Training camp…wow, kind of felt like a dream all together. I’ve been home for almost two weeks now and not a day has gone by where I have not thought about it, my new people, and my great God who did some radical things those 10 days.
World Race training camp is intended to prepare us for life on the field. Life on the field entails many unknowns and is totally unpredictable so they try to arrange training camp to be the same. I tried not to do a lot of digging prior to training camp because I figured if I just winged it, I wouldn’t have any expectations or anxiety about it. I have to admit I caved the night before I left for camp and read a few past training camp blogs though. I didn’t have to look too far or quite literally read more than 2 blogs to know camp was going to be hard. But I wasn’t sure just how far it would stretch me.
Training camp looked like this: 10 days in the middle of July, tenting in steamy Georgia humidity, finally getting to hug the people I had interacted with on my phone screen for the past 6 months, taking cold bucket showers, eating unfamiliar foods, sitting through hours upon hours of sessions, dance parties all day everyday, doing business in porta-potties, bonding with my squad, being surrounded by a community of salt and light, people ablaze for the pursuit of the Gospel, and exploring the possibilities of what life could look like over the next 9 months. That description, while accurate, could give the impression that camp was fun, but it really wasn’t. In the moment, training camp sucked. The days just seemed so tedious. I’m not kidding when I say it felt like 10 years rather than 10 days. I don’t even know what my comfort zone is but I’m pretty sure I was “out of it” and I didn’t feel like my normal self. Plus I was sick for half of the time (peritonsillar cellulitis woo hoo). But looking back, training camp was so fruitful and a beautiful thing I was able to experience. I miss it now, haha.
There were highs and lows of course, but the first six days of camp were the roughest. Night six was my turning point though. During worship that night (which btw worship was my absolute favorite part of camp) I started having doubts. I had this voice in my head telling me to quit and fly home. I felt insufficient, out of place, embarrassed, unsuitable, and shameful. It was my lowest low. My thoughts were racing and I really didn’t know what to do, but I’m pretty positive it was Jesus who placed one of my teammates there to provide me with some peace and reassurance. As I was balling, she spoke wisdom to me and said, “I think the devil tries to deceive us the most when he sees that we are about to do big things for Jesus. He knows how much Jesus is changing your heart and preparing you for this mission here and he would do anything to stop that.” It was true. Jesus really was changing and shaping my heart and mind, empowering me in every possible way to bring kingdom. I am living for Him now. The devil must have been quaking at all that was occurring at training camp, not just inside of me, but in so many other racers as well.
I’m so grateful for my teammate pointing this truth out and even more so for training camp as a whole. By the end of it, I was a happy camper. I was able to experience complete freedom and walk in the kingdom. I saw Jesus in so many ways, especially in the people on my squad and Adventures staff. I made long lasting friendships. I witnessed miracles and healings. And I walked away from camp hungry for more of God and beyond pumped to launch to South Africa and the rest.
Huge thank you to everyone who was praying for me while I was at training camp and whoever is continuing to pray for my journey. Love you all big!
Julia
