So you want to know about training camp??
-You mean the week that felt like it lasted f o r e v e r?
-The week that I slept on a bus with 45 people one night and in the forest under the stars the other night?
-The week I walked into a room of 45 people absolutely terrified and wondered if I would even fit in?
-The week where me leaving for 9 months finally became reality?
~I can definitely say that this was the most challenging and exhausting week of my life, physically emotionally and spiritually. The first full day we were there, Sunday, was horrible for me even though I hate to admit it. Most of that day I was questioning why I was there and if this mission trip was really for me (even though God made it clear that it was). I thought about how much easier it would be to just give up on the mission trip and go back to the comforts of my own home. But at the same time I knew I wasn’t supposed to give up and that this is exactly where I needed to be. Trust me everyone, if I truly didn’t want to be there i would’ve instantly gone home. So yes it was a tough couple days for me of stepping out of my comfort zone and processing a lot of things, but it was very much needed and relieving after the fact! I learned so much in the first couple of days about how to grieve, how to process through loss in my life, how to forgive people and how to actually listen to God through prayer. All of those lessons together have changed my life and I know I will never be the same. My hope is that I will always be reminded of this week and how much change I felt in me and how much freedom and truth I felt through God.
~The people on my squad are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I feel like I could go on and on about all of them and never run out of nice things to say! No matter what struggles I am facing, I always know I can go to my squad and not be judged by them. I have never felt more loved by a group people than I did this week. One example of this selfless love that they show is on Wednesday I wasn’t drinking enough water and we were outside exercising when all of a sudden I couldn’t process anything around me. I didn’t faint but I was almost to that point and I couldn’t understand what people around me were saying/doing. I just stood there not knowing what was happening to me. I immediately fell to my knees out of fear of not being able to control my body and started bawling. I couldn’t feel my legs and was not strong enough to even walk so people carried me and helped me get into an air conditioned building. I was super dehydrated and overheated and it took the rest of that day and the next to recover. Everyone was so helpful and made sure I was always taken care of! They love out of pure love, not because they are looking for something in return.
~Everyday we had a different themed day where we would eat what that country eats and go along with some of their cultural norms. For example, we had Africa day and one of their cultural norms is that women don’t associate with men during meal times. So all the women on my squad were able to serve the men their meals and then we had to go sit on the floor away from the men. It was interesting to be able to see how other countries cultures are so different from our culture. This definitely made me think about all the cultures I will experience over the 9 months I’m gone! The food was also …different…. but I know that’s something I’m just going to have to get over and sometimes eat things that I wouldn’t normally choose to eat. I’m going to get fed & it might be a food I hate, but it really won’t be the end of the world, right???
So there’s my experience at training camp.
-The week where 45 random strangers from all over the US and Canada became my brothers and sisters that I love SO SO much.
-The week where I felt God and heard Him in completely new ways.
-The week where I became confident in who I am through God and decided that I don’t have to be who the world tells me to be anymore! I am no longer bound by the chains of this earth but I am free by Christ who is my identity.
And by the way if you haven’t heard by now- I found out in Georgia that I will be going to Guatemala, Thailand and Botswana in that order starting this September. I am on an all girls team with 5 other girls and I can’t wait to see how God uses us!
(Sorry for such a long blog & for being all over the place. There was so much that went on & I feel like I barely fit all of it in this blog. I hope you were still able to get a glimpse of my experience)
