For those that don’t know. The World Race has a 10 day training camp in Gainsville Georgia 6 weeks before leaving the country for 11 months and embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. As I write this, I am currently in Gainsville Georgia at training camp; and I feel only now do I have a response for the question of “What do you do at training camp?” I guess many people find it silly that there is a training camp at all for a mission trip, let alone a 10 day, mandatory, training camp. Now that training camp is coming to a close in a few days I have the answer to what I did on my “vacation”.
Training camp, first of all, was awesome, but not at first. As soon as I found the Adventures in Missions shuttle, which was no small feat, I began making friends. This was not at all an issue, I love talking to new people. After a small confrontation between the roof of our van and a parking garage we were on our way to Gainsville. After arriving on campus, checking in to training camp, getting a small tour, and changing my shorts because they broke dress code, all 125 or so world racers settled in for a time of worship.
Now I wish I could say that the worship time was great and that right away I was hands up praising the Lord, but this was not the case. Coming even from a very Godly fellowship in Hawaii, from a church where we regularly throw our hands up in praise to the Lord, it was much more Spiritual here in Gainsville. truthfully, I didn’t enjoy the worship time. Don’t get me wrong, the band was great, the song selection was cool, everyone else was enjoying the time; but not me. During the worship time, between songs, there was a time where we were “worshiping in the Spirit”. I had never been in a time of worship where the music all but stops and everyone is free to sing to themselves whatever song or lyric they want while others walk around praying and speaking in tongues. The sound resulting from this time was a faint musical interlude all but totally drowned out by the singing and prayer of others. I was very uncomfortable. I enjoyed the songs enough and wished we could have filled this empty time with more singing. I would say a prayer during this time but felt very inferior toward others because they are both hands up, smiling, and speaking in tongues while there is no music even playing. After a couple days of training camp go by, this time in worship is mostly spent by me just standing there doing literally nothing but letting my mind wander to less uncomfortable situations.
This was a frustrating time because I felt like I was intensely seeking after the Lord, yet after not receiving any revolutionary word, I had no choice but to be patient. People were even coming up to me and admiring my dedication in seeking the Lord, yet in this time I rebuked the encouragement and demanded that God speak to me. Now this is obviously not the proper response to the Almighty. My lack of “definitive” evidence of my faith was worrying, I sought the Lord not to hear from my Father, but that if I could hear Him, His Spirit is in me, and thus I am His forever.
It really was nothing crazy or dramatic or even a breakthrough, but gradually I grew to enjoy the worship more and more. The very last worship session we had was filled with lengthy prayers to the Lord for His comfort and affirmation. If I could point this change of heart back to any one event it would be when I was praying once again to hear God’s voice, demanding a sign from the Lord, when it came to mind about how I, like the Pharisees, were demanding a sign, that only then I might believe. However this is not faith. If I have seen it is not faith, and not “the hope of things not seen.”
Lord, forgive me for my lack of faith in you. You are God and there is none like You, Before the foundation of the World, you chose me for the adoption as a child of God. Lord thank you for the mercy and salvation allotted to me from Your ever gracious hand. Lord you have been so so good to me. I pray God for remembrance always of how you have dealt bountifully with me, as a reminder of your Promise to always deal so lovingly with me. Father we render unto you all things, Lord let my life be an offering to you. How could I every repay the Love you have lavished on me. God I pray for an obedient and humble heart, trusting that you are exactly who you say you are. Amen.
