This blog is long over due but to be honest, this was the hardest one to put into words.
For those of you that don’t know, I recently got back from training camp [TC] in Gainesville, Georgia for the World Race. TC is 10 days of getting to know who you will be doing life with for the next year and getting a feel for what you’ll be doing once you get out on the field. It’s filled with sweat and tears, but also freedom and joy. Through training camp, racers are stretched physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
“What was training camp like? What did you do there? How did God show up in your life? What kind of food did you eat? How are the people on your squad and team? Tell me everything without leaving a single detail out.”
Over the past 11 days that I have been home from training camp, I have heard each one of these at least once. But coming up with the right words to fully explain what went on during those 10 days that I was gone was hard. What I experienced myself and what I saw happen in those around me was like nothing else. The only way I can try to explain what happened to us is to say that God was clearly there and he was moving and man was it beautiful.
What are some things I learned during training camp?
*While there are so many different things that I learned, these are the main points that hit home to me and are the reasons why I’m so excited for the change that has started to happen in my life.
- I can love myself. I have struggled with truly loving myself and the woman God made to be for a while now. I was never the popular or outgoing girl and because of that, I have felt left out and different. Because of this, I didn’t love me. But God revealed to me that he made me just like he did for a specific reason and no one else is like me. So if He can love me and call me beautiful daughter, I will love myself as well.
- I am actually an unforgiving person. On the third day, we had a session about forgiveness. The speaker that night pointed out 5 different traits that unforgiveness can bring out in a person. BAM, I had 3 out of the 5 traits listed. “How can this be? I thought I was forgiving of everyone?” I prayed to the Lord to reveal to me who I needed to forgive. And then he gave me a name that I was not expecting. This person literally asked for forgiveness for the actions they took and without realizing it, I was denying them of it. Right then and there, I forgave them of everything that had done to hurt me. And then the weights came off my shoulders and I felt freedom.
- It’s not your story, it’s His. The Lord has had our lives planned out long before we were born and he gave us each a story to tell. By telling our stories, we are able to connect with others, build deeper relationships, and show the power of the Lord.
SINCE YOUR LOVE GOT A HOLD OF ME, SINCE YOUR LOVE GOT A HOLD OF ME, I’M A NEW CREATION, I’M FOREVER CHANGED <3
* ROUTE CHANGE NEWS!
Burkina Faso was one of our scheduled countries for our 3 months spent in Africa. Unfortunately, it has been dropped and we will only be spending 2 months in Africa. Instead, we will add another Asian country to our route. As of right now, it could either be Laos or Burma!
“Ain’t no party like a K Squad party ’cause a K Squad party don’t stop”
This is my new family for the next year, K Squad 🙂 The other 49 racers and our leaders are such sweet souls who are in love with the Lord and so excited to be His hands and feet around the world.
WORTHY WARRIORS
[Me, Kelsey G., Jenna, Bethany, Cat, Kelsey R., and Erica]
These lovely 6 ladies are my first team! I can’t wait to start off this adventure with each of them and see what the Lord is going to do through us all working together 🙂
