“Process” is a word I heard 100+ times over my 10 days at World Race Training Camp, and I’m still trying to figure out how to do so almost a week later.
It’s difficult enough to personally understand a week or so of experiences you’ve never really had. But trying to put it into words seems almost futile.
Yet, here I am, about to try…
Unity within the Expedition Squad has been a prayer of mine along with World Race Leadership since the beginning. But unification in what? Friendship? Ministry goals? “Common interests?” Squad Wars efforts?
No. The unification of Expedition Racers is of a whole different substance I have never experienced.
“You’re talking about taking 36 (+3 Squad Leaders) total strangers and trying to create a community of World Changers? Hmm…” I said to myself.
“I value community above most things in this world. But I value long-lived, battle-tested, deeply rooted community. This kind of thing doesn’t happen in 10 days…” my hesitant thoughts continued.
Yet there we were: Morning #1 voluntarily hand-in-hand praying thanks over a 7:00AM hike.
Yet there we were: Minutes left in our timed hike, all (yes, ALL of us) running back to encourage our final (injured) teammate across the finish line.
Yet there we were: Daily laying hands upon each other’s shoulders and speaking honest, heartfelt blessings over one another without even knowing half of our team’s last names (or maybe that was just me who kept forgetting).
Yet there we were: Pouring out our hearts in testimonies as we hiked through the Appalachian Trail in single file, never leaving a man or woman in the dust.
Yet there we were: Speaking silently with the Holy Spirit and listening to Him affirm the desires and the dreams He has given us all.
Yet there we were: Crying together over two people we love following the Lord down a different path.
Yet there we were: Dancing terribly (as if we were at an open bar wedding), after we had just spent our first night as a team going door-to-door in Gainesville, GA.
Yet there we were: Having a difficult time hugging and saying goodbye for a short two months, as if we were the best of friends and would miss each other dearly.
Wait a second…
Unity
