So it’s been awhile since I’ve posted on here, but holy cow, this is actually happening!! I arrived at training camp a few days ago, and honestly wasn’t phased too much at the start. Between previous missions trips, spending entire summers at Silver Birch Ranch, and going to college, I’m not one to really get homesick. I’m not saying that leaving wasn’t hard because, trust me, it was. Knowing that I won’t see my family or best friends for an entire three months wasn’t settled without a few tears. However, how can I be homesick when I’ve never actually been home? Sure I have a house and loving family in a place I’d like to declare my “home”, but this Earth is not my home. While I don’t know how many years I will get on this pretty little planet, I do know it will be nothing compared to eternity. The seeking of this eternity is what’s caused so many emotions thus far at training camp.
Through the couple days of sessions we’ve had so far, we’ve discussed some pretty heavy topics. The ones that have really stood out to me are the ones about masks and the lies we believe about ourselves. These past few months of my life, I have felt like such a quitter. After thirteen painfully wonderful (emphasis on painfully) years of swimming, I quit this last semester while at college. I quit my physics class. I quit the physical therapy program I was in at school. I quit COLLEGE for crying out loud (at least for now). I have always found my identity in sports, school, and just overall being driven, determined, hard-working, and a perfectionist. How am I supposed to call myself these things when I just acted in the complete opposite way towards the things I have put on a pedestal in my life for so long? And that’s when it hit me. If I’m chasing after Earthly things, they are always going to fail me. Sure I quit these things of the world, but I’m pursuing eternity. Who cares if I’m a “quitter” in terms of the earth if I’m a “doer” in terms of the kingdom? Overall, it’s been so cool to see how God can bring peace to something in two days that has been bottled up for more than two months. He is so good!!
On a lighter note, finally getting to meet my team has been absolutely fantastic. There are nine of us on Thailand/Cambodia Team One, and we have one super joyful leader. Each one of us brings something so unique to the table, and I can’t wait to see how all these personalities are used out on the field. A great deal of my team is from the south, and let me tell you, I catch onto accent QUICK. I’ve said “y’all” more these past few days than I have my whole life, so it’ll be interesting to see how I talk by the end of this. I’ve heard about Bojangles so stinkin’ much from Ellen that I feel like I was born in one and the menu was my first language. It’s been so cool to see the Lord opening each of our hearts to each other as if we’ve know each other for years. I am so confident in the things God will allow us to do these next few months.
Finally, tomorrow is our last day of training camp before leaving for Cambodia!! We fly from Atlanta to San Francisco to Taiwan (14 hours woo hoo) to Phnom Penh, so we have some long travel days ahead. Prayer for safe flights are always appreciated 🙂 I am so overjoyed for this experience to actually begin!
