On Saturday we concluded our 10 day training camp for the World Race. Training camp completely wrecked me in all the right ways. I went into training camp with a lot of questions, doubts, and fears. I had gotten to a point where I questioned if I was meant to be here. If this is really what God had planned for me. I had feared that no one would actually like me or that I would fit in. (boy was I wrong.) My problem was I had lost focus on who was in control of it all and I had allowed myself to fall into the false belief that I wasn’t worthy of the path he had laid for me, instead of reminding myself that I am his beloved son and he purposely choose this for me.
The first few days of training camp was set up to peel back the layers that prevent us from being fully opened and utilized by God. For some people this came in the form of forgiveness of past pain or regret. For others it was (like myself) it was about breaking out of those things that make us comfortable and keeps us in our shell. For me it was realizing who I was and being comfortable with my identity and voice, not living through the expectations of the world or other people standards.
During training camp we had the opportunity to learn about discipleship, intimacy, and how to live it out in community. To put the community into perspective we ate together, we slept together, we worshiped together and we danced together.
We lived as the apostles lived around Jesus. Building relationships and growing as disciples with one another. While at camp we learned about what it meant to be a true disciple as well as listening to the Holy spirit move and intentionally having a relationship with him. We learned how liberating it was to be completely vulnerable and that true relationship is built on the dependency and trust we place in our spiritual community. We learned the difference between the law and the holy spirit. We learned that the Law is perfect and defines sin yet Grace defines God. The Holy Spirit seeks to have a relationship with us yet its hard to have a relationship with something that always judges us (the law) yet grace finds you before the law. We learned that the Holy Spirit was granted habitation rights yet we often treat him with visitation rights.
We ate Crickets and entire meals with our hands.
We were subject to speed dating and Icebreakers to build trust and relationships with one another as well as set the motion to later form our teams that we will be living in community with and serving with on the first few months of the Race.
When we got dirty we took bucket showers.
We learned how to listen to the lord and understand what he was trying to tell us.
Throughout training camp we were subjected to many field scenarios and training that was geared to test us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We had to run 3 miles in 50 minutes while carrying our full packs. We experienced what it was like for the airlines to lose our packs and learned how to truly be dependent on our community. We slept in an airport in the middle of the day in the Philippines. We took turns praying throughout the night over our community, the ministries, and the people we will be serving and loving on.
We were challenged as men. We became a brotherhood. We challenged ourselves to change the script on what it means to be a man in the view of the world and to be men of Christ that women could look up to.
We conquered blood mountain and then proceed to fit 14 full grown sweaty men in a 4 person tent.
We learned about being effective missionaries. We learned how to write sermons, teach, and evangelize.
And we danced.
I came into training camp full of fear, doubt, and surrounded by strangers. I left training camp full of peace, confidence, and a new family of 53 brothers and sisters in Christ. I left with my spiritual cup overflowing and full of grace.
I would like to introduce my squad, my new family that I will have the opportunity to tell the world about Jesus this year. 
I would also like to introduce my team Septum Parabalini (the reckless seven) that I will be living in community with the first few months on the Race!
The past 10 days God impacted my life in ways that I could never imagine. I am completely on fire for him and cannot wait for what he has in store over the next 11 months and beyond!
