Hi friends! I got back on Thursday from 10 days of WR training camp in Georgia. I’m still trying to process everything that happened while down there, but I can tell you that it was an absolutely phenomenal experience!
J Squad’s campsite
Some things I learned at Training Camp:
- I don’t need nearly as much stuff as I thought. I wore the same pair of shorts 6 days in a row. My pack doesn’t have to weigh 40 lbs.
- Wet towels and clothing smell nasty and get gross real quick.
- My squad is the coolest group of people I’ve ever met.
- We will be serving on teams while on the field. This means that I won’t be with my entire squad all the time for the full 11 months. My teammates will change throughout the Race, but as for now, I’m in a group with 6 other weirdos and we get to do ministry together and I’m pretty stoked about it. (Hi Shelby, Julia, Sarah, Emily, Tyler and Levi!)
- Bucket showers. I was honestly apprehensive at first, but I grew to love them.
- If you ask someone on leadership a question at camp, expect their answer to be, “I don’t know…” (as they shrug and mischievously look away from you) OR “You’ll find that out later” (as they suppress a giddy smile…) They kept us on our toes and helped us grow and adjust along the way. Super thankful for them.
- Logistics. My brain works in weird logistical ways and I get to help shepherd our squad this year by planning and organizing all of our travel days between countries. Yay?! I’m excited about this, but it also comes with some added responsibility. Here’s to learning more about it and being stretched and all things good!
- The Holy Spirit is always with us. Instead of us welcoming Him into our lives, it’s quite the other way around. The Spirit is alive and dwelling within those who have chosen Christ-we just get to decide if we’re going to listen to His voice. I had some good practice over my 10 days at camp and heard the Spirit in some super clear ways!
- This world has lots of different kinds of spiders in it, and we just gotta deal with em.
- My body is a powerhouse. No, really. I hiked 2.2 miles with my 40lb pack on. I RAN about half of that. And did it all in 29 minutes. The grace of God is the only attribute I have for the motivation and drive to CONQUER the fitness hike. In all honesty, our Squad was physically challenged this past week and a half in a multitude of ways, and I’m just really proud of everyone and the grit that we’ve been given.
- Evangelizing isn’t scary when you genuinely want people to know Jesus and the Love of the Father.
- Trying to sleep in an airport simulation is hands down way worse than sleeping in an actual airport. (yes I’m talking to you, French man yelling over the intercom!!)
- Worship is intended to be a free expression between you and Abba Father. I’ve never experienced worship in it’s fullness like I did at camp.
- You’re never too old to go to summer camp.
There’s a billion other details I could note about the last 2 weeks, but I feel like they wouldn’t do the experience justice. If anything, WR training camp solidified what I already knew to be true: that the Lord wants me to do the World Race. Not only that, He’s given me a community brimming with fellowship and support and love, and I’m just overjoyed to get to do life with my Squad.
Squad Wars!
That one time we were covered in flour.
“Airport”
My sweet teammate, Emily.
Blue-J’s, ya know?
I’ve got about 6 weeks until Launch, and I’m feeling all the feels!! I’m grateful for you all: whether I know you from pre-K, college, work, church, J Squad, whatever…I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for walking alongside me in this journey-it’s a hard one, but it’s oh so beautiful.
If you have any prayer requests and/or questions, please send em my way! Love you, fam!
K
