It’s been 2 weeks since I got home from training camp and I feel like I’m still processing everything that happened during those 12 days mentally, physically, and most of all, spiritually. I could write a book on what happened during training camp but neither of us has the time so enjoy these lessons that I learned from training camp!
- God speaks to me daily. I need to talk less and listen more.
- Worship is beautiful, freeing, and unique for each and every one of God’s children!
- Citronella burns your eyes. Use with caution.
- My teammates and I have been hand-picked by God to serve together! Not only do each one of them embody what it means to “love like Jesus” but they also really, really love sleep! By day 2, we were known as the “chill squad”. When everyone else was staying up talking and playing games, our squad was asleep. Sleep is highly valued on Q squad and it just makes me love them so much more!
- Q squad has SO MUCH LOVE to give!
- Cold bucket showers SUCK in 40° weather. I only took 2 in 12 days..baby wipe baths work just as well and they don’t make your heart stop!
- I need to cut what I packed for camp in half for the race. Send help!
- Coffee is life. Just when you think you’d never drink black coffee, you get sent to training camp and hit a new level of exhaustion. Black coffee is a gift.
- I know God collects our tears but He has His work cut out for Him, I cried 20+ times a day and I can’t imagine what next year will be like.
- God will take away your things when you place too much value on them to teach you a lesson. You’ll sulk a little and then your squad mates will give up their things so that you don’t freeze or have to sleep on the ground. Shout out to Codi and Alyssa, I’m so sorry that you froze all night.
- Dates with my Heavenly Father are real and make me feel so spoiled and loved.
- The shame of my past doesn’t define my future. I have a past that I’m not all that proud of and God brought up some shame that I was still carrying around deep inside of me. He reminded me that because of my past, I now have a testimony that can speak to others and I don’t have to carry my shame anymore because I am REDEEMED by the blood of Christ!
- Referring to God as “Papa” is normal in World Race culture and it’s growing on me.
- Door to door evangelism doesn’t have to be scary and uncomfortable.
- Hiking 2.2 miles in 36 minutes with 37 lbs on your back is no joke and I can truly do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!
- Eating insects of any kind is something I will never do for an “adventure”. If you see me eating a bug, it’s because I’m actually dying of hunger.
- I didn’t think I was very germ conscious until using porta-potties and porta-sinks for 12 days while also having to eat with your hands off the same plate as 7 other people. My poor mom would starve.
- Singing “Jesus, you make the darkness tremble” while walking a quarter mile to the porta-potties at 2 am in the dark woods makes all your fears of snakes and creatures disappear. Your squadmates will laugh and not be able to take the song seriously during worship but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were singing it the next night.
- The Lord is full of surprises! We had a 12th country added to our route for next year, the same country that sparked my passion for missions in the first place! We will be going to Nicaragua in February and I was so excited that I cried!
- 12 days without Chic-fil-a turned us into cave people. I’m not sure how we’ll survive for 11 months!
- Sharing a tent with a spider the size of your hand isn’t so scary when all you care about is sleep.
- My team is bold, fierce, and beautiful! I’m so excited to grow and serve with them!
Thank you for reading! I will be writing a blog introducing my team in the next 2 weeks so stay tuned!
Also, I currently have $13,000 in donations, I’ve passed my 2nd goal and am hoping to be fully funded before I leave in January! If you would like to donate, click the link above! Make sure you subscribe to my blog so that you can keep up with my journey. You can click on the “Follow me” link on the left side of the page or leave a comment with your email address below!
