I first decided to do a gap year towards the end of last year, little did I know what was to be the full extent of what God was calling me to do for this upcoming year. I knew I wanted to travel, and experience the world and life a little more before jumping right back into school, but on a church retreat in early October I felt called to do a year of missions. I explored my options and through prayer decided that the World Race Gap Year was what I was going to do, and sure enough my application was accepted in late May. Now I’m well on my way into starting this 9 month span of living on a mission on our 6 country route taking my squad of over 40 members to India, Nepal,
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Ecuador.
Until Training Camp, my relationship with the Lord was not exactly where I wanted it to be or needed it to be for this next year. Training Camp allowed me to reconnect with The Lord with the help of my new squad mates, who are shaping up to be more of a family to me for the 9 month journey. God gifted me an amazing team, consisting of Myself and 6 others who I cannot wait to do God’s work with in this upcoming year. Training camp was not at all what I expected it to be. I expected it to be sort of like a Christian summer camp, instead what I got was hours upon hours of different sessions trying to educate us on what the missionary field looks like. I was expecting more of a physical burden with outdoor challenges, but the only real physical challenge I experienced was having to sit still for so long. In a sense, what I needed was exactly what I got, because going into that week I didn’t have as much spiritual maturity as I would’ve liked and am striving for now. The Lord showed me much in my 10 days in Georgia about himself and my new family and community for the trip.
A big decision for me at Training Camp was to be baptized. I have been a self proclaimed Christian all my life but I had never been baptized. The coolest part of all of training camp for me was when I had an epiphany (which now I realize was the words of the Holy Spirit) that I needed to get baptized before I left on this mission. Then, later that day there was an announcement that for the first time ever they were offering baptisms at Training Camp. I instantly decided that I would do it, and had one of my squad trainers, Jace, baptize me. It was sad in a sense that my family and friends back home in New Hampshire didn’t get to witness this large moment in my life, but the Lord spoke to me and I knew there was no better time to do it. I’m so glad I made the full commitment to the Lord that week and I came home renewed in The Spirit, ready for this next year. I love my squad, and my team, and I’m ready to take on the world with them. 
