After an exhausting 12 hour car ride filled with loads of coffee java joe, rocking out on the radio, pit stops, and interesting conversations with my carpool buddies, I have returned from down south. I spent the past week and a half 'roughing it' in the backwoods of Georgia. Training camp for the World Race. Coming into camp, I was in every way unaware of what to expect. The anticipation, excitement, and nervousness was all spun into one big ball of unknown chaos. If I had to sum training camp up into one conveniently compact word, it would be:
NEW
adjective
1) not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.
• not previously used or owned.
• of recent origin or arrival.
• freshly or recently produced.
2) already existing but seen, experienced, or acquired recently or now for the first time.
• unfamiliar or strange to (someone)
•inexperienced at or unaccustomed to doing (something)
• different from a recent previous one.
• in addition to another or others already existing.
3) just beginning or beginning anew and regarded as better than what went before.
• reinvigorated or restored.
• superseding another or others of the same kind, and advanced in method or theory.
• reviving another or others of the same kind.
I have without a doubt been bombarded with all sorts of new this past week and a half.
–New family. Training camp has caused me to fall head over heels in love with 55 other Jesus loving individuals from all over the country who all share the same heart for His kingdom and desire to seek His heart full force. My understanding of the term 'personal space' has been modified greatly, but I've experienced what it feels like to live in real, raw, community for the first time ever, and I'm completely and utterly hooked.
–New sense of reliance. On more than one occasion at camp God slapped me across the face with a sobering look at who I am without Him. And slapped me clear across the other cheek with a glorious look at what the future will look like because of Him.
–New sense of fulfillment. There was a moment at worship, early on in the week, where I found myself singing out to the Lord. Not uncommon. But this time in particular I heard a frantic cry coming from my lips. "Fill me up God, fill me up. Love of God, overflow, permeate all my soul. Fill me up God, fill me up." God heard my cry, and He did just that. He knocked me off my feet with a monsoon of emotions, and He flooded me with His Holy Spirit.
–New foods/cultures. Cultural eating really does have a whole new meaning. From fish head soup in Asia to bland cornmeal mush in Africa, we got a taste of it all. We were taught the cultural norms for each country such as bowing and greeting with a "Namaste" in Cambodia and refraining from eating/passing things with our left hands in India. I've also come to learn that I'm in need of some major practice when it comes to chopsticks.
–New worship experience. Growing up Lutheran, our worship style parallels that of the conservative Connie's and traditionalistic Tammy's. Nothing wrong with that. It's all I've ever known, in essence. So quite naturally, when initially introduced to worship with the World Race, it was extremely foreign and unfamiliar to me. It was like going from one end of the spectrum to the other, really. Here people were getting really involved. There were people standing up, sitting down, stretched out on their tippy-toes, kneeling on the floor, reaching with arms wide open to the sky, jumping up and down, walking up to the front, standing on chairs, singing, praying, yelling out, reading their bibles, laughing, crying, speaking in tongues. It was pure craziness! And let me tell you, I've never felt the presence of the Holy Spirit more in my entire life.
–New appreciation for rest. Sleep depravity is a commonality at camp. Since being back in the mitten, I have hands down earned the title of queen of the couch potatoes. Rest and relaxation are much needed. And resting in Him is the best place to be.
–New being. Somewhere along the way in my walk with Christ I seemed to forget that at the cross, my ugly, broken past died with Jesus and my new life rose, just as He rose. I was completely oblivious to the fact that I was clenching with white knuckles onto guilt from and for my past, and that guilt was cemented down with heavy chains of shame. Riding the emotional roller coaster that is training camp brought me to the brink of a breakdown. But it was at this time that God delivered, healed and restored and brought me to a beautiful breakthrough. I felt God breathe life, hope and forgiveness into me once and for all. He annihilated those chains. Isaiah 1:18, "Though our sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." I am free! I am a beautiful new creation! 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" I am a new being!
–New delight. The very last night of camp I slept outside in the sticks with a phenomenal squadmate who stole my heart from day one and I absolutely adore, Ashley. We were bunked up in our hammocks, slung between the trees in the Georgia woods, swaying as the cool night breeze brushed by our sunburned faces, crickets and strange birds chirping and calling out amongst the stars, just talking. That night I paused for a moment of pure delight. I was delighted in the Lord. And I didn't even mean to be. It just happened. I was delighted in all that He had done. Delighted in his supreme sovereignty. Delighted in everything listed above. Delighted for what lies ahead. Psalms 37:4 "Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Dang. I am delighted to know so many new news.
