Well, some of it. I'll divulge a portion of my Training Camp experience, but if you want all the details, you'll have to ask me in person because I don't want to reveal too much in case other potential Racers are reading!
So, I left my little home in Austin early Saturday morning. Michelle, my most generous loving girlfriend (*wink*) drove me to the airport after only a few hours of sleep. I haphazardly left my apartment in a state similar to that of some ancient ruins (except replace secret treasures with bicycles tossed all about the rooms). I only mention this because the property manager called me later in the week to inform me she'd be showing my place to a potential tenant. oops. Anyway, my flight connected in Houston before proceeding to Atlanta. Once I arrived in Atlanta, I wondered around the airport for a while before finding my way to a supplier of calories (I desperately wanted some of these little wonders by this point in time). After clearing up some confusion as to where in the airport to meet, I finally found my group of fellow World Racers. Oh, and I need not forget that I had to stop by a convenience store in the airport in order to purchase a red t-shirt (my Squad's designated color is red) as to be more easily identified and contribute to our Squad's point total. K Squad is united (staff uses the alphabet to keep track of squads. They are currently running through the second generation alphabet). We were herded onto 3 relabeled school buses and shuttled out to the hills of Georgia through scattered rain showers. Little did we know, these rain showers would become a regular part of life for the coming week. So much so, in fact, that after we collectively worked through our groaning, we simply accepted the fact that we and all our possessions would be wet and stinky. Some of us even resorted to showering in the rain! And yes we kept a modest amount of clothing on. Nobody wants to hear of a scandalous Christian Missions Training Camp! (My running shorts on the other hand proved to be a rather scandalous topic, albeit humorous!)
So what sorts of things did we experience? Well, we were taught not to have expectations. We were taught that just being in Georgia doesn't mean you'll be greeted at the table with a warm Southern meal (dried fish and rice, anyone?) We were taught that the Holy Spirit is very much real and alive and in our presence. Some of us had spiritual gifts uncovered. Some of us cried (okay most of us cried.) Some of us laughed (yeah okay we all laughed. A lot.) We all got significant exposure to like minded people, and very unlike minded people. And we learned that in Georgia, you're either drenched with rain, or drenched with sweat. On that note, my Training Camp experience comes to an end. I have been placed on an exceptional team of 7 believers, among whom 7 of us are excited to live out the coming year together in some crazy awesomeness!
Wait wait wait, surely you're going to tell us more about Training Camp right? OK, I'll offer some key words and phrases that other Racers will understand…
The menu says what?!?!
Someone stole my money in the Market!
I'm hungry.
I'm tired.
I'm wet.
I'm sweaty.
Actually, a pad (referring to a part of every woman's toolbox/purse kit) works quite to patch leaks.
Sleep + school bus.
