I’ve been putting off writing this blog for a whole week because the thought of conveying in writing everything that training camp was to me is so overwhelming. I know I can’t sum up everything it meant to me and how much it changed me. Instead of some long, introspective blog on my emotions and thoughts, I decided to share simple moments from my days that stuck with me and meant something to me.
Day 1, Atlanta Airport. I’m sitting in directly outside of a large circle of kids with overstuffed backpacks who are chatting and laughing. These are my squad mates who I will spend the next 10 days with. I am outside of the circle because I am too afraid to put myself out there and join them. I wonder exactly what I got myself into as I sit in anxious silence. Things clear up for me as we head to the buses and I introduce myself to a few friendly girls. My stomach turns in a mixture of regret and anticipation as I board the bus to Gainesville, Georgia.
Day 2 I’m walking down the steep, dusty hill between the training center and our squad campground. We had just heard a passionate talk from Seth Barnes, the founder of The World Race. He made everything very clear and simple, explain that you only need two things to succeed on the Race: a ‘yes’ in your spirit and full dependency on God. Feelings of guilt and conviction stormed in my mind as I made my way through the little village of squad mate’s tents. I thought about all that was holding me back from this ‘yes’ in my spirit and wondered if I could ever really do the race. Amid these thoughts, Karen, our wise squad mentor, approached me and asked how I was doing. I couldn’t hold my feelings in any more and started to cry, so she took me aside to talk. I told her everything that was on my heart and we found that we shared a lot of the same burdens. She told me that a life fully dependent on Jesus, a life with a yes in my heart, would surprise me with more joy and peace than I could ever imagine. This moment was the beginning of freedom! I knew that God would carry me through this big adventure if I just depended on him.
Day 4 It’s 1 AM and I am on my shift for the first of our many night scenarios. In this scenario, there must be at least one person from the squad awake and praying/worshipping throughout the night. I am with a small group of three other girls. We spend an hour worshipping in the dark while the rest of the camp is silent. The sound of soft guitar and voices harmonizing in praise is so beautiful that the time flies by and I am surprised when our hour is over. I walk back to my tent and my heart is full.
Day 5 My 38 person squad is spending the night in a small campsite meant for about 6 people. It starts to pour down rain and we all cram under a tarp we had set up to sleep under. As it rains, another squad comes to our campsite to pray for us because we had had several injuries that day. All I can see from under the tarp is their feet and I can barely hear their passionate prayers over the roaring of the rain. I can’t help feeling an overwhelming sense of unity and love underneath that tarp.
Day 6 I’m sitting on a bench that looks out onto a sun-lit field, spending some much needed time alone. This has become regular spot for me and I enjoy simply sitting and being present in nature and with Jesus. The first thing I notice when I get there are some newly blossomed flowers that were not there before. I wonder in my journal if that could represent a new change in me. Later that night, we learn about prophecy and get into small groups to listen for God’s voice. A squad-mate tells me that she has this image of a flower in a field. It opens up and as it does, a chain reaction begins and flowers around it start to blossom. She explains that God is saying that I am that first flower and the other flower’s blossoming around me will be because of his peace and love in me.
Day 8 My squad and I are officially committing to The World Race. It feels strangely like a wedding as we vow “I will” as our leader reads each expectation of a racer. We hand our signed ‘contracts’ in one at a time and make our way through a tunnel of cheering squad mate’s interlocked hands. Soon after, we are sorted into our teams and everyone is celebrating. In the moment, it all feels very official and I almost can’t believe that I’m actually going through with this big step in my life. I feel a warm sense of security that I didn’t have before training camp. I know that God is with me and will be with me in the next nine months, guiding me, comforting me, teaching me, and protecting me. For the first time, I know in my heart that I’m ready for this big adventure with Jesus by my side.
These are just a few moments of many that I could share from training camp. I learned how to live life fully with Jesus, and I’m trying to practice that every day. I leave for Antigua, Guatemala on August 4th, where I will spend my first month. I want to thank everyone who has supported in me financially and in prayer. I’ve been absolutely blown away with your generosity! Pray for me in the next few weeks as I prepare to leave and start to say goodbye to family and friends. Thank you all so much!
