Sorry about posting this so late into the game! But a lot have been asking me about training camp, Here is a little about my experience. Oh, and just a fun fact. I lost 15 pounds in one week at camp!
Right before camp I started to feel I guess you could say empty and discouraged. I knew camp would be hard physically, because lets face it, I am not in shape! But spiritual wise, I had the expectation of going to camp, worshiping along side other Christians all week, hearing the Word spoken everyday would fill me up and I would not be discouraged anymore. I would go home feeling great and that’s that. But instead God had so much more in store. God absolutely WRECKED my life at camp.
Trusting God.
He started wrecking my life at the very beginning of the week by teaching me I need to trust him more than ever before. See, I never thought I was shy but for some reason the first two days of camp I was very shy, compared to how I normally am. I even started feeling out of place. I even started doubting my calling to go on the race! I then began thinking of what important people in my life had told me about this trip. “Let’s try a shorter trip first” “Nepal, that’s a rough country, try another one first” or my personal favorite “Finish college first then worry about mission trips”. I starting dwelling on these things. Then it hit me. It’s the devil! Then all of the sudden God busts in and reminds me HE called me to this trip, he has a purpose for this, and I do not need anyone else’s approval. Then it became so much easier to get out of my shell and to even trust my squad mates. I am thankful God reminds me and shows me of his trust.
Getting Real
One of the most important things I value is being real with God and people. But while I was at camp I honestly didn’t want to be real. I was scared to admit I was doubting, struggling with discouragement, not spending the time I should be in God’s presence, and even my past. I was thinking, “These people don’t even know me like that!” Then one night towards the beginning of the week a guy came up to me and told me God told him to tell me two words. I asked what they were. He then said “Get Real”. OUCH. That hurt. I honestly freaked out in my mind. I began to pray that God would show me what I wasn’t being real about. But I really already knew. After service that night I went straight to get my journal and I wrote, “Its time to get real.” I began to write down my past, my hurts, struggles, ect and a peace came over me. It was like God telling me these people you are with can be trusted. They are family. I began opening up to everyone that night and it just felt good to be real with not only them but with God. And by the way my squad is awesome! We all were there for each other and comforted each other.
God showed up in so many unexpected ways. I learned to trust, love and surrender on a completely new level. I made relationships that I truly feel will last a lifetime and I grew in my desire to reach the nations for Christ. I’m excited, I’m ready and I can’t wait to see God show up outside of my box and call me into deeper waters.
