WOW.
Just wow.
I had no expectations going into camp.. except for what I had seen on a couple Youtube videos from previous racers. And honestly, I think it was better that way… giving God complete surrender to what He had in store for me during those 10 days, and just accepting it as it came. Being okay with not knowing every detail, and having no control… because let’s be honest, starting in October, even the idea of being in slight control of what will happen in the next year is a joke.
The people of Adventures in Missions are simply amazing, and highly favored.
To give you a glimpse of what went on over the last 10 days, I’ll start with the fun stuff!
We had several different Field Scenarios (most of which frequently happen) where we had all kinds of crazy sleeping arrangements. For example, sleeping with a squad-mate because your luggage “got lost” at the “airport”… or being in the bush of Africa and having to fit 12 people in a community tent with all of your gear (surprisingly that was my best night’s sleep!). We had to run/walk a 2.2 mile route (it wasn’t just a straight -shot either) carrying all of our gear in under 38 minutes. As physical as that sounds, there was much deeper meaning to it than I was expecting… literally carrying teammates up that last hill because they just cant move another inch on their own, taught me that I have the most amazing group of individuals that I know I can count on to carry me through when I feel like I just can’t keep going. That’s what community is. We also experienced all different kinds of food from India, Africa, Europe, South America, and Asia. let’s just say i have to work on my adventurous side when it comes to food!
And then there’s the more intimate side of camp.
If I sat here and wrote out all of what I learned while I was there, you and I would both be here for quite sometime. So, I’ll leave you with just a few of my favorites.
The Church is WHO we are, HOW we live wherever we go, and it is meant to be a life sustaining Body.
Fullness and living life in abundance comes solely from the Lord.
Abandonment creates a space for Jesus to fill, and to move mountains.
Be present wherever you are.
You don’t have to become a “cookie cutter” Christian before God can use you… He meets you wherever you are, to walk along-side you through your journey towards intimacy with Him.
There can’t be LIGHT without DARKNESS. You cant understand GOOD until you’ve experienced BAD. There can’t be GRACE/MERCY without SIN. There can’t be GROWTH without PAIN.
The hard things written into our stories serve a purpose.
When one part of your physical, emotional, or spiritual health is messy, it is a direct reflection of the other two parts. They must all be in alignment.
“You will be known by your love for one another.”- John 13:35
I have what I need to sustain me, the Holy Spirit literally dwells inside of me..
The role of the Holy Spirit for un-believers is to CONVICT, NOT CONDEMN.
Shame is ENTIRELY of the enemy– to get you to stay quiet and isolated.
The heart of shame is to KILL, STEAL, and DESTROY.
GUILT leads us to the Father, WITHOUT the CONDEMNATION of SHAME.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
TRAINING CAMP WRECKS YOUR SOUL SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND PHYSICALLY… in the absolute best way possible.
I’m redeemed. I’ve been set free. I am capable. I am chosen. I’m made clean. Chains are broken. I am a chain-breaker. I am His.
HIS LOVE IS REGARDLESS.
***If you would like to take the opportunity to share Jesus by investing in the Kingdom, I am still in need of funding (monthly donors, or one-time) for this trip. You can support me financially by clicking “donate” at the top of my page, or if you would like to make a payment another way, contact me at: [email protected]***
