Ten days was really all it took for me to love forty-nine individuals that have become my family.
Family that I will spend the next eleven months of my life with spreading and inviting people into the Kingdom of God.
These people are solid, genuine, loving, hilarious, patient, gracious, and servants that understand the heart of the Father.
Before training camp, my squad and I “had pretty much been online dating,” and as nice as virtual relationships are (I wouldn’t know), nothing compares to the relationships that are built in the flesh—they are as beautiful as the Texas sunset.
For ten days, we spent every waking moment together. Every morning we were greeted with the voice of an angel that would call out…
“Good morning, beautiful people!”
It was close to impossible to wake up angry or frazzled at the sound of her voice. 🙂
Our days consisted of being physically, emotionally, and spiritually challenged, and as a result, we all have grown closer to each other and the Lord. We’ve laid down baggage that we’ve carried for too long. We’ve grieved the things we needed to let go of. We’ve forgiven those we thought we never could, and I challenge you to do so as well, because when you bring to light what was in the darkness, there is a freedom that is unexplainable.
“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible–and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” Ephesians 5:13
I wish I could explain to you every single aspect of training camp because it was so good; like a breath of fresh air on a spring day, there was a newness and an innocence that surrounded our restored lives.
Besides all the serious moments, there were TONS of moments that we spent goofing off. During our women’s retreat, we played capture the flag–where some sacrificially stood in what we thought was poison ivy just so we could protect out flag. Our “bellies jiggled with joy” constantly. We searched high and low for peanut butter. I may or may not have eaten seven peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in less than three hours. And so much more that I can’t even remember at this moment!
All in all, this was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I have learned so much about myself and cannot wait to charge into the nations with love and passion for my King.
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To all you future racers that are looking for advice on “how to survive training camp,” I encourage you to just stop. Stop looking and creating your training experience based on someone else’s experience. I’m not saying don’t learn from our mistakes or gather ideas on what to expect, but come with an open heart and a flexible mindset. Come ready to love and invest your time in a large group of people that potentially could or could not be on your team. Mostly, remember that this is not about you and your comforts. Let God mold and shape your heart in ways you have never experienced before…and HAVE FUN!
