Since I have been asked so many questions about my upcoming journey, I’ve decided to write a part 2 to my Q & A blog.
When do you leave?
Oct 5th- I’m flying to ATL for a weekend of additional training before heading to Belize on Oct 8th.
Are your parents going to be worried about you while you will be gone?
Short answer: Of course they will since they are my parents & that’s what parents do, but they know that I’m gonna be fine, and that I can handle myself pretty well since this won’t be the first time I’ve lived far away on my own as I spent 2 summer/fall living on the East Coast including Jersey City, Jersey (which is a bit of a rough area). I am extremely independent & I have a lot of street smarts, so to help ease your minds, trust me when I say that I’m gonna be fine.
Besides your team/squad is anyone else going to be out in the field with you?
Yes. Besides my squadmates, we have our 2 awesome squad leaders, Erica & Britt who are WR alumni who have been called to be squad leaders, and their role is to be out in the field with us for the first 5 months of our Race to help lead & guide us, and train some of us to take over the squad lead role for the rest of our race. With the exception of all squad month, the 2 of them will travel among the different locations & stay with each team for a few days to not only serve alongside us, but be there to help us if need be for whatever reason.
In addition to us in the field, we also a whole team back here stateside at home base in Gainesville GA, and that team is made up of a squad mentor, squad administrator, squad coaches & our advisor. It is a bit hard to explain but essentially they are our support team, and a few times during the year they will come out to our debriefs to as they would say “pour into us” and be there for us in any way, and check in with us to see how things are going, and how we are growing in our faith. They will be praying for us constantly as well, which is awesome.
What country are you looking forward to the most? The least?
Ugh I can’t pick just one, but I’m going to go with Vietnam/Cambodia & Eastern Europe.
The least I would have to say Africa, but not in a bad way tho as I guess I’m a bit intimidated by Africa as a whole.
Central America is a tossup for me, but I’m looking forward to going there.
What was your favorite part about Training Camp?
This is an easy one since I would say it is finally meeting the rest of my squad in person for the first time (even if the nerves got to me as I almost got cold feet that first day, and wanted to high tail it back to my car & leave, hahaha) and to go along with that finding out who my team was going to be. Recommitting my life back to Christ, Plus going from worst to first to become squad wars champs also was awesome!
What do you like about your squad/team?
Gosh this is a tough one too as there is just so much I could write!
My Squad- I love the fact that we are so open with each other, and as a result of that just how we bonded so quickly with each other, and if you know me that is something that is hard for me to do since I tend to take awhile to warm up to people, but for some reason I managed to feel comfortable around the people in my squad within a couple of days. I also love how we all have a history that is unique to us whether its good or bad and how we have fought the bad stuff, and overcome it all, and how inspiring it was to hear people’s stories of overcoming these things.
My team- I LOVE MY TEAM!!!!!!!!!!! The things that stick out to me the most about what I like about them is that not only does every one of them have a heart for Christ, but they also have a heart for adventure, so I’ll hopefully always have someone to go on adventures with on our off days. Two, I love the fact that while we do share similar personalities, we still have our own gifts/strengths that we bring to the team, and that is what makes us special.
If you wanna know more- go check out my blog titled The Team The Team The Team
Be honest, Are you nervous?
Honestly overall I was more nervous about training camp then I am about launch and heading to all these countries.
The one thing I am nervous about that has nothing to do with travel/being away from home for a year is the fact that this will be the first time since college that I’ve lived with other people long term who aren’t my parents, plus finding my alone time (but thank God I’m a night owl, so I think I’m going to be ok on that front)
Are you going to get to come home at all during the coming year?
Nope
Are you taking a leave of absence from your job?
No I am going to be permanently leaving my job at Target.
As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I feel God will be closing the door on my “season” at Target in order to prepare me for something bigger which I hope will be reveled to me during my “Gap Year” (or sabbatical year if you want to call it that too).
Keep your eyes open for a future blog about what God could be reveling to me about my next “season” of life.
Have you been practicing the “Church Clap” dance?
Hahahahaha yes I have, and I am happy to say that I have improved on the moves.
Til next time your fellow Sister in Christ,
Bonnie
Team Surrendered
P Squad- Freedom Fighters & 2018 Squad Wars Champs!
Psalms 18:2
YOLO
