Last week, I slept in 2-man tent with 30 pounds of gear in a giant field in Tennessee. I came in contact with more outdoor equipment in one week that I thought that I would in a lifetime. Every plate of food provided to me was shared with at least 7 other people. At least 75% of the time, I had no personal portion or utensils and half of the time, I sat on the ground to eat. I had soggy shoes and sopping wet socks 99% of the time. By the end of the week, my North Face fleece was equally well-loved and awful-smelling. I filled up my Nalgene 4-5 times a day and followed about that many different sets of cultural rules within a week. I laughed and I cried and I danced with joy. I wondered if this was the right thing and I knew for certain that this is the right thing.
I got to know 50 different people from different backgrounds and walks of life who will comprise my family for the next year. We prayed together and worshipped together and processed together. We shared: food and housing and stories. I worked and lived alongside people who stretched me and challenged me as well as people who felt like familiar old friends. We lived with a schedule that was completely unknown to us and little to no cell phone service: a forced encounter with this present moment. We were thrown curveballs and challenged to be flexible and love one another well. Die to self, over and over again.
It was a challenging and difficult week but it was also indescribably full. I feel like I was provided with a beautiful glimpse into the next year and I’m simply thrilled by it. God was present and the Holy Spirit moved in amazing ways. We had the opportunity to hear from incredible speakers and World Race Alumni on topics ranging from grief and forgiveness to making the most out of the time between Training Camp and Launch. As a squad, we were blessed with a wonderful training team who took time throughout the week to get to know us, stretch us and, by the end of the week, separate us into teams to begin the Race.
So, without further ado, meet my team! We are Team Meno:
(Amy Deming, Micah Roeder, Civanna Hoffman, Carrie Owen, Chris Qualls, Derek Carlson, Heather Roush)
“Meno” is the Greek word for Remain or Abide and was inspired by John 15. As a team, we aspire to be rooted in Christ and be able to abundantly love one another and the people that we come in contact with as an overflow of Christ’s love for us. Please pray for unity and humility for us as a team.
In other news, we were informed of a slight route change for our squad while at Training Camp. Our route now consists of: Zambia, Malawi, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, China, Mongolia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal. (New countries in bold). Though I’m bummed about not being able to serve in East Africa and India, I’m thankful to be part of an organization that uses good wisdom and remains sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.
Check back on Friday for a new blog entitled “Healthy FOMO”!
