I MADE IT OUT OF TRAINING CAMP ALIVE!!! YAY!!!
Let’s talk about it.
275 World Racers landed in Gainesville, GA on July 6th. Giant backpacks on, hair clean, freshly showered and ready to change the world. I walked into training camp with no expectations. Just my big ol’ brain full of firm theology and a total lack of preparation for the multi-cultural experience that training camp was about to be. I could sit here and pretend that I walked away from those ten days as the exact same Chessie you knew before. Instead, I want you to hear about the five different ways my reality was flipped upside down.
1. There actually IS a time for silence!
If you know me at all, you know that I love the sound of my own voice. From day one, it was obvious that my habit of filling every awkward pause in the conversation with some small talk just was not going to work. Over the first couple of sessions, we discussed how to hear another person’s story. I learned that silence represents an internal struggle and should be welcomed in conversation! Asking intentional questions, thanking them for sharing their heart, and actually remembering to appreciate the pauses. All of these things seem so simple in theory. Somehow, I went 19 years without mastering any of them. So here goes nothing!
2. My testimony isn’t something to keep hidden.
For the most part, I’m open about my mistakes. Yet I still feel shame when I tell parts that aren’t so pretty. In one of our sessions, the speaker said something that felt directed to me personally.
“Your testimony is living proof of God’s work in your life.”
Something about that phrase flipped a light switch for me. The fact that I have messy parts and am now in a position to share that mess with other people as testament to the power of the Gospel is beautiful. Who knows? Maybe the fact that I’m human could make me relatable to a lost soul. Maybe that could show someone the truth; God really does transform the broken into beauty.
3. Even extroverts need their alone time.
Even Chessie High-Extrovert Jackson needed solitude a couple of times this week. Thank the Lord for hammocks! While being around 275 people for ten days straight was AWESOME, I felt something this week that I’ve never felt before: the desire to be alone. I gained a newfound appreciation for my introverted little sister during those minutes of quiet solitude spent in my hammock. All day long we were put into an airport scenario with 70 other people, or sharing a two person tent with someone, or even living in a ten person tent with 9 other women. Those scenarios were a blast and I wouldn’t trade them for anything! Even still, God opened my eyes to a new perspective on social hours.
4. Structure is good… sometimes.
Part of what we learned at training camp was how to seriously go with the flow. Without my phone all day, I couldn’t tell the time and became dependent on those who were smart enough to bring a watch. If our trainers said to go back to camp, we went back to camp. If it started to monsoon and we needed dry clothes, we sprinted through the rain and dug out our bags from a soaked tarp. In my “normal” life I love to know what I am doing and when I should be there. I love to know those details many days in advance. But in those moments of sprinting through sheets of rain with my over 6′ tall squadmates and watching kiddie pool baptisms, I began to love the feeling of not knowing what comes next.
5. I have SO MUCH to learn.
Brace yourself. I have a big shock for you….
I don’t actually know everything.
I know. It surprised me too! All jokes aside, this week showed me just how much I don’t understand. I saw people speak prophetic words to one another. I heard the cries of pain as men and women realized deep hurt in their pasts. God revealed my ability to do hard things and my total inability to do those things without Him. The Lord blessed me with a big brain and for that, I’m grateful! Unfortunately, knowing that I’m smart has gotten me into more trouble than I’d like to mention. I witnessed so many new perspectives in ten days. It’s so clear to me that the next year of my life is going to teach me so much. I’m ready to learn what I don’t know! I’m excited to feel foolish. With some hard work, embarrassing moments, and plenty of tears, I’m certain that this year of my life will be my most informative yet.
Thank you so much for reading! If any of this stuck out to you, please leave me a comment and share! As usual, continue to pray for me as I get ready to launch into this incredible journey. ($700 away from being locked into this trip!!! YAY!!!) -Chessie
