They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Here’s another glimpse into training camp.
T Squad’s campsite. Our HOME for 10 whole days.
When spiritual warfare raged, this place was part of our battlefield. We prayed over it and for the people who found rest here at night. This ground was our ground. This ground was the Lord’s ground. Jesus makes the darkness tremble, and the enemy didn’t have a hold on us.
Each morning around 8am, bright and early after team devotionals, my squad (T) and R squad made the walk from our campsites across the AIM base to the pavilion where all the meals were served.
Some mornings the walked seemed so far, and many mornings we were TIRED, thinking “We have to WALK THAT FAR?” But several mornings we saw the sunrise, as God’s artwork stretched across the sky and the sun rays poured over the trees. 100% worth the walk. Always.
The pavilion.
This place reminds me of community. Three times a day, we ate together, community style. 8 people to a table, sharing the same plate of food. Good conversation happened here. The pavilion was real special.
Some days we got watermelon and sandwiches. Those were some GOOD days.
I think this is a glimpse of heaven.
Worship at training camp was the best thing. We danced and shouted and sang and rejoiced. We jumped around! We put our hands to the sky! We sang praises and BELIEVED them with our hearts!
God changed hearts during these moments. Walls were broken down, and light and Truth started to pour in.
These people are my people!!! I am so thankful I get to walk beside these people on this journey.
They are life bringing.
They are filled with joy.
They lead me to the Lord and show me Jesus every single day.
On the second to last night of training camp we had a night for squad bonding. A few of the boys cooked our food over a campfire. These chefs are featured in these pictures–two of my favorite pictures from training camp.
After dinner, we created a dance for squad wars- the battle between all 6 gap year squads.
We taught each other how to swing dance, and spun in circles around and around in the field for what seemed like forever. We didn’t have any music, but we had eachother and that was good enough.
After dancing, a lot of us gathered around the fire again to just be together. Some people played guitar. Some people talked. We just spent time together. If we already felt like family then, I can’t imagine the type of family we will have at the end of these 9 months. Dang, it’s gonna be good!!!
SQUAD WARS. The moment we had all been waiting for.
Squad wars reminded a lot of field day, the day you got in middle school once a year to play games with your friends.
But this was more intense than field day. About 300 18-20 year olds having field day? JUST IMAGINE!
We had a dance off and played dodgeball, with some other events mixed in-between, and all the points were added up.
Photo by Aly Badinger
Which squad would win?
T SQUAD.
Photo by Aly Badinger
These people. My people. T squad.
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