As I walked through the airport with my mom I was numb to the emotions that would soon rush through me. I’m one of those people who waits until the last second to do everything, so I guess my emotions thought it appropriate to wait until the last second too and surprise me with a wave of overwhelming anticipation and a realization that this was actually happening… As I kept walking toward security I heard my mom say from a few feet behind me “okay bye sweetie!!” and I turned around, forgetting that she was staying behind. As silly as it might sound, getting on a plane by myself scared me more than I thought it would. But, as I pushed back the tears that were surfacing and marched forward with the knowledge that I would soon be with my 50 new squadmates/sisters in Christ, I knew I was far from being alone. And boy was that an understatement. There was no way I could have known what a wild ride the next 10 days would be.
Training camp was hard. It was exhausting. It took me wayyy out of my comfort zone and it challenged me physically and spiritually in ways that I have never experienced before. I think if I had used the tears I shed throughout the week to wash me I would have been cleaner than I was the whole week using those dang bucket showers. After talking with my squadmates and realizing that I wasn’t the only one in my scorching hot tent the first night plotting my escape into normal civilization, I knew that I didn’t have to do this alone. We were all in this together (cue high school musical music). We cried, we laughed, and we grew together. Honestly I could write a novel all about training camp and what I experienced… Some things I am still processing even now. If you want to know even more details please don’t hesitate to ask me… I would love to share more of my training camp story with you.
A few quick training camp highlights:
1) In the middle of training camp I was put into my team, team “Rooted,” that I will be serving with for at least the first three months of my trip! I love all five of my new “roommates” and I am filled with excitement for what the Lord will bring to me and my team and the journey we will take as we explore His kingdom in three weeks!!
2) As I have mentioned in my previous blog post, our squad is all girls! As training camp progressed I felt myself getting more and more thrilled to be on an all girls squad. We are the first all girls squad in the history of the World Race. We are pioneers. And there is no doubt in my mind that God will use this all girls squad in new and amazing ways.
3) We are going to Cambodia!! Adventures in Missions has added a FOURTH country to our route, so we will be serving in Cambodia for one month and then Thailand for two, Malawi for three, and Guatemala for three. Exciting news!!!
Just a few of the things that I learned at training camp and am continuing to process:
The way we see ourselves is the way we see the world
- There isn’t any room for maybes in our spirit… (just say yes)
- Unforgiveness shapes your heart and not only destroys you but those around you… it only leads to hatred
- Free people free people//if you don’t have it, you can’t give it
- God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called
- Sometimes losing control is a good thing. It is only when we are uncomfortable that we are the most radically changed
- Humility sparks growth –Proverbs 11:2
- There is no room for comparison
- I am WORTHY!
- God will break you to make you
- I still have a LOT to learn.
I will never forget the memories from training camp; the countless conversations with people I feel like I’ve known my whole life, crazy awesome all night worship sessions, laughing tears of joy, spontaneous dance-offs, lip-sync battles, cold bucket showers, eating crickets along with strange looking meats (I didn’t ask…), or the “glamorous” port-a-potties. Training camp was hard. And it was exhausting. And it was uncomfortable. And that is what made it so good. And let me tell you. The girl that left her mother at the airport was not the same girl who returned 10 days later. If there was any doubt as to whether this is where I belong for the next nine months, it was gone after these 10 days. I am more confident than ever that this is where I am meant to be, and I can only imagine what I will learn about myself, God, and others in these next nine months
God is going to do crazy things on this trip and I hope you can join me and be a part of the journey that the Lord has called us to. Stay tuned for more updates as my World Race launch approaches… in just 19 days I’ll be on my way to Cambodia… crazy right?
“how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news”
~Romans 10:15~
