PWM…….LGA……ATL

Portland, Maine……Queens, New York…….Atlanta, Georgia. These were the stops on my way to Training Camp.   I was prepared as I boarded the plane, in my beloved state of Maine, or so I thought……… 
I knew I was stepping out of my comfort zone for the next nine days and that it wasnt going to be easy. I mean, I was leaving  Maine and traveling to Atlanta to go camping during the end of July, thats crazy to begin. But I might have underestimated how far of a step from my comfort zone this was going to be.

 

During this camp, I was to meet the 60 people I was going to spend the next year of my life with and going in I knew nobody.  For an introvert such as myself, thats a hard thing to do.  I was still transitioning from college graduation and leaving behind the friends I had come to know and love over the past four years. And here I was, expected to open up to sixty complete strangers.  THEY must be crazy was my original thought.

 

Words are not able to describe the following nine days…….but I will try to describe you some of my experiences.

 

Training camp consisted of teachings, workshops, instructions, worship, team builders, as well as endless conversations with my fellow racers.  We met with Michael Hindes, Director of The World Race, who challenged us beyond anything we had ever known. We released all expectations we might have going into this Race so as not to be disappointed if and when they werent met. The bonds that held us to the past were released and no longer weighed us down. We were held accountable for the relationships, curses, and judgements that prevented us from living life in the way pleasing to our Father. This rang true to me as I thought back to relationships that had really affected me during my time at Nyack. Community and relationships are what keeps us going in life and were stressed even more during our camp as we began to see how close we would become with the people we were to share the next year. 

 

I was hot, tired, overwhelmed, stressed, excited, and uncomfortable in more ways than one but I knew by the end of the nine days that I was where I was supposed to be. The coming year was not always going to be easy or fun but I didnt decide to do this because I thought it was going to be easy.  I have always enjoyed hard work and thrive on a challenge so I was ready.  I want to be stretched. I want to be hope to the hopeless…….”My life is not my own. Evil exists, but God has given me power to do big things.” Tom Davis    

 

I could write for hours about my time in Georgia but Im going to save it for a later date.  I hope all you who read this will come back and follow me during the coming year.  I know there will be endless adventures and stories I will have to share and so I hope to be able to share these with you.  

 

Good Bye……..until next time……