This is my first Blog post, so bear with me as I am still learning the blogging process and things may be a little rough at first.
This blog is about the joys of training camp and my experience training for The World Race.
I went into training camp expecting a light-hearted week filled with information about the countries I would be ministering to, and the classic cheesy team building games that would bring me closer to the people I would be spending 11 months with. Needless to say, I was wrong…
The first few days of camp were an emotional whirlwind for me, and in reality, I was in a spiritual battle. All of my comforts were taken away, and I was expecting this part, but at the same time I was attending worship services that wrecked my world, in the best way possible. The whole thing was kind of like ripping off a Band-Aid. I needed to rip it off in order to clean the wound and replace the bandage with God's love for me, but ripping it off still hurt. I knew I would have to give up everything back home, and learn to fully depend on God for my comfort, but I wasn't ready to hear all this information in the way it was presented. I learned to listen for God's voice in my life, even when things are hectic. I learned to focus my heart where it needs to be, so everything else can fall into its rightful place. I learned that the next year of my life would be difficult, but I could do it with God's help.
By the end of the week, I was so happy for everything that happened at training camp. I began to understand that everything that we went through was intentional. We had our things taken, our comforts shaken, and our stomach confused by cultural staples of countries we would travel to, in order to lead us to understanding the importance of The Holy Spirit in our lives. We had to rely on The Lord to take care of us. I met my team, and I am so grateful for them. Finding out my team, and my new family for 11 months, was actually my biggest fear for the trip. I have a great sense of peace in my heart about my team, and I feel so much connection to them already, even though we barely know each other.
I didn't get what I expected out of training camp, but what I did get was so much better. I was brought closer to the people I would be traveling with, but it was because God was working in our hearts together, for a purpose. I learned about the people I would be ministering to, but it was because I learned to love their hearts, not facts about them that I could look up on Wikipedia. God worked in my heart over the week I was at training, and I feel so much more equipped to tackle the Race than I did before training.
Here comes AROMA (awesomely redeemed for our master's army)! It is going to be an adventure we will never forget!
