They told us training camp would be like drinking from a fire hydrant, and little did I know how right they were.
42 things I learned at training camp
1. Being deprived of American food for 5 minutes will really cause 300 people to riot (in a good way) when there’s ice cream and snickers available.
2. God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. (Shoutout to DEON my favorite South African for speaking truth)
3. If we humble ourselves, He will lift us up.
4. It’s not over but it is finished. (Are you SERIOUS?! Straight wisdom)
5. Talking about poop is so normal, and actually encouraged.
6. My squad (racers and leaders alike) have some of the biggest hearts I’ve met. Blessings upon blessings.
7. It’s not about me.
8. To be His disciple means laying down everything. And it’s fair for Him to ask us for everything.
9. The importance of wonder for God’s creation. I witnessed some FIRE sunsets the past 11 days. I also cried on the plane ride home because I got to kind of chase the sunset for two hours and it was too beautiful. Are you kidding me? God romances us with nature and He doesn’t even have to.
10. I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God
11. Sleeping in a hammock is easier than setting up your tent for the 7th time. Even if it rains in the middle of the night.
12. It is possible to squeeze 17 girls in a 10 person tent. #CommunityLiving
13. He is not safe, but He is good. (Ask me about this, one of my favorite parts of training camp. The Chronicles of Narnia will change your life.)
14. The fitness hike sucked more than I anticipated, but it also brought out so much beauty in the encouragement given by all the members of my squad. Running with people to the finish line, waking up at 6 to cheer people on, so much goodness.
15. At a certain point you eat your sandwich that has live ants in it, solely because you’re so hungry.
16. Prophecy doesn’t require you to be an “official prophet” to experience it. You simply have to listen.
17. T Squad? We let the big dogs eat. (I know all squads are part of the same body of Christ, buuuut we placed 1st at squad wars . . . )
18. Ministry doesn’t start on the race. And it doesn’t end when the race is over. It’s now, it’s forever, it’s life.
19. God doesn’t ask us to be comfortable. He asks us to be effective.
20. When it starts pouring down rain, if you don’t dance in it, what are you really doing?
21. You don’t have to be special for God to use you. You simply need a “yes” in your spirit.
22. Bugs will fly in your mouth, and up your nose, and in your tent, and it will be okay.
23. Embarking on the race requires a desire to grow. Otherwise, (in the words of Hope), “the door is right there.”
24. There is beauty in freedom. Shoutout to Alyssa my fearless team leader (and friend) for reiterating the importance and goodness of freedom.
25. World Race people know their Myers Briggs types and Enneagrams?? Am I dreaming???
26. There’s something beautiful about people gathering together from all around the country who are striving for the same thing.
27. God asks us to partner with Him to bring about the kingdom.
28. The boys on my squad are truly gold. Honorable, hilarious, not afraid to be (really) weird, men of GOD. #Blessed
29. We’re doing this for the glory of God. Nothing else.
30. There’s nothing like living in the fullness of joy that comes from full trust and abundance of life in Christ.
31. Sometimes you’ll experience heaven so close in worship sessions that all you can do is cry from how much joy you feel.
32. The devil will try to place doubt and fear in us, but God gives us the authority to send him running. On the second night of TC we experienced loads of spiritual warfare, and God worked in wild ways as we prayed over our squad and campsite to renounce Satan’s presence.
33. I am now thankful for the non-humidity of the PNW. Shoutout to Georgia for making my legs, back, and everything else sticky all the time.
34. Forgiveness is the hardest part of Christianity, but also the most necessary part. And it’s worth it. Freely we have received, so freely we shall give.
35. Bucket showers are actually great. They’re great at 5 in the morning, and as your teammates blast One Direction, and when spiders join you, and especially after a long day of sweating.
36. I observed that feedback was hard, but necessary. An example includes facing difficult truths as a team. I suggest practicing it more often to experience truth and use it to grow. (If you know, you know)
37. We need to stop saying “give me” to God and start saying “make me” (just let that mess you up real quick).
38. God will bring situations full circle and shock you with the way He interconnects everything.
39. When we choose to be vulnerable, trust others, and dive deeply into God’s love, He will surprise us with the sweetness that blooms from it.
40. I’ve never been so grateful for so many Christ-centered, genuine, authentic, intentional friendships. This is what we were made for.
41. Life is so much more abundant when we let the big guy upstairs take the wheel.
42. They call it a Gap Year, but I have a feeling I’m about to be filled past the brim.
Bring it on.
See ya in Guatemala 😉
