Like any excited racers, Brad and I read up on countless blogs about what to expect from training camp before embarking on our trip to Georgia for our 10-day training. We researched all the necessities to bring, what to wear, and some hints about rumored “field scenarios”. We were very informed on what to anticipate and what you should be prepared for…many thanks to other racers’ blogs! However, there were many things that we were not expecting. As we got in the truck to come back to NC, we immediately launched into everything about this training that caught us by surprise, in a good way. And that, my friends, has inspired our blog post..
8. You will do A LOT of work on yourself and your relationship with the Lord. The first five days is basically all about this, and praise the Lord for that! It’s hard to go talk about the goodness of the Lord among the nations when you are still holding onto a lot of baggage in your own life. Walking with the Lord is a journey, and there are going to be highs and lows, but we SO appreciated that much time was invested in making sure that we are in a healthy place spiritually.
7. Bucket Showers. Never had one before, but man you sure get used to them fast. It’s funny how quickly your paradigm shifts. I knew we were going to be “roughing it” but that was a whole other level for me.
6. Vulnerability. It’s a beautiful thing to let people into your life and meet you where you are at. No one has it together, and no need to act like we do. When you invite people into that space, you are inviting truth and wisdom from the Lord. I know this is a huge part of why we left feeing like a family.
5. Crickets. And not the kind that hang out outside of your tent at night. These are the kind that are fried up for breakfast. 15 grams of protein in one cricket! That was the morning I pulled a Cliff Bar out of the stash I had been hoarding.
4. Evangelism 101. This was one of my favorite parts of training camp. So often we limit the way God works by just what we have seen and experienced in the states, and with our western culture. It was so amazing to learn how the Lord reveals Himself to different people all over the world. Muslims that come to know the Lord typically encounter Christ during a dream or a vision. Many Hindu and Buddhist come to know the Lord through healing. It was so insightful to learn about world religions and how to approach sharing the Gospel based on what they believe.
3. Port-a-potties and no coffee. I don’t know why I thought there might be coffee, but there was not. I don’t know why I thought there would be real bathrooms, there were not.
2. Down time. Don’t expect a lot of it. You are on the go almost constantly, embrace it. If you are dependent on naps, I would make sure to break that habit before training camp.
1. You come in as 50 individuals and you leave as a family of 50. This sounds crazy, but it’s insanely true. I have a hard time describing the type of relationship that is fostered at training camp. I think its partially because we know these people will, in a lot of ways, be our family for the next year. We also have spent many sleepless nights together and we have been emotionally, spiritually, physically challenged together. That combination paves the way for beautiful friendships to blossom in just 10 days.
Training camp has been one of the best experiences for us. We have grown in our walk with the Lord, and in our marriage. This has made us so excited for what the Lord will do on the Race. We are so stoked to go LOVE purposefully- for the sake of the Gospel.
Thanks for reading!
-Cristin and Brad
