Training Camp was one the best and most challenging weeks I have ever experienced. It was physically exhausting, mentally exhausting, spiritually exhausting, and emotionally exhausting. It was the longest yet shortest week I have ever experienced fillled with team building, faith building, relationship building, and so many lessons about what the next year could look like [NO EXPECTATIONS]. Here are a few of the lessons I learned while at camp:
Lesson #1
Expect the Unexpected
If training camp didn’t teach me anything else, it definitely taught me that the only thing I can expect for the upcoming year is the unexpected. As the girl that runs around with her planner everywhere she goes and refers to it daily, the only words that come to mind are “Oh Crap!” I absolutely hate not knowing what is going on. However, that is something that I am going to have to quickly adjust to. During my week at camp I didn’t expect to sleep on a bus but I did, I didn’t expect to wear a total of 4 outfits for 9 days but I did, I didn’t expect to go to the hospital but I did, nor did I expect to become as close to some of the people on my squad and team but I did. Those are just a few of the things I didn’t expect to happen but did and that’s just over a week!
*Please pray for my team leader, Jackie! She fractured her foot in 3 places at camp (the reason I went to the hospital) and we need and want her to heal quickly and not need surgery! She is an essential member of our team and definitely need her to be with us for the next year! Thank you!*
Lesson #2
It’s a 6-step process. – “To find your life you have to lose it.”
This lesson came up on the first session on the first night of Training Camp. As Bill Swan discussed “What You Signed Up for” he talked about a 6-step process, which includes abandonment [you need to leave some things to have God really move in your life], brokenness [surrender to God, let Him move in your life], dependence [this allows you to be one with Christ], empowerment, calling, and confirmation. Sitting there listening, I thought: You didn’t say anything about giving up myself nor did I read this anywhere and this is definitely NOT what I signed up for! I am
Lesson #3
Big or Small, you still have to deal with your problems.
When applying to The World Race you are asked an extensive list of questions regarding issues with addiction, depression, stress, health, and many more alike. As I went through the list and checked the 4 of 57 boxes, I remember thinking that I wasn’t doing something right because I didn’t have much to talk about or very many boxes checked. As I look back, I am pretty sure that feeling was because I wasn’t being completely honest with myself about everything. While at Training Camp,, I came to realize that I struggle a little bit more than I let myself believe and there are a couple boxes that I missed in the application process that came to the surface over the week. I learned that though my personal issues might seem small in comparison to others however; they are still things that are and are going to be difficult for me to deal with and they will need to be dealt with [some of which before I leave…]
Lesson #4
Alone-time… ohh yeah it doesn’t exist.
Put your headphones in, now turn around or close your eyes… Welcome to alone time for the next 11 months. SERIOUSLY! I absolutely love my alone time! To find out it doesn’t exist for the 11 months I am gone was not easy to take in. I realize it’s for my safety but I find my sanity in working out or running by myself. I am lucky enough to have 2 girls on my team that love to run by themselves as much as I do, so I guess we will be running together with our headphones in attempting to accomplish the same feeling we get on our runs by ourselves here at home!
Lesson #5
You are going to be uncomfortable, but you aren’t alone!
No one likes being uncomfortable; well I sure don’t! But even more so, I don’t like feeling like I am the only one uncomfortable in a certain situation. At training camp, there were times where I was asked to step outside of my comfort zone but the best part was that I was able to share my uncomfortableness with others and realize that I wasn’t the only that felt the same way. It was an amazing experience to share with the people on my squad and to help me grow in my faith and dependence in the Word and Jesus Christ!
Lesson #6
Be careful what you say…
This isn’t really anything new but it’s a little humorous… We were having a discussion about girls and how the guys of our squad can understand and best serve the girls of the squad over the 11 months we are gone and in preparation for The World Race. As we discussed, how girls can be emotional, I made the comment that I am not overly emotional and it is rare that I cry… well I can’t tell you that there has been a day since then that I haven’t found myself in tears about something. This year is definitely not going to be as easy as I thought and it is actually going to be a lot tougher than I had ever expected it to be [again I need to leave behind my expectations]. Sometimes we are the most beautiful in our brokenness and I am beginning to actually discover this.
This year is going to stretch me and challenge me in so many ways but I am excited to see what awaits and share this experience of finding myself and sharing the work of Jesus Christ in 11 plus nations with you all!
God Bless!
