I’m back from Training Camp! For the past 10 days, I was with my squad at Adventures in Missions’ base in Gainesville, Georgia.
The 48 of us make up Y Squad; we come from all over the states and everyone has a different beautiful story of how they ended up quitting their job and camping in the July Georgia heat in preparation for a year of ministry, community, and life outside their comfort zone.
Training camp exposed us to elements of the World Race:
1 – The PHYSICAL elements: heat, rain, cooking dinner over a fire, bucket showers, hiking with a 40lb backpack in 95 degrees, sleeping in a hammock hanging from the trees while caked in red dirt, porta potties, sickness, limited meal portions, lugging water jugs to our campsite…I think I looked in a mirror twice in ten days. While not every month of ministry will be roughing it quite like this, we definitely learned what it means to sustain ourselves with limited physical comforts and conveniences. And how to keep your stuff dry in a pouring thunderstorm.
2 – The EMOTIONAL elements: The World Race cares about the missionaries they’re putting on the field. Consequently, we talk. And process. And debrief. And share. While vulnerability and feelings may seem like a soft subject, I quickly realized how crucial emotional health is on the field. You have to deal with your stuff, lest it shut you down to the spiritual and relational aspects of ministry that encompass the good work of healing, redemption, and reconciliation that we’re doing in Jesus’ name on the field. You can’t love well living trapped in your own emotions.
3 – The SPIRITUAL elements: Whoa baby. I was deeply encouraged by my squadmates’ testimonies as well as the spiritual support and example of the Adventures staff that has already gone on the Race. I was reminded of freedom through grace and forgiveness, excited to see life spoken into peoples’ hearts through prayer, and spurred on by Jesus’ promise to fully equip us for ministry through the Holy Spirit (John 14 & 16). I don’t have enough words here to describe this foundational element of the World Race. I do know that, in accordance with Romans 8, as Christians we walk with power within us that nothing on earth can put asunder.
4 – The RELATIONAL elements: Community. Connection. Hot words that sound awesome but actually take sacrifice. Some aspects of community are beautiful to me: the rhythm of living with people in one campsite or one room, sleeping, waking, eating, serving, laughing, and surrendering to the flow of life in the present. Some aspects are full of friction: “Hey guys, I’m really sick and need sleep. Could you keep it down?” “That person’s personality…rubs me the wrong way.” “Please don’t talk to me. I really want to be alone right now.” This stuff HAPPENS! Just because we’re Christians doesn’t mean everyone suddenly lives in seamless harmony together. However, the gain of community is infinitely bigger than the sacrifice.
My biggest gift of Training Camp is the team the Lord placed me in:
Meet team Ichthys! That’s me, Nicole B., Shrena, Nicole B. (nicknames are forthcoming), Kayla, and Faith. I am proud and excited to announce I will be serving with these solid, fun, and passionate women in ministry this year. Our first stop: Novi Sad, Serbia!
I’ll be honest. Training Camp got me PUMPED. Pumped that I have people to pray for me and breathe Truth into my spirit when the enemy tells me true freedom will never be mine – that I should just quit. Pumped that I found friends to laugh with that tap into my carefree side that’s been dormant for too long. Pumped that I have people who love me just the same when I’m sweaty, stinky, sick, and make-up free. Pumped that I am being guided by the World Race to listen to the Lord, discern His voice, leave behind my life of distractions, and tap into what the Lord is already doing around the world. Training Camp fully affirmed my decision to serve on the World Race, and I continue to walk in peace and confidence towards our launch on the first weekend of September!
Please keep us in your prayers as we all head home for our final 7 weeks in the states! Preparations and responsibilities abound – may we be ever focused on the One who creates and sustains it all.
