Wow! Who knew Georgia would become my new home so quickly! Here at Adventures in Missions Headquarters (AIM), 100+ racers have set up their tents in multiple campsites around the area. My tent is my home and I feel so at peace! For someone who’s never been camping in a tent and jumped right into it this couldn’t have been any better! I never knew living in a tent would be this much fun! Feeling alive!
At the beginning of the training camp, each squad was split into two separate cohorts to make sure everyone was healthy & if someone wasn’t, they’d be able to control any sort of sickness spreading (especially Covid). With lots of prayer for health and safety, this past week each squad’s cohorts were able to join together and have their squad whole again! What a joyous moment that was full of celebrations, hugs, and happy tears! Man, God’s blessings and mercies are new every morning and it is so beautiful to see His glorious plans for this gap year and my squad unfold!
The first two weeks of training camp all racers took bucket showers to experience a piece of life on the race. Who new bucket showers would be so fun! Because training camp is 3 months long, AIM blessed us with shipping containers turned into showers! We began to take real showers this past week which was a blessing, but I’ll be honest… I miss bucket showers lol! And incase you’re wondering how we go to the bathroom… we use porta-potties. All of this to say AIM is preparing us well for the mission field 😀
It’s so much fun having an amazing community around me! God answered so much prayer when He put my whole squad and leaders together! I wouldn’t trade this squad family for any other! In this, God has revealed to me how important community is in the body of Christ! The first Sunday of training camp (5 days in) we had what they called the “fitness hike.” You had 38 minutes to complete a 2.2 mile hike while carrying your 45lb backpack (the pack I live out of)! Boy was it a challenge! This hike challenged me both physically, mentally, and spiritually! Hiking with the pack on my back brought so much pain and muscle aches. The thoughts of “my body can’t do this. I should just quit right here,” ran through my head constantly. Spiritually I came to realize I cannot do many things on my own strength but with God, He will give me the strength to finish not just the hike but in general life when things get tough! As I continued the hike, there were squad leaders spread out all over the trail who encouraged me every step of the way! It was so cool seeing how God used the community around me to encourage, pray, and speak truth over me as I hustled to the finish line! After the hike, one of my teammates gave me a new perspective on what the hike represented. She said “Can you believe Jesus carried the cross that weighed way more than just 45lb at a longer distance than 2.2 and didn’t have any encouragement the whole way yet he kept going? This goes to show just how much Jesus loves us! He never gave up and that’s so special!” When I wanted to give up, I prayed, ‘God even if I don’t make the time, I want to finish so I can glorify You!’ If I wanted to quit I could have, but how selfish of me to just give up because something was too hard on my own strength. God uses moments of weakness to strengthen us and to glorify Himself knowing that if we lean on Him, He can take us to new heights and depths! Hallelujah!
Over the past few weeks we’ve had learning sessions for a few hours before lunch, and then team time, debrief, and squad worship throughout the rest of day. I’m learning so much everyday! I’m thankful for this season of learning and growing more confident in the Lord and in who He wants me to be.
I love change and God has me in a season where lots of change is happening! I’m excited to see where He takes me as I continue to grow throughout these next few months! I love you all and I’m so honored to share what the Lord is doing in me, through me, and around me! You’re prayers are always appreciated!
xoxo
Clara Jane (aka cjane aka CJ 😉
