It’s been three weeks since I said goodbye to my squadmates, flew home to Maine, and took my first real shower in 10 days. I’ve taken a reprieve to process all of the information I received, reflected on what the Lord revealed to me, and recovered from a nasty cold I picked up along the way. Training camp is where I met my squad and leaders and had the opportunity to thoroughly test out my gear. I not only learned more about what the World Race will be like and received some practical training in evangelism and ministry but also was challenged in my own spiritual growth. Here’s a list of 10 things I brought back with me.
1. There is power in community. Whether it was a field scenario, training simulation or real-life struggle, community was a powerful force during the 10 days at training camp. We shared tents, snacks, and quite literally the shirts off our backs to help fellow squad mates. I didn’t realize how much I need people and will rely on them next year until I met these gems. Hebrews 10:24-25
2. Georgia is cold in October. Whoever thought I was going to enjoy some balmy weather when I headed south was wrong. Frigidly wrong. Highs were in the low 60s and lows in the high 30s. Most activities were outside. We bunked two to a tent for warmth at night. I wore the same sweatshirt layered with a flannel shirt every single day since I neglected to bring a warm jacket.
3. Crickets are delicious. Each day there was a cultural theme. Asia day, India day, Africa day etc. For one meal, a side dish of dried crickets accompanied our white rice. At my table, we each took one and simultaneously crunched the delicacy. It really wasn’t bad. I ended up eating a handful mixed in with my rice. They’re actually a good source of protein and available to ship to your door from Amazon.
4. Mirrors are unnecessary. Ten days without a proper mirror, and I survived. The shabby semi-reflective rectangle on the inside of the porta-potty door barely made it possible for me to check my teeth for cricket wings. No makeup. No checking my outfit before heading out the door (of the tent). Guess what. I didn’t even care and neither did my squad. We were all rocking the sleeping bag head camp look. It wasn’t until using the restroom at the airport on the way home I realized how disheveled I looked. I spiffed myself up a tad before jumping on the plane but only to spare the poor folks sitting next to me. Lesson learned… my value is not found in my appearance but originates solely in the One who created me. “I am who YOU say I am.” -Lauren Daigle
5. Everyone has a story. It’s often hard to see from the outside, usually because we’re good at shading our true selves from the world, but everyone does have a story to tell. We all have hurts from the past we carry along with us. Whether those wounds were caused by others or are a result of our own choices, God has a purpose for the pain… to draw us closer to Him. Romans 8:26-30
6. The Lord listens when we pray for each other. In the past, I have felt peace when others have been praying for me, but during training camp, I experienced it on a whole new level. Knowing people back home were lifting me up in prayer was not only encouraging but comforting as well. As a squad, we spent time praying together and for each other. We saw many of those prayers get answered. Chains were broken, hearts were changed, and hurts were healed. Matthew 18:18-20
7. The Christian life will look crazy to the world. Whether it’s dropping everything to set out on an epic journey sharing the hope we have in Jesus or raising our hands in praise to Him, this behavior is not normal or understood by those who do not know the good news. Often by following Him we are doing the opposite of what the world is doing. John 15:18-27 Hebrews 13:14
8. I can’t be prepared for everything. I spent a lot of time thinking, planning, and packing for training camp. While I was prepared for a variety of situations, I was not prepared for everything. This is where we as a squad worked together to make the best of some challenging scenarios. Romans 12:4-5
9. Even tiny spiders can cause a big problem. Standing in the grass waiting for an outdoor session to start, I suddenly felt like my toe was on fire. I looked down to see a teeny tiny spider and quickly swatted it off my foot. Immediately my little toe was swollen, and the beet red color started to spread up to my heel. Yikes!! In Maine, we’re bombarded by the dreaded blackfly, but at training camp a spider of the same size caused much more than an itchy welt. A quick trip to the medicine cabinet and a couple of Benadryl later, my foot was better but my head foggy.
10. The World Race is going to be epic. If training camp is any indicator of what the World Race will be like, I already know it’s going to be amazing. My squad and our leadership are comprised of a remarkable group of people devoted to serving the Lord and loving each other. I have been given the privilege of living out my faith alongside these wonderful people and sharing it with people all over the world. Acts 2:44-47
Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to leave a comment below and subscribe for updates.
