A year ago I had just finished my first training camp. Never thought a year later I would be back there again, and as a leader. Never would I thought that I would meet 43 new people who want Jesus just as much as I do. Never would I thought that the Lord would call someone like me into a position of leadership. Never would I thought that I would go back onto the field. Never would I thought that Jesus loved me this much to have me doing something I love.
For those who do not know, I am going BACK onto the field for three months as an Alumni Team Leader. This position is new for Gap Year. I will be out with my new squad for only three months instead of nine, and I help facilitate what community living, missional living, and intimacy with the Lord looks like for these new racers.
But most of all I get to do life with them and point them to Jesus.
Before my race last year I did not believe that the Lord loved me. Like at all. I had left him for a relationship with a guy and honest to goodness believed he hated me for it. At the time I wasn’t fully aware I believed it because I knew that God loved me, but didn’t live like he did. It wasn’t until the race that the Lord showed me how much he loves me and that he always had. And walking in the love he has for me everyday has been life-changing.
The race didn’t save me or tell me that God loved me, but it gave me the space to seek him out radically and my life is changed because of the space I was given to do that. And that is why I am here. That is why I said yes. Not only because the Lord wanted me to say yes, but because I so desperately want these racers to experience the love, the healing, and the restoration Jesus has for them.
This training camp the Lord showed me that I am not responsible for these racers hearts and lives. I am responsible to point them back to Jesus always. I can’t fix them. I can’t heal them. I can’t save them, but I can point them back to someone who can because I’ve seen him do it before. He did it for me. I wholeheartedly believe he can do it for them too.
And man is leadership HARD. I never realized the amount of accountability comes with it and how much people watch without you knowing it. But it has humbled me. How cool is it that the Lord has entrusted me with his sons and daughters? Has entrusted me to point them back to the one who created them. Has allowed me to show them that living a life radically for him is the most freeing and rewarding thing you could ever do….. but its HARD. These past 10 days I forgot that I am NOT superwoman (sorry Alicia Keyes). I poured and poured and poured myself out, but would forget to spend time with the Lord to let him pour into me.
There were also several times I forgot that I am only 18. There are a handful of people on my squad who are older than me, but that won’t stop me from pouring into them, and to receive the things they have to offer me as well.
I am human. I have my own struggles that the Lord is walking me through as well. I cannot sacrifice what he is taking me through for the sake of others. God is my number one priority and the best way to show these racers how to chase after God is to actually do it.
And man I could go on and on about my new squad. They are unique, different, and full of life. They showed me so much love and appreciation, but also respect. They are going to do some serious damage for the kingdom, and the Lord has blessed me enough to get a glimpse of that for three months. Wow, thanks Jesus.
All this to say that round two of training camp was just as rewarding and impactful as round one, and that the God who was at the first training camp is still the exact same God who was at this training camp. There were still just as many tears and revelations, just as much sweating and red dirt getting everywhere, and a community that is just as loving, kind, and caring as the last.
That the God at the first training camp loved me just as much then as he loved me at this training camp. Just as much as he loves me right now as I type this out.
Training camp was good. It was hard. It was worth it. Thanks Jesus that I get to pour out unto others. I love it. Remind me that I am human and need you just as much as these racers need you. That I am broken just like they are. Remind me that you are my number one priority. And thank you for literally everything, but most of all that you have given me the opportunity to do something I love. Thank you.
Thanks you guys for reading. Make sure to stay updated on whats going on. Love ya guys lots.
-Kyla Cal
