World Race training camp is like a deep tissue massage- painful and glorious all at the same time.
It’s a time for the Lord to work out all those knots that you didn’t even know you had.
I would like to preface this blog with the truth- I was not excited about training camp. I wasn’t excited about feeling like a middle schooler- making friends as quickly as possible so that I didn’t have to sit by myself at lunch. I wasn’t excited about the strange food my sensitive tummy would encounter. I wasn’t even excited about meeting my squad. In fact, the thought of meeting them terrified me.
“What if they don’t like me? What if I don’t fit in with them? Will I experience that familiar feeling of rejection from my peers?” All the questions, fears, and worries ended up in a ball deep in my stomach and I literally couldn’t stop shaking as I drove onto the Adventures campus. I was not excited about training camp.
But isn’t it just like God to use the things that scare us the most to take us into the deeper places of Himself? Man, He’s so cool.
Training camp is FUN! Really though, if you love God, people, and the great outdoors it doesn’t get much better! From squad wars, (V squad represent!!!) to bucket showers, to bugs for lunch, there’s always something new waiting for you every day (and night) *cough cough* sleeping scenarios.
Training camp is TOUGH. Y’all. I can’t even begin to tell you all of the incredible things that God did in my heart at training camp. To go deeper with Him means getting real, getting vulnerable, and getting called out. If any of you have ever seen Kid President talk about Robert Frost’s “The Road Less Traveled” and scream “AND IT HURT MAN!“–that’s how I feel about going deeper with Jesus. It’s not easy, it’s not popular, and it hurts. But taking the road less traveled means that I get to experience The Lord like I never have before, and it’s worth every step.
Jesus taught me about my fear of being alone and my fear of rejection. He walked with me through past experiences and showed me where He was in every one of them. He’s never left me alone. He taught me that emotional maturity is a choice and that my emotions and feelings don’t control me. He taught me that being a woman is something to be proud of and that I have a special role in the kingdom. He taught me what it means to live in community with fellow brothers and sisters. He taught me the importance of humbly giving and receiving feedback from my teammates. And the list could go on and on.
Training camp is SMELLY!!! Seriously y’all, the stench was real. Bring all the sprays.
Training camp is NECESSARY. Before camp, I didn’t understand the importance of getting to know my squad mates and leadership team before I left. I didn’t understand why I needed to be put through stressful field scenarios or eat weird food. I didn’t understand the point of spending 10 days in a tiny town in Georgia with people that I didn’t know. For everyone who is experiencing the same thoughts, trust me, it is soooo necessary. Training camp gives you time to learn from and grow with your leadership team and your squad/team mates. Believe me, you will want to know the people you’re going to spend a year of your life in community with. You will not regret leaving comforts of home behind for an extra 10 days to sleep in the woods with your 25 smelly squad mates. In fact, you’ll learn to love it and you’ll be sad when it’s all over.
At the end of training camp, I got put onto a team of 7 that I will be with for an undetermined amount of time while on the race. These are the people that I’ll be doing life with on the field.
TEAM LIGHTHOUSE
From left:
Julia is an amazing woman of God and is one of the most Spirit filled people I’ve ever met! She lives boldly and stands up for truth.
Oriolyne is the momma bear of the group, always looking out for me and my teammates. She is extremely wise and has so much to offer the world.
Daniel is an old soul and has just the right amount of silliness and gentleness. He’s a leader and is full of faith and wisdom.
Taylor is one of the most life-giving individuals and is just plain fun to be around. She desires holiness and it’s evident in the way she carries herself and treats others.
Ryan is our team leader. He walks humbly before the Lord and does nothing out of his own strength. He calls on Jesus and has gone to war in prayer for us already too many times to count.
Rachel is gentle, patient, and kind. She loves others extremely well. She seems to always know what someone needs to hear.
To say I’m excited about my team is an undestatement.
V Squad before our big hike!
Make a memory day
Girls day best day
Squad Wars dance off champions!
To say that my Jesus did a great work in me at training camp would be an understatement. I feel more prepared than ever to partner with Him in bringing His love to the nations.
In the next 6 weeks, I’ll continue to prepare physically, spiritually, and emotionally for the race! My next financial deadline is July 21st- $10,000. Seems scary. Seems big. But God’s in the business of surprising me by using people like YOU to send me to the nations. I’ll accept all the prayers, donations, and hugs I can get before I leave!
