The past 10 days simply cannot be explained in a blog. Training camp was so good. Training camp was so hard. I am not the same as I was 10 days ago. I am new. I am redeemed. I am restored. I am remade.
But let me start from the beginning.
A couple weeks ago, I got an email from my mobilizer at Adventures that said I was being transferred from W-Squad to Y-Squad, which meant that I would be getting a whole new team and a whole new route.
And, to be quite honest, I was really unsure about the whole thing. I went to training camp weary and with a lot of questions.
I was nervous. I was anxious. And then, I arrived. I was greeted by some of the best people I have ever met.
Alas, I got new friends. 19 of them to be exact, and they are rockin’. They are rad and cool and embody all of the things I want to be. They are kind. They are genuine. They are vulnerable. They love well. They are a safe space.
These are my people.
Training camp was exactly what I needed to be reminded that the Lord has called me to be a part of something much greater than I could have ever imagined. He knew before creation that this group of people would come together to serve and glorify Him. He hand-picked me to be a part of this family.
I learned a lot at training camp. I learned what abandonment looks like. I learned what it means to say yes to the people around me, and then to mean it. I learned what it looks like to say yes to the Lord in all situations, even if that means not knowing what comes next. I learned about the intimacy and relationship with the Holy Spirit. I learned about emotions and how it’s okay to feel. I learned about the voice of God. I learned about my purpose. I learned about truth and grace and shame. I learned about forgiveness. I learned about being present. I learned about feedback and good communication in community. I learned about evangelism and sharing my faith.
It was a whole lot and just enough all at the same time. I learned more about myself in 10 days, than I have in 21 years.
For the very first time, I was vulnerable and honest and put everything I had out on the table for my squad to see. I decided this was going to be a year full of truth, full of humility, full of honesty and full of humbling myself before my people and before the Lord.
And holy smokes, was it just that. I have never experienced so much love, grace and acceptance from people I had only known for a few days. It gives me such hope for the next 11 months.
Despite my initial hesitations, Abba showed up. He spoke to me. He gave me visions. He invited me to taste and see more with Him. He gave me, in abundance, people who care deeply and fiercely for me. People who spoke and will continue to speak so much truth into me. His perfect love cast out all my fears and anxieties.
I think it’s funny how sometimes I still doubt the Lord. I doubt His goodness. I doubt His faithfulness. And then he reminds me “Sweet daughter, don’t you know I am good? Do you not believe I will carry you through? You are my beloved. You are chosen. You are worthy.”
We can be told all of these things, but they are mere words until we start to believe them and live them out, and that is the essence of what I learned at Training Camp. The Creator of the Universe has such good things ahead. Things greater than we could ever think or imagine. This is gonna be our year, racers.
Because through it all, He is always good.
So much love,
Carly
