A friend and I were talking once and the question came up, “Why are we friends? We have nothing in common, the only thing we have in common is Jesus. It was so true, without Jesus we would have no reason to connect with each other.
This last week I went down to Atlanta Georgia for Training Camp. It was like a dream meeting all the faces I have chatted with online for several months and many more amazing faces for the first time! It was crazy how fast we bonded together as a team and more importantly as a family. Just like with my good friend, Jesus is our connection. But even more with my T-squad, our dreams for the next year are also in common, forming extremely tight-knit friendships fast!
Training camp was basically a time to get to know our squad and meet our team. Every day we were stretched in ways many of us have not been stretched before. Expectations of how we think things should be were demolished. Comforts of home stripped away with new uncomfortable circumstances weaved into the unknown schedule, not knowing what we will be doing in the next hour of each day. It was commonplace several days in to have 8 hands reaching into the same bowl to grab a handful of rice at lunchtime. If you had a personal bubble, it got popped!
Here are 11 thoughts from Training Camp
- Slept in a new situation with challenges each night
- Meals were based from around the world in “non-American” portions
- Comfort and survival are not the same
- Found time for 1 cold shower in the week
- You “can” set up and tear down a tent when it has rained ALL day and is still wet
- Firewood and water are great teambuilding supplies for the men
- Life is much more enjoyable when texting and Facebook are not your basis of communication
- Schedules don’t exist, if they some how do, they will be changed
- We all worship differently, embrace differences and appreciate each other.
- We all have filth in our lives so pour out love and grace on each other even when it is hard.
- Expectations lead to disappointment. Expect Jesus and nothing else!
After just one week, I made 55 new friends that I can’t wait to spend a year with serving around the world! Training camp was “in- tents” and I can only imagine how the next year will be. I do know however that I will be spending it with the most amazing people who are just as excited to serve as I am.
I would love to share more details with you but I didn’t want to reveal too much for future racers who have yet to experience Training Camp.
Thank you all once again for everything you have contributed to allow me to serve through the World Race!
Team "Four the 10" I will be serving with these guys for the next 11 months!!!
This is my T-Squad!!! There are 55 of us!
