Training camp. It's basically impossible to describe. It's a whirlwind of God, exhaustion, community, and growth. Rapid growth. Unexpected growth. Sometimes uncomfortable growth.
looking back, it was a whole lot of fun. I met great people, seen cool things, did cool things, and grew exponentially. I also experienced God in the most awesome, joyous, intimate, and beautiful way. But that didn't come easy. It didn't come without conviction and circumstance. I'll detail a truly bizarre story ('that night' as I've seen others call it) in a later blog.
For those looking for all the answers to training camp, you won't find them here. Not because I don't know them, but because I understand why its better to be kept low key. However I will say that camp stretched me more mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually than I ever have been. It was completely worth it, and God DID show up (and with a bang).
The first part of training camp featured many lectures, very interesting ones, about our faith, our duties, and how the clear vision of what we believe directly impacts our experience on the World Race. It impacts how we go about doing our ministry. It impacts how we spread the Kingdom. I loved the speaker, and learned a ton from listening to him.
I also learned a ton about learning to appreciate less. By the end of the week, sleeping by myself in my tent was a huge luxury than I was extremely grateful for. Getting caught in a downpour while laying in a hammock on the second night started the string of a few nights of little to literally zero minutes of sleep. They say you got to risk it to get the biscuit, and while that may be true in some circumstances, it wasn't that time. When in doubt, go for cover. A few of us guys learned that that night.
I learned to be vulnerable. As a guy, I'm used to keeping my emotions inside instead of expressing them or talking about them. I had the idea that ignoring them would make them go away. But this week taught me to express them. To be accountable to others about them. To confront them. It just so happened that I experienced the most freeing night of my life when I chose to do that. It will still take time to get used to this, but the seed is planted.
I learned who my teammates will be for the next year! How exciting! Our name is Uniquely Knit (chosen over the infamous Jabalja), and consists of Miss Allison Braun, Miss LaShon Gordon, Miss Anna Javaux, Miss Alysa Sharp, Miss Bethany Fristad, Mr. Jacob Johnson, and myself. All my teammates are blessings to be able to say I'm going to be traveling the world with! They kick some serious can.
I experienced what it is liked to be loved. And I don't mean in the friends or family way – I mean in the I-don't-really-know-you-but-I-love-you way. The AIM staff is in one word…AWESOME. They all poured into us and showed us love right from the start. It was incredible to see, they are real community.
There is a ton more I could write about, but it's good left how it is. Training camp was wonderful. It was difficult. And it was definitely unexpected. But it showed me more fully just how awesome God is. It changed me. During quiet time on Thursday morning I ran across this Bible verse. It seems to set the tone for the race, and I'm thankful that God led me to it. God bless all of you.
Isaiah 58:6-8:
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
