Five days can look so different from person to person. Some people may be busy with lots of things to get done and others may take things slow and enjoy the time they have with their family and friends. Either way, five days is a lot of time to take part in anything you desire.
For Fusion 2 squad, the past five days have looked like getting a hotel by the beach and coming together as one body to have our first debrief of the year. Our coaches, mentor and logistics contact all flew out to meet us in Vietnam. During those five days we did A LOT! There were team changes, a water park day, a college graduation and a lip sync battle. Along with team changes there was also some extra training involved for a few teams. It was a great time to see some people that we had not had the chance to see since Thailand and spend more time with those we had only had the chance to see on travel days. It was also some time to try to relax and reflect on the first 3 months of the race.
When we got there we were given the opportunity to have a little free time so that we could just chill until the worship service that night. It also gave the teams a chance to practice for the lip sync battle we were having that night. Each team did something totally different. We threw it back in time with some spice girls and then we took it way back in time with the theme song to Gilligan’s island (my team did that one). After that we had an entire Disney presentation and then brought it back up to the modern day hits. I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute and had a blast watching the other teams perform. My team only had six people on it so we had to improvise for the seventh. That being said, I ended up being the millionaire while my right hand ended up playing the part of his wife. On the race you gotta work with what you got.
On Good Friday I had the opportunity to join two of my squad sisters on a hike up to the famous Jesus statue on the hill. The hike was a total of 800 stairs and once we reached the statue we had the choice of going up more stairs to get to the shoulders of the statue. By the time I got up all the stairs I was in some pain and didn’t know how much more I could handle, but once I reached the statue I decided that I wasn’t going to stop there. So I went up to the top and I am here to say that I don’t regret it one bit. I was able to see over the entire city and the ocean went on forever. It was one of the most beautiful sites I had ever laid eyes on. Praise be to God who gave me the strength to make it to the top!
As a squad fun day we all went to a local water park for the day to just have some fun and enjoy the place where we were staying. Unfortunately we did have some people get hurt along the way, but they are on the track to healing. I have learned that you don’t on the race without being injured in some way… That’s just the way it is.
On Easter Sunday we were able to get up and have a sunrise service on the beach. It was so magical. Easter is one of my favorite Sunday’s of the year and this year was so special. I spent it with my Fusion family and saw God’s glory as the sun began to hit the water. We spent our time in worship as many locals gathered around to hear the praises we were singing to Christ. I was humbled in every way at that moment.
Another special moment we got to experience was the celebration of the college graduation of one of our own. Salvador finished college and wasn’t able to be a part of his graduation due to the fact that he is with us on the race. Instead we threw him a mock graduation to celebrate his accomplishment. It was such a fun way to love our brother well. I honestly thought it was one of the best graduations I had ever been to.
As you can see there was a lot that was packed into a short five days. It was busy, but it was nice. We needed it for the rest (if you can call it that) and restoration Hearing from each of my squad mated about the things they learned was encouraging. It was cool to see how all of my brothers and sisters took the chance to listen to God and what He was teaching them.
Love always,
Danielle Mills
