Well, my training camp was quite different than most.
Different because I trained with bronchitis. 10 days away in Georgia had never felt like such a fight for me. A fight for my health, relational growth with my peers, energy to keep me going, and a voice against all the attacks of the enemy.
Training camp was tough, mainly we focused on learning to let everything we know go for the sake of the gospel. These lessons took many forms. Every morning from 7am to around 9, sometimes 10pm we gave our phones to our leaders. Doing this detached us from our world, and focused us on our creator’s.
We were also asked to let go of our comfort and privileged mindset. Sometimes this looked like sleeping with a buddy in a one man tent with one sleeping bag. Or in airport scenario with loud turbulent noise and the lights on. Some of these comforts were easy, to give up and others not so much. We each struggled in our own areas. Sleep deprivation, Fear, Communication, vulnerability, forgiveness, loss of personal space, malnourishment, and heat exhaustion.
Yet, I have never appreciated an experience more. I learned to trust my family, my father in heaven and my leadership in a way I was wounded to. I learned to see where God is in all painful moments. I learned that the Holy Spirit, which lives inside of me is my councilor. That I have authority over the enemy. That there is freedom in forgiveness. I learned more about the body of christ through the ministry God brought together at AIM.
272.
The number of gap years racers training for the missions trip with me in Georgia. The number of Spirits revitalized and awoken. The number of young men and woman adults who said Yes to abandonment and offering over a year of their life to Christ. 272 truth tellers, evangelists, and radical kingdom bringers.
At Training Camp I witnessed chains and lies be broken. I witnessed healing and community rising together in a way I have never seen before. I worshipped God in my weakness and dove into his goodness when I had absolutely nothing left in me. God gave me strength both mentally and physically.
I am so grateful for my training camp experience even if it was nothing close to what I expected. God taught me to see him close to me. He healed my brokenness and taught me that there is ministry in rest.
