It has been almost four weeks since I returned from Training Camp, but the experience remains fresh in my mind. I’d like to try and summarize camp here, but will spare certain details to preserve the element of surprise for future racers! In a few words, I would say that Training Camp was arduous, reinvigorating, and eye-opening. It was challenging, but it was a much needed reality check and, in the end, a breath of fresh air.
On June 8, I stepped into the Atlanta Airport ready to meet my squad face to face for the first time. Feelings of excitement and anticipation ran high. I turned a corner to see dozens of World Racers sitting on the floor of the airport. As I approached the group, an involuntary smile stretched across my face. Any nerves about meeting everyone disappeared as I gazed around the room looking at the many faces about to embark on the same wild journey as me for one reason – Jesus…to know him more intimately and to make him known.
Training Camp consisted of a whirlwind of activities. The Adventures in Missions staff does an excellent job of simulating realistic field scenarios, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Below is a breakout of some aspects of camp [grouped into categories because a lot went down in 10 days]:
Physical aspects included but were not limited to…
Sleeping in tents, porta potties for bathrooms, bucket showers, no running water, simulations of scenarios we may encounter, dealing with unanticipated events (i.e airline losing our luggage, sleeping overnight at an airport), small food portions (oftentimes a lack of utensils to eat with…yep, that means eating with our hands), eating customary food from countries we’ll travel to, hot/humid weather 100% of the time, a fitness challenge involving walking 3 miles in 50 mins with all of our gear, team building activities, squad wars, and lessons on various topics such as teaching, preaching, evangelism, children’s ministry, etc.
Spiritual
More spiritually-focused activities included worship, personal time with God, and the staff speakers touched on deeper topics such as identity, our false self, forgiveness, pain and emotions, shame and guilt, vulnerability, the Holy Spirit, self-sacrificing love, etc. These sessions were much more personal. They involved peeling back the layers of our lives, bringing deep-rooted struggles to the surface, and working through suppressed emotions. Some of these topics were harder to address, but by acknowledging areas of our lives where help and healing were needed, God could begin to chisel away the unnecessary “junk”, to mold us into the image of His son. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).
Mental/Emotional Experience
After arriving at camp, I was surprised to find how weirdly “normal” the not so ordinary lifestyle felt…I experienced a remarkable sense of contentment and joy. As the week progressed, days 3-5 were an emotional rollercoaster. In the midst of 300 other Christians, it was hard not to fall into the comparison trap Satan uses to pollute our minds, and to shake our confidence. Feelings of fear, anxiety, doubt, and insecurity overcame me as I compared my faith to everyone else’s. With so little free time to process everything and very little sleep, I found myself hungering for my Bible like never before. During this time, I decided that no matter how I felt I would turn to God, not from Him. My emotions wouldn’t dictate my faith in the Lord, or my hope in Him. I shifted my focus away from the noise, away from my feelings, and meditated on what scripture actually says about the Lord: He is “Faithful and True” (Rev 19:11), He is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1), He is “the strength of my heart“ (Psalm 73:26), He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15), and He says that “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, for neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:37-39). After spending time alone in prayer/scripture, and sharing my struggles with a couple of friends, I felt a renewed sense of peace. I awoke the next morning with the word security on my heart and mind, along with a restored assurance that God was present with me. He gently reminded me that He speaks to each of us differently, and I found comfort in that.
As I reflect on Training Camp in its entirety, I can see that each moment of every day was somehow invaluable. Each challenge our group encountered was an opportunity to rely on the Lord and each other more deeply. After knowing my squad for such a short period of time, I am overwhelmed by the love and appreciation I already feel for them! A beautiful community is forming…
Post camp, I feel a deep thankfulness for simple pleasures of home (a real shower, a bed, flushing toilets, ice creaaam), a newfound boldness and zeal for Christ, and a readiness to depart for The World Race. Just 22 days until I head to my first ministry site in Malealea, Lesotho with my team of six amazing women (see below). We call ourselves team Kintsu (if you’re curious why, you can Google Kintsukuroi to find out). Please keep us in your prayers!
Africa, we’re comin’ for ya!
Much love,
Em Quint
(From left to right: Laura Simcox, Courtney Dobbs, me, Katie Crofford, Alicia Lannom, Sarah Edwards, Emily Knox)
