of the directions). This was nerve wrecking and wonderful all at once. I was so incredibly nervous for training camp. The night before when my friend came over to help me pack, she prayed for my journey and all the new friendships that were about to begin. On my way there, talked Jesus’ ear off about how nervous I was and how much I was really hoping I could bond with my team well, as walking into a large group of strangers is never my forte. I prayed that he would help me be my true self and that I would love and accept those around me unconditionally. I prayed he would help me calm my nerves and move in the hearts of supporters while I was away. When I rolled up to training camp, my stomach was in knots. Then, as I got to the campsite where much of my team was already set up, one girl went out of her way to help me set up my tent. (Shoutout to you, Alyssa.) This one act of kindness set the tone for camp and was God’s way of telling me that I was seen and he wasn’t going to let me fade to the background because I was more important than that. He had friends for me on this squad, and he had already ordained the journey I would walk at training camp.
Training camp consisted of colder weather than expected, weird food, sweet new friendships, sleeping scenarios, bucket showers, workouts, team building, and healing. The weather the first day was exactly what I expected of Georgia, hot and sticky. The rest of the days, however, were all colder than I thought. That didn’t bode well for the girl whose warmest clothing items were a flannel and a raincoat. Each day we had a different country theme for the food. Some meals were delicious, others, well, let’s just say I’d rather not repeat them. Especially not the day I was already sick to my stomach and it just so happened to be “adventure” food day. You can use your own imagination for that one. The sleeping scenarios were interesting and doubled as team builders as well. We had one night where my partner “lost her stuff in the airport” and we had to share all of my things for the coldest night of camp. We were freezing, but it was amazing to see how well my squad loved each other through that night. My partner, Abby, and I were able to have a spectacular conversation that night as well, one that was full of vulnerability and encouragement, which set the tone for our friendship. The other sleeping scenarios were the airport (my favorite), the campout, and community tents.
And then there were bucket showers, oh the bucket showers . . . spiders and bees included. It’s still something I’m going to have to get used to, but yes ladies, it is possible to shower and wash your hair using little more than a gallon of water. You can do it. The workouts were a huge point of growth and freedom for me. We had a hike with full gear, a 30 minute run, a workout of our choosing, and a timed fitness hike with our big packs. Before our timed fitness hike, we had a really encouraging message. Hope Mendola talked to us about the importance of self care when traveling and that it is possible to maintain just as healthy of a routine while abroad as it is here. This message hit me hard because of the current fitness journey the Lord and I have been on. Finishing the timed hike with 8 minutes to spare was one of the most freeing experiences. I’ve struggled with body image/weight for a long time, and these last few years, it has been magnified. However, in the last several months I found a support system and Advocare, both of which have helped me move mountains. I’ve lost almost 70 pounds and no longer feel embarrassed to workout in groups for fear of failure. I crushed that hike with the support of my team and felt like I was floating when I crossed that finish line. I can serve the Lord around the world without physical limitations next year, knowing that those struggles of years ago no longer define me, my witness, or my future. I am not the “fat and nasty one” who nobody wants on their team, I am strong and beautiful inside and out. I don’t have to doubt that anymore.
Speaking of being wanted on a team, I am proud to say that for the first few months of the race, I get the privilege of serving as the team leader of team Themelios. I love my girls, and I am truly honored that the leadership of my squad believes in me enough to place me in a position of leadership for these sweet women, and that they are empowering me to take my place as a “woman of influence” in the kingdom every day.
The new friendships, wow! I still don’t have the words to describe just how much the Lord blessed me in that department. My squad is amazing, and my team was meant to be. I love them all and words can’t describe how much the Lord has already moved through each one of them to build the kingdom. I can’t even imagine how much more He will do in and through each one of us individually and as a squad to bring kingdom around the world.
Worship was one of my favorite parts of training camp. I experienced so much freedom and healing in those sessions. I even witnessed a miracle. When we left one of the sessions, one of my squadmates looked at me and said, “Danielle, you have to tell me what the Lord just did. You don’t even look like the same person. You look so much . . . lighter.” That was the night the Lord triumphed over several lies in my life and shown his light so brightly in the darkness that all I could do was curl up in his arms in amazement as several of my squadmates meandered by to tell me God was proud of me.
The last day of camp, my fam (AKA S squad best squad) was named squad wars champs! I’m usually not a fan of participating in activities like this, but I got to write the parody music that my squad sang and danced to, and I still felt loved and included even though I was terribly sick when they created the dance and therefore only joined to throw the confetti at the end. Y’all did so well. I’m proud.
As TC drew to a close, I found myself ready to go home to finish preparations in eager expectation of everything that will happen the next time I reunite with my beloved S squad at launch and beyond.
Life Since Training Camp
Since training camp, I have worked like a mad woman because not only do I like my job, but it’s holiday season in retail, and getting finances together for a year without income is insanity. Fundraising has been a huge struggle since training camp, and as many of you have probably noticed I have still not met my $10,000 goal that was due on Friday. I’m terrified, but choosing to trust God’s timing and provision. I’m discouraged but not hopeless. We serve a God of miracles and I have faith that he can and will provide my team and I’s finances. I put every penny of my income I possibly can toward my world race fund, but we all know it is impossible for me to do this alone. I depend on support from readers like you. Every penny counts. Every amount helps. I’m believing that I will still launch with my squad in January, that my team will not lose their team leader due to finances, and that I will still get to serve with my beloved S squad in 2017. So, to all of you who have donated so far, please know that your donations and support mean the world to me. To those of you who may feel like your $10 can’t make a difference, know that it can/will absolutely do so.
The “see you laters” and lasts have begun. I know I will only be gone for 11 months, but saying goodbye for that long is hard. These last few weeks I have said goodbye to the precious students of my youth group, my Bible study group, and my mentor. In eight days I say goodbye to a job that was meant to be and coworkers who mean so much to me. In 15 days, I say goodbye to my old Kentucky home, and in 20 days it’s peace out America. It’s getting real. Really, really, real. My soul is thankful for the people and places that have impacted my life so much that it is hard to leave, my heart is eagerly expectant of the Jesus adventures that 2017 holds, and my belly is full of butterflies due to the unknown.
P.S. I promise it won’t be another two months before you get another update.
