Training camp: 10 days of craziness! Living different cultures each day, eating new foods (and normal foods in new ways), different sleeping situations each night. 10 days of physical exertion, 10 days of personal stretching , 10 days of growing together as a squad.
God can do a lot in 10 days.
When you set up and tear down camp each day, you become thankful for the days that you can leave your tent up with your pack scattered within.
When you eat without utensils or plates daily, you become thankful on days that utensils are provided.
When you live without any clean clothes, cold bucket showers and fabric softeners become your best friends.
When you have little space to sleep, you and your squadmates become very close.
When you have only moments to finish the last mile of the physical test with the 40 lb pack on your back, you realize how much you need your teammates to walk by your side and not to let you give up.
When you are challenged to share with your team the thoughts and feelings that hurt you most, you realize how much freedom comes with vulnerability.
All the things that seemed scary before (praying in a group or praying over people, preparing and performing a dance after 2 minutes of practice, prepping a full-day’s worth of kid’s ministry or a sermon in 30 minutes, etc) suddenly became possible.
Camp prepared us. It gave us an idea of what to expect in different cultures. It taught us how to share and care for our teammates. It taught us how to live in close proximity to others, to work as a team, to communicate, to accept each other.
God reminded me that He loves and accepts me; it takes an experience and acceptance of that to know how to share His love with others.
God reminded me to be thankful for those around me, for they are present to encourage and challenge me—to make me a better person.
He reminded me to CHOOSE those around me and not give up on them; to CHOOSE to engage when it’s so easy to disengage; to CHOOSE to step out and see how He provides. He didn’t have to CHOOSE me, but He did!
While many walls and chains were torn down over the last week, a new foundation was built. I have been given squadmates who love the Lord and hunger to love those around the world. They are saying “Yes” to upcoming challenges, adventures, sacrifices, etc. I am honored to start this journey with six other beautiful women, team #SoulSpark!
God did mighty things in 10 days. Imagine what He can do in 11 months!!
