So about a week ago I got back from training camp which took place in Gainesville, Georgia! Now I’m not actually sure what I was expecting when I thought about training camp, but I can 100% assure you that the expectations I did have were blown completely out of the water. Reading the blogs of past racers experiences at training camp was nothing like my own was. I was stretched mentally, physically, emotionally and most importantly, spiritually.
I started this whole experience with a whole bunch of nerves. I was terrified to be honest with you. I had never flown by myself before, so I was worrying about everything and anything going horribly wrong in the airports. I was worried about what would happen at training camp, all of us had read the horror stories about the 2 mile hike (actually not that bad, I swear), about the food (quality=excellent, quantity=not so much), and about all of the field scenarios that we’d be put through (also not as bad as it sounds).
So eventually we all got to training camp (it took me 2 planes, a bus to a separate airport, and plenty of driving the next day), but when I got there, initially all I felt was excitement. I was meeting all these people that I was going to be spending the next 9 months of my life with! As that night continued though, fear again set in. This came after my quick realization of how hard this camp was actually going to be. And from what I heard from my squad mates, I wasn’t the only one who ended up in tears in my tent that first night, from frustration, confusion, feeling like I wasn’t fitting in and connecting with my squad, or having thoughts of “why on earth am I here, and what was I possibly thinking when I signed up for this.” But let me tell you, after one more day of living life at training camp all of those thoughts and concerns disappeared.
One of the best parts about camp was the worship sessions. It was so amazing to look around the room and see a whole bunch of other teenagers who were crazy about God. And I’m not talking about just a little bit nuts, I’m talking about 150 people leaping and dancing throughout the worship songs, falling to their knees in awe, all while shouting and singing at the absolute top of their lungs, crazy. Everyone.
Another amazing thing I got to witness at camp was seeing God work firsthand. You often hear about these awesome miracles, but generally you don’t see them everyday. I think that part of the reason we don’t see (or notice) them is our own fault. We either aren’t looking for them, or we aren’t asking God to do anything crazy. We don’t always realize that God is completely capable of doing insane things that you would never imagine! He’s the same as he ever was and will be, he can still raise the dead, heal the sick and injured, cure the blind, and do whatever he wants to. In the last two weeks I have seen sprains healed, blisters from second degree burns vanish, 3 people with back problems healed and someone with celiac’s (gluten intolerance) healed. All in a period of 10 days. If that hadn’t gotten me excited about this trip than I honestly have no clue what would have.
So now it’s the middle of August, I have only 24 days until launch (CRAZY, I know), and I’m so excited to be working in Guatemala for the first part of my trip with my amazing team, Luminous!
I can’t wait to see what God has in store for the next 9 months!
Thanks for taking the time to read 🙂
