Blog includes:
- A CONCISE idea about how I experienced the Lord during camp and what I learned (lil bout sqUad)
- The logistics of training camp: the day to day look.
*I could go on and on, tried not to do that. My next blog will be out soon, with exciting news on fundraising and more about who squad? U sqUad (the people I will be with for 9 months).*
*Please contact me if you want to know more or talk about anything at all. I would love to know where you are at in your own story. Seriously.*
I learned…
Sometimes you will not know that the Lord is working in you and breaking down walls until later. Sometimes you will be internally confused for a few days wondering why you cannot feel the Spirit moving, even though you see Him working and giving revelations. Looking back, I am so grateful I was ignorant of what the Lord was revealing to me, it caused me to have a few days of just falling to my face in His presence because I knew even if I did not feel Him, He was/is still worthy of my whole self and praises. Now I know that my Father loves us all the same, but communicates it in unique and specific ways according to each of His children. He is so much more than a flutter feeling, yes that’s powerful too, but man has He unleashed Himself and His creative character on me lately. He is allowing me to go beyond feeling and experience His voice, visions, and seeing Him show up to heal, to give words to people, and through His creation. I have experienced Him and learned through Him by scripture, sermons, worship, but this language Papa and I are using is uncharted territory and it is bliss!
Learning this makes me so excited to hangout with my Father because we get to figure out our unique beautiful bond of communication and the more I sit and live with Him, the more familiar His communication will be. Please do not downgrade the power of prayer, of sitting with the King of kings, the Creator of every cell that has ever existed, rest in His power, bathe in His grace and freedom. As I practiced listening prayer Papa so clearly breathed these words into me, “Rest in me, child. Shhh. Breathe me in, and out. In and out.” UHM WHAT?! Talk about TEARS and comfort, security and PRAISES! That word “child” gets me every time I talk about when He spoke this into me. He has so much to say to me, His child. I had just been taking up all the time talking, trying to cox Him to me (even though His life flows through me). Humbled by His presence He is showing me that He wants time to get a word in, all I have to do is be still, rest in His divinity, frolic within His creative power. I can do that. I have been, and it’s radical.
Through this revelation of me needing to rest in Him and hush, it has also brought the reminder that our relationship with the Father is first. Meaning that when people come to me for advice or words of truth, my initial instinct is to speak and give them truth. But Papa has reminded me that He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, so He can probably handle whatever is being brought to me. I had been forgetting the power of telling someone, “Go speak to the Lord about it first. Sit with Him. Talk to Him. Ask Him how He views you and sees your worth. Read His words. First.” There is power in Him and only Him. I am reminded that I need to discipline myself in pushing them right back into the Father’s presence before I say a word.
The bonds that were made with U sqUad were so authentic and quick simply because our bond was first in the Spirit. I barely know their last names, but I feel family with them. We are the Church, the body of Christ, and He loves His body. We fight for each other, we shun satan’s schemes, we lift the name of Jesus high, we push one another towards the Kingdom even when it is easier to be silent, and never once were there hints of judgment, or shame.The Father definitely does not need us for anything, but He loves to co-labor with us, to see us working as one for the Kingdom. Even if that means it gets a little messy, He is so happy to see us seeking Him and His will, He is that good. Training camp was 10 days of worst case scenarios, it stripped us of almost all societal norms and it made us rely on one another, accept our downfalls, praise our strengths, and love unconditionally. I feel safe with U sqUad, challenged to deny myself and pick up my cross daily, and honored to serve and learn alongside people I never would have met if we had not all chosen to say yes to the Lord, and yes to one another.
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE. Dance parties. Tripping over tents. Slipping repeatedly on gravel. Never have I ever games. Praising Jesus so loud you lose your voice. Still praising with no voice. Injuries healed. Visions seen. Prophecy told. Promises claimed. Forgiveness given. Feedback practiced. Hugs. Prayers. So many prayers. Shunning slimy satan. SqUad wars. Baptism. Freedom. Grief. Death. New life. Food. Some good some the opposite of that. Frustration. Relying of Jesus. Breaks through. Tears. Smiles. Real laughs. Having to carry chairs everywhere. Saying “make me” not “give me” to God. Having a yes in my spirit. Learning Papa will be undignified when chasing after me. Sisterhood. Brotherhood. Our eyes are on the Kingdom.
LOGISTICS OF TC: 300 ish 18-20 year olds. 6 squads with 50 ish people on each. I am U Squad(47). 7 smaller teams within U Squad. We (my team) are called JR FLOSS.
Sleep looked like…
Tents for 9 nights
- Sound of cicadas made me fall asleep
- My tent is 10/10, no leaks in the random rain storms
- Went to sleep sweaty, woke up sweaty— learned to be ok with it.
- Tripped multiple times on people’s tent stakes— no shame in the game though.
- I’m happy we did it all. Less preference and privilege to be in the way of meeting with God and bonding with my sqUad.
Simulated airport for 1 night
- A.K.A. loud airport noises, lights on all night— no complaints though because AC for a night
- Made for good bonding time with sqUad and my team.
Meals looked like…
Sitting at tables or the ground in groups of 8
- family style meals (one plate/bowl of food for the table)— good practice for serving others before self and making sure everyone received a portion.
- Easy way for learning about one another, lots of laughs, prayers, and tough talks around these tables/floor circles(?).
Eating food according to the country/continent being simulated that day
- Meals from Asia, Africa, Central America, Villages, South America, USA.
- Utensils included chopsticks, hands, the occasional fork, and you guessed it, hands.
- I will miss cheese, chocolate, BBQ sauce, and Ranch.
- OH MY LANTA… they gave us a little pick me up midday snack everyday though and boy did I see heaven in that cookie, popsicle, popcorn, and bag of chips.
Adopt Shop saves lives
- a snack shack in honor of a family raising money to adopt a child
- Praises all around for this
- Cliff bars, kind bars, ice cream, chips… what a life saver for those late night snack cravings
Showers, bathrooms, clothes looked like…
Showers
- Cold bucket showers. I took two. Washed my hair once. Used wipes, perfume, and deodorant the rest of the time. No shame in the game.
- Everyone shared everything, there was no shame, no judgement. Once again created space where we could meet one another and God outside of societal norms.
Bathrooms
- porta potty’s. Actual praises when the guy came to empty them out. that’s all.
Clothes
- Packed light. Re-wore, a lot.
- Dress code shifted according to the country being simulated that day.
- Rocking boy shorts is normal and I LOVE IT
Fitness Hike looked like…
- 2.2 miles in under 38 minutes with our 65-70 liter backpack on
- everyone had to pass, and we did!
- lot’s of supporting each other, so much unity
- totally doable, pretty hilly, but you got this future racer!
THANK YOU so much for reading through this blog! Please contact me if you want to know more, or if you need a listening ear… we are all in this together! Thank you for the prayers, the financial support, and hugs. Literally would not be able to fulfill God’s call on my life without your willingness to invest and support me on this journey, I am so thankful YOU are part of it! SUBSCRIBE to my blog to see how your investment is being used to further the Kingdom, come along for the ride! Follow me on Instagram (llyle__) for more.
