Usually when you look at blogs and videos about training camp people make it out to seem extremely hard and something that needs loads and loads of preparation. I will say it had it’s difficulties … meaning that HIKE, but as someone who has gone through the full 10 days of camp I can confidently say it was such a beautiful experience. Of course there were some aspects of it that were just down right gross; The porta-potties, the BUGS, the sweat, and sometimes the heat, also my tonsils swelling up and me losing my voice for 3 whole days (not fun). Although those things were difficult to adjust to it made my squad and myself stronger and more prepared for whats to come in the next 9 months!
Here’s the good part- The instant family of 33 I have gained over a 10 day span, the AMAZING team leaders that have made this week so great and fun, the WORSHIP (wow my ears heard the angels sing!), and most importantly the way JESUS has impacted every soul attending training camp. When I say these things I don’t just mean “guys God is so good yay!” (which he is) but I have seen people healed in front of me by the spirit of God. I have met the souls, shaken the hands, and hugged many who were meant to be placed in this beautiful experience.
If you think “oh wow that sounds so amazing” just wait.
Here’s the best part- I’m going to get a little vulnerable right now, Lately I’ve been feeling pretty detached from God. Pretty big word right? I think so. Of course its nothing fancy but its powerful and it makes me feel cold, isolated, and empty. What does it make YOU feel? Detached. Yeah so if you thought about it, I doubt it brings a joyful feeling to mind. What I’ve learned astonished me though.
From the start of the week I was ready to get back on my cleanse with God, it looks different for everyone. For me, I cry, it’s my way of telling God “I am your child.” So I’ll walk through my process.
July 9th (first night)- no tears “it’s okay, it’ll come”
July 10th (second night)- nothing “okaayy then “
July 11th (third night) – nothing again “wow this is going to hit me HARD”
July 12th (fourth night) – teared up but it went away “at this point I’m mad I just want it out of my system and I am trying to get Gods attention, I feel DETACHED. I was questioning “Am I supposed to be here?” “God do you see me?”
July 13th (fifth night) – the song reckless love plays (the song I got baptized to) i raise my hands and talk to God and nothing, in the last 3 minutes of the song the worship band plays the lines “there’s no shadow you wont light up, mountain you wont climb up
coming after me
no wall you wont kick down, no lie you wont tear down
coming after me” plays a numerous amount of times and then..
here I am completely surrounded and I am crying. I am attached.
This is not it though, yes this is a God moment but it’s not the God moment.
The God moment- In our mid-day session we do an exercise on intimacy with God. At the end of the session the speaker says to us pray to God and say “I am willing to have a “yes” in my spirit , who is on your heart today?”
Basically what this prayer means is God says a name and you go to the person in the room and let God speak through you to that person.
So I prayed a few times because I wanted to be moved through him, and I saw many being reached through him because they had a yes in their spirit. So I prayed it again and again and aga- “stop talking”(God) first of all I was thinking “okay ouch God but alright then” but I obeyed and I noticed a girl walking around and her shirt said “fix it Jesus” not even 30 seconds later she came up to me and said ” I just want to let you know God sees your heart and I think you should share what it is you are feeling”
WOW GOD JUST SPOKE TO ME THROUGH THIS GIRL WHAT THE WHAT????
I balled ( and not the shooting hoops kind, like UGLY cried) because I had been chasing after him when he was right there in front of me wanting him to see my heart.
Well guess what? He saw it. And he still sees it.
That night I got up on stage before worship and I shared that with 300 people in a crowed room and I prayed over every single person in that room and now I’m sharing my God moment with you over a screen and I got to sum up my training camp experience in 990 words.
So back to the big question, Is World Race training camp as scary as it seems?
No, if anything it was one of the most beautiful experiences that will forever be in my heart.
So there you have it training camp was a blast.
However, I’m not done with this experience yet and I still need all the help I can get until I am fully funded. I would like to thank EVERYONE who has donated and prayed over me you all have become such a blessing in aiding my dream journey, so thank you!
For anyone who is looking to help me out with donating and prayers it is ALWAYS greatly appreciated. If you feel like you want to donate you can do it right here on my blog and its super easy! Also please remember when donating ANYTHING helps it really does add up!
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog it means so much to me!
-Blaize <3
