Well, this time last year I was running around getting ready for training camp. Our GroupMe was going off hourly with oodles of questions and suggestions. Although I applied to the World Race in January, I still wasn’t so sure about this whole thing. I talked with so many World Race Alumni and there was so much said about training camp.
Pack light
Bring snacks
A trash bag
Head lamp
Ya dee da dee da
The one thing I had stuck in my brain was “it’s the hardest part about the world race.”
Well….great. Can’t wait to spend 10 days camping with a bunch of strangers during the ONLY cold week in October in Georgia.
I wasn’t excited. I wouldn’t really take part in the GroupMe because well everyone was a stranger still at this point.
So the day of I’m still running around getting things-getting ready for 10 days of well a lot of most things and emotions. I drove on over to Gainesville, GA-late of course.
I showed up in my green Hawaiian shirt not really ready for anything that was about to happen. I set up my tent for maybe the 3rd time ever with some help from these people who I’m about to spend a year with.
Worship began. Session after session. Morning workouts for the dreaded 2 mile hike with your big pack on. Weird cultural food. Eating with your hands. FREEZING COLD.
The first night I slept on a hill and hardly slept at all. Each day (about) we had to put all our things into this bag we’re about to live out of for a year. It. Was. Awful.
There were twists and turns throughout each day. Different puzzles with potential teammates. They pulled us aside and asked about all these new people we just met-who have you connected with? What can you learn from them?
Are y’all crazy? I just met these people-I DONT KNOW.
Well-we laughed as we tried to lift a hula hoop with our pinkies and as we tried to cross an imaginary river with blocks on each other’s backs. A few days in we were placed on a team-the team we spent the first four months of this crazy journey with.
I’m writing this blog a year later to tell y’all-I hated training camp. Half way through I got really sick. I didn’t wash my hair for 10 days and didn’t wash my body that often either. We took bucket showers in freezing cold water and sat through so many sessions and did SO MANY ridiculous activities.
“What’s the freaking point of all this???” went through my head with almost each and every activity.
I hated the games. I was sick. I lost my voice. I was cold. I was honestly miserable half the time. Well-let’s be real, more than half the time. About 8 days in I broke down crying because I was so exhausted. That moment my new teammates stepped in for me and advocated for me to get some rest. And that’s where beautiful friendships began.
As we depart for month 10, I see the point-of the early mornings, all the packing, sessions, the hike, weird food & all.
Training camp sucks-but it prepares you for different situations on the World Race. The ups and downs-the twists and turns really do happen.
The World Race doesn’t suck. It’s hard and there are so many twists and turns but man, am I glad I decided to stick it out.
Those 29 strangers quickly became family this year. We have been through ups & downs-twists & turns. And wow-there have been a lot of crazy things that have happened this year.
The people who left America in January are not the same people who return home in January.
We have seen so many things that have altered our lives.
Met so many people who have changed our perspective.
Created a family within F squad.
Served those all around the world.
Spoiled squad mates and teammates with quality time, gifts, massages & more.
We have learned how to give and receive feedback.
To encourage and love each other well.
Seen God show up in crazy way & learn so much about Him.
What did I really think of training camp?
It sucked-but it was the beginning of the most beautiful journey with 29 of the most incredible people.
We joke, “who the heck signed me up for this???”
God did-He plucked each of us out of the comfort of America to take us on the journey with Him.
He has taken us all the way from the bush of Côte d’Ivoire to the beautiful cobble stone streets of Antigua, but it all started in Gainesville, Georgia.
So if you hated training camp or if you’re nervous about training camp-it’s okay. This journey you’re about to go on is a freakin incredible one. God is going to hold your hand this year & you are going to see incredible things & meet incredible people.
And if you’re a fellow supporter/subscriber-thank you for following along with this journey. For supporting the gal a year ago who really didn’t know what she was signing up for. For believing in me when really I had so many doubts. I wouldn’t have made it to month 10 without each of you. Because of you I have found my home away from home all across the world with my big ole F squad fam. My life is forever changed and the old Lindsay can’t come to the phone right now-bc she’s dead (s/o T Swift)-in the BEST way. I am eternally thankful for all your support.
F squad, thank you for going on this crazy journey with me. You make the twists and turns so joyful and exciting. We have cultivated a family this year and tears fill my eyes at the thought of us going our separate ways in two short months. Let’s make em the best two months yet!!!!
