From July 9th to the 19th, racers from all over met in Gainesville, Ga for a 10 day intensive training camp for the world race gap year and whoa was it good! I finally met the beautiful faces I had only ever seen through social media.
These 10 days felt like months of growth.
I slightly misjudged just how humid Georgia is, but very soon realized this when I found myself waking up covered in buckets of sweat. Training camp was a time filled with bucket showers (i’m talking the real deal buckets you fill with a hose and then pour on yourself in a shack outside while also getting to bond about the bugs in your stall with your next door shower friend), pants that have been peed in as a result from laughing too hard with your new sisters, fried crickets for breakfast and rice for supper, extreme vulnerability, goodbyes to friends feeling the Lord’s calling somewhere other than the race, THE BEST tent sleepovers, porta potties (gotta say they actually grew on me. people left sweet notes on the door and porta potties very quickly became a source of encouragement), two and half mile hikes with our 40 pound packs on the hilly terrain of Gainesville, squad dance offs, and a relationship with Abba grown so much deeper.
some snapshots throughout the week. enjoy(:
there were very few days it didn’t rain.
most mornings looked like this. brushed our teeth on the way to session using the leftover water from our water bottle. stopped for a pee at the porta pottie and started the day.
some of the women I get to do life with. one night it stormed so bad we were allowed an indoor sleepover instead of our tents. a restless night but a good night.
this horror film looking shack was where all bucket showers were taken. would you believe me if I said I missed it!
we take squad wars very seriously.
this is what community looks like. this is family.
These 10 days were hard. physically, emotionally and spiritually. I knew it would be going into it but i finally got to experience a taste of what my life is going to be like for 9 months. Since coming home, I am a thousand times more excited than before. I am excited for this new community in Christ that I have and getting to live out being a modern day disciple with them. Yes I am scared, but I have also never had such peace because the Lord is so worthy of my sacrifice! Jesus says in Luke “simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it goodbye, you cannot be my disciple.” Whatever you give up you gain a million times with Christ!
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24
From the beginning, God’s desire is to fill the earth with His likeness. I cannot wait to share His love everywhere!
FUNDRAISING UPDATE: my next deadline is $10,000 by August 22. If you feel led to donate you can do so monthly or just one time by clicking the “Donate!” box at the top of my blog. I continue to ask for your prayers as I have 7 weeks left in America before I go out and embark on this new adventure. Thank you again so much for taking your time to read this and keep up with my journey and what the Lord is doing in my life! I love you all so dearly<3
much love,
Brittney
