Training Camp is over and I’m now back in Australia trying to adjust to a different time zone, much colder temperature and get over a cold. So as jetlag keeps me awake and with a tea in hand, what better time than to write about my experience at training camp.
Training camp was an amazing 10 days! I will never be able to completely capture in words what training camp was like and how it impacted my team and I. It was filled with solid teachings, powerful worship, cultural food days, simulations, team exercises, fitness hike, tenting, bucket showers, squad wars and so much more. Each day there were opportunities that grew us closer to God and to one another.
I’ve been telling others that it was the most spiritually enriching camp I have ever been on and rather than being a rule based camp (like previous ones I have been on), it was empowering. They taught me that ‘Ministry is life and life is ministry’. I am so impressed with the organisation as a whole and the thought, prayer, time and effort they put into making the world race effective. I felt like I was showered in support and partnered with strong leadership. I learnt so much about intimacy with God, community and missions.
I want to share my highlights from training camp (this is long, so stick it out, I promise it is good stuff):
- PEACE: God worked in my heart in such sweet ways over training camp as each day He revealed something to me. I am so grateful that God gave me the strength to step out and go to training camp. On my journey to America I battled my way through fear (which I will share in another blog post at some stage), but as I entered training camp it was silenced and He graciously washed me in His river of peace.
- FREEDOM: God consistently throughout camp reminded me that He just wants me. I admit I can operate on the ladder of legalism, where I judge myself and others by the “things we should do” that show where we are at in our religion. The rungs on this ladder could be reading your Bible, Bible study, serving, church attendance, praying etc. What we say when we try and add another rung to our ladders is that God is a task master and never enough- it proves that we don’t know Him. Salvation is not gained through works. Jesus tore legalism apart when He was crucified on the cross and the veil was torn. He calls us into freedom. We are scared to be set free because the rules are comfortable, known and expected. But I’ve learnt that my ladder is worthless in comparison to knowing God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. He wants to tear open the boxes that I have tried to put Him in.
Do you know what it is like to be set free?
- I also stepped into freedom to express myself the way God made me. Through worship the Holy Spirit comes alive in me and I get to experience sweet intimacy with the Father. I cried everyday at training camp and I am not ashamed to say it. God has made me an emotional person and He is not afraid of our emotions, neither should I suppress them or the Holy Spirit living within me. God worked through those tears and released freedom and I am so thankful.
- BEING HELD: One night during worship one of my leaders prayed for me and God brought up previous pain in my life, which I thought I had well and truly dealt with. Later on they offered ‘hug ministry’ (sounds strange but give it a chance) where our leaders were available to stand in the gap for someone who has caused us pain and basically be a Father heart to us. I felt led to go up to Solomon who had prayed for me earlier and we simply hugged while I wept in his arms for a long time. But what God did in those moments I will never forget. God held me in my pain. I did not realise I needed that, but God reminded me that He knows me, holds me and that It’s ok.
- COMMUNITY: It was so encouraging to meet my squad and realise that God has so beautifully formed our group together. We are all so different, yet have this common desire for God that brings us together. Being in Christian community is so sweet. I loved getting to know my squad and I am so excited to journey with them through life! I love what we can learn from each other and how God often reveals himself through His people. One stand out moment for me was during the fitness hike. We had to hike 5.3km in 50 minutes with our pack on and it was tough! I had gotten to my last lap and was about 500m out from finishing but loosing motivation and energy quickly as I realised I was not going to make it on time. It was in this moment that one of my squad mates, Kelsey, came to me and asked to take my pack. As she took my pack, I was able to run and finish the hike in time (or close to). It was in that moment I experienced grace. It was a literal lifting of my burdens so I could finish the race set out before me. Jesus does the same for us.
This is my squad: Expedition M Squad!
This is my team that I get to closely journey with. God is going to do mighty things through this culturally diverse team!
Prayer requests:
- Please keep my team and I uplifted in prayer as we are home for 6 weeks before launch and pray for protection against the attacks of the enemy during this time- that we would keep our focus on God.
- Pray that we will finish this season well and leave in peace with everyone.
- Pray for me to be fully present in each day God has for me here.
- Pray that I will continue to walk in the truth God poured over me during training camp.
I’ll finish this long reflection of training camp with a sweet moment I had with Jesus while on camp. I pictured I was sitting on the Brisbane ferris wheel with Jesus and He said to me, “See this wheel we are on, how we loop around and around. It’s time we get off this cycle and go some place new”. We hopped off the ferris wheel and I asked Jesus, “Where are we going?” and He said, “You’ll see”.
