Continued (Sorry for the wait) …
I woke up to songbirds and the sound of tents breaking down. It was Sunday the 15th. We had an amazing morning worship service and then dove right on into a session on Intimacy with the Holy Spirit. I learned that Holy Spirit doesn’t have visitation rights, meaning he doesn’t come and go whenever you’d like, the Holy Spirit has habitation rights. Another thing I took away from this session was that the Holy Spirit never condemns you, he gently and lovingly convicts you. Our next session we took was on 7 Spiritual Pathways. I really enjoyed this session because of the different ways we learned to connect with God. We dove even deeper into the Student, Art, and Nature pathways. Art is probably my strongest one. Following more activities and dinner we had more worship and then catapulted into a session on Hearing the Voice of God. This session was fantastic and my biggest take away was if you ever get bored it is your own fault. Unfortunately, that’s so true, if you’re constantly saying yes to what God asks you to do, you will never have nothing to do. He’s always got something for you, even if it’s small. I also learned that if we say yes to the small things He asks of us, eventually He will trust us with the big things. Though, everything He asks of me will need to align with the Word and be true to the character of God, if not it’s probably not Him asking.
Half way through training camp, WHAT, it was Monday the 16th. After the usual morning activities, we soared into another time of worship and then a session on the Roadblocks to Intimacy. I learned that 1. Satan will do everything in his power to prevent you from having a relationship with Jesus. 2. Work’s cannot get me closer to God. and 3. Talking to Jesus as a friend and praying directly to Him instead of up at Him is hard but grows your trust in Him. After my head was spinning with information from the last session as we continued to our session on 7 Spiritual Pathways. This day we dove into the Contemplative, Relational, and Experiential, and Activist pathways. The Contemplative pathway was the hardest one for me. We sat still, said nothing, did nothing, using silence and solitude to connect with God. Boy, oh boy, did this one almost kill me. If you know me at all, you understand why. I am constantly doing something and have a million thoughts racing through my mind, so sitting still trying to focus on one thing. Nearly impossible. I’m still working on it and growing! The final session of the day was on Forgiveness. This session wrecked me. I had multiple take a ways and revelations during this session.
1. It is impossible to walk in more freedom then what You have forgiven. 2. When you hold hurts, offences, grudges, etc. against others you become a slave to them. (the grudges, not the people) 3. You must forgive yourself.
That session really hit me, and I realized I still have a lot to learn. Yet, after a long day we settled down for a long night by participating in our airport scenario. During this scenario we slept on the cement floor with whatever we had in our day packs. Luckily, I had my sleeping pad, scrubs, toiletries, phone, earbuds, eye cover and travel pillow. Along with my books and snacks. It was loud, bright and cold. I dozed off and on but would always be jolted from my half-conscious nap by a loud noise or cold feet. Pro Tip: Always have Socks!
After rolling off and up my sleeping pad and stretching my aching limbs I realized that there was one day left until the hike, it was Tuesday the 17th. The first session of the morning was on Prophecy. during this time, we were led to encourage others and let God speak through us. Even when we didn’t know who the person was. From there we had a session on Communication Skills. Throughout the session, we learned about 3 different strategies for Communication. One of my biggest takeaways, from the session, was that our goal is to understand, and, in some cases, we don’t have to agree. Our final session of the night was on how we can give good Feedback. My biggest takeaway from this session was that feedback should always be positive, helpful, and makes the other person feel good. I also love the quote about how we should be truth speakers and life Bringers.
The day had arrived, it was Wednesday the 18th, hike day. To start off our adventure Day breakfast consisted of eggs, bread, crickets, and a duck egg. Then, the hike began. Personally, for me this hike really proved that I have to lean on God for my strength. The thing that kept me going was a quote from a play that I was in, the Lord is my strength and my salvation. As I kept repeating this line over and over again I was able to breathe better. Sometimes, I have exercise induced asthma. I knew, that if I was going to have an asthma attack, I wouldn’t be able to finish the race. The Lord open my lungs. I could breathe. And I finished it within the allotted amount of time with time to spare. After hosing off and getting food in our bellies we drove into the first session of the day on Expectations. During this session we learned all the different reasons to be sent home. After that session we had a session on Accountability and Discipline. After some more instructions we received information that we would get to have a Fun night at the campsite. We got to do a campfire and just hung out. During this time, we also practiced our cheer for the squad Wars. We got poured on, but I was able, along with Lewis and a few other people, to keep the fire alive. Then to end the night I had the opportunity to chat with some pretty amazing people.
Not sore and exhausted like I expected, I soon realized it was Thursday the 19th. I was heading home tomorrow. To start off the morning we had a session on Life between TC and Launch. then we received information on Parent Ministry and what that would look like throughout the nine months were gone. Then we got more tips and ideas on how to deal with our Donor Relations. I took another session on Raising Support. Then a session on Financial Stewardship. to follow that, there were some people from Truett College who came and spoke about the different classes we could take through them while on the race. And finally, the Squad Wars had arrived. All the hard work and effort we poured into our squads paid off. It was a fun time. It was filled with multiple games, lots of competition, but all smiles and laughs. Besides the David and Goliath game. After the games were finished, it was time for Baptism and Worship.
The last day of training camp, Friday the 20th, after breakfast, we had full campus cleanup. Meaning all the buildings we used had to be cleaned. All the campsites had to be cleaned. All our bags and stuff had to be packed up and ready to go. There were lots of hugs goodbye. From there people started to trickle out either leaving in their cars or getting ready to take the shuttles to the airport. After that, I was headed home.
Now with being home for a few weeks there has been so much going on. I’ve finished up work, went on camping trips, hung out with friends and had my going away party. Wrapping up work was a relief and felt amazing. Though, I will miss the members and co-workers I have created friendships with over the last year and a half. Our camping trips were very fun, they included going down to Capitol Reef and N-X Ranch. Both beautiful places and N-X Ranch being one of my favorite missions’ trips to do each year. My going away party and all the goodbyes and see you later were and are bitter sweet. I’ve said some of the hardest see you later over the past few days. I am so blessed, I have an army of people back home who are praying for me daily. Not only my family, but friends and extended family who I love, and I know they love me and stand behind me. It’s going to be the shortest and longest nine months but also the best nine months ever. I get to do all of it hand and hand with my savior. And he’s going to show me the most amazing things that I never thought I’d see. I get to love the broken heal the sick touch the poor comfort the lonely and most importantly I get to tell them the gospel. The good news that will save them for eternity. I am so excited to see what God does. Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey. Also, biggest update. I’m fully funded y’all! If you still want to give, I have a Zelle account that you can directly send money to. Thank you so much for your support. Your prayers and knowing that you are here praying for me means the world to me. Now, here we are, I am headed to launch. Yesterday and today will be the hardest see you later for me. My siblings, and friends who I am closest with. For now though it’s only see you later.
