Last week I landed in Atlanta totally unprepared for the week that laid ahead of me.
I hadn't really thought about training camp too much and had no idea what to expect.
I packed at midnight the night before, scrambling around the basement trying to find a tent that I had no idea how to set up. I watched the sunrise out my miniature airplane window, and anxiety about meeting my squad began to set in because I hadn't really talked or built relationships with any of them prior to coming to camp.
It wasn't the camping aspect I was nervous about. I was perfectly fine with being dirty and not showering for a respectable 5 days. I love camping, sleeping outside, and bugs don't really bother me. Minus spiders.
I also wasn't worried about the fact that we weren't given a schedule, because I wouldn't have planned ahead anyways.
What I didn't realize is that my main source of exhaustion this week would be from the constant introductions and presence of people around me.
Stepping off the plane and into the atrium of the airport I immediately joined a circle of people in red who were playing name games to fill time and the uncomfortable silence that emanated from the center of the circle. However, the silence was a bit comforting because it reassured me that we were all in the same position and not immune to the awkwardness that comes with unfamiliar situations.
One of the biggest things that training camp prepped me for was the idea of living in community. Being around people all the time was entirely draining, but what I began to realize is that it was these people who were also my main source of relief and encouragement. The concept of community is bigger than the initial understanding that we will be living with each other for the next year in close quarters. Community is a catalyst for vulnerability, honesty, and hopefully, change.
In that week I met my new community – and they are awesome.
My squad (Q Squad – in the red) & R,S, and T squads all joined together for this week of preparation.
There were people – everywhere.
We slept together in tents that fit ten people, on a tarp under the stars, in hammocks, and praise the Lord we did not have to sleep on a school bus.
We ate together
Did quiet time together
Attended sessions and worshipped together
Woke up bright and early every morning to work out together
and went on a beautiful, lengthy, and unplanned hike together
We walked to the bathroom together,
even if that meant waking each other up in the middle of the night to find a tree together
We attempted to dance together
Experienced Chick-fil-A for the first time together
And after the baptism of a squadmate – we cheered and celebrated together
We got crazy weird together
And through all of these things – we ultimately came together.
The good thing about being with everybody all the time was that underneath all of the small talk that initially took place, deeper connections and friendships were blossoming. Training camp introduced us to the best ways we can walk with each other in the next year while being led by the Spirit. We are all from different places and the best thing we can do is meet each other where we're at, because we're all headed the same direction – and desire to be more like Christ.
Living in community is going to be great. It's going to be hard, but the friendships that will grow from it will be unlike any I've ever had. We will see the good, bad, vulnerable, and quirky sides that come out when the rest of the world stops paying attention and we're the only ones that are there for each other.
These will be relationships based on truth. And they will be lasting relationships because they are sustained by the love that each of us has for the Lord. Training Camp gave us just a glimpse of the power of people when we all come together and I can't wait to use it to our advantage – it's gonna be fun.
So the next time we're all coming together is on July 3-4!! We are launching out of Atlanta to our first stop – Thailand 🙂 Please keep on praying for us all to reach our fundraising deadlines!
Thanks to my photographer squadmates Megan Kennedy and Marina Razumovsky and the world race website for the lovely photos.
