WORLD RACE TRAINING CAMP!
10 days of pure sweetness in the Georgia woods.
It was very difficult sometimes, but so good.
T-SQUAAAAD! These are the people I’ll be traveling with to and from each country.. and we’ll be sharing LIFE for the next year. They are amazing!
Without giving too much away (and yet I am), it was 10 days full of porta-pottys, bucket showers, tents, tarps, rain, backpacks, some good food, the color green (T-SQUAAAD), tutus, dancing, worship, the wonderful people of t-squad, and sweeeet time spent with the Lord.
I really had no idea what to expect when fellow racer Sarah Hawkins and I pulled up to Adventures in Missions on Thursday May 21st for training camp. I was excited and nervous and excited and nervous…
But it was a great 10 days and the Lord taught me so much spiritually, emotionally, and practically to prepare for life on the field this next year.
So.. here are 11 things I learned from my week at training camp (and I hope will be encouragement for those also who may never actually go on the World Race for your everyday life):
1. God is a GOOD Father.
A song we sang all week was “Good, good Father” by the Housefires and it has rung true in my heart ever since. The Lord was so kind to meet with me exactly when I needed it. Whether through journaling, worship, conviction of my sin (His discipline, Hebrews 12:3-11), or just spending time with my squadmates.
Not only that, but I am learning to trust Him (not perfectly, but learning everyday) as a good Father and that He will FULLY provide for my Race as He sees fit.
2. Create space for the Lord to work in your heart.
This simply means to make time and space for the Lord speak to you, to process things, or just to be with Him. Oh, how often I take for granted just spending time with Him! It’s so valuable. This is something I am SO excited to do more of. I want my heart to SING Psalm 16:11.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore..” -Psalm 16:11
3. Expect the unexpected and yet don’t expect anything at all.
Training camp had some interesting scenarios, as does life. Be okay with change. Be flexible. It makes us more dependent on Him and each other.
And I have a feeling that this is something I’m going to need to reallllly remember over the next 11 months.. 🙂
4. Vulnerability is GOOD.
I was reminded during training camp that when we are vulnerable with each other and with the Lord with the things and sin in our lives, He will heal those things in our hearts and sanctify us to look more like Him as we pursue holiness.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16
By God’s grace, I am so excited to do this intentionally this next year with my teammates!!
5. Be intentional with your squadmates.
Or people in your life. It is so cool to see how God can use intentional conversations with people to get to know them and hear their story. One of my favorite conversations and times from training camp sprung from a random convo by a campfire towards the end of training camp with one of my now TEAMmates! (Love ya Carolyn!)
6. The Holy Spirit desires us to be in step with Him (Galatians 5:16-26).
I was so refreshed at training camp being reminded of this! I am so grateful for AIM staff’s desire to be in step with the Spirit’s leading and am excited to apply it to my everyday life. This could simply be walking into wherever you are going (grocery store, a friend’s house, a village, etc.) and asking the Holy Spirit how He is moving where you are and then simply being obedient when He opens a door to talk to someone. (I totally need help in this area!)
“..Pray also for us that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ..” -Colossians 4:3
7. The outdoors aren’t as bad as they seem.
Porta-pottys and bucket showers aren’t really that bad. Rain, LOTS of it, is going to be everyday life for T-squad. And tents are like little houses and are kinda fun. 🙂
8. World racers are not short-term missionaries; we are disciples making disciples.
While yes, we are going on a 11-month short term trip, the goal is to make disciples wherever we go and build up the local church in that country and area. Even if we are only there for a month at a time.
9. The Race is about loving PEOPLE, not just doing good things.
My eyes were so opened to this at training camp. PEOPLE matter. Jesus had compassion on PEOPLE. God has called us to love PEOPLE and meet them where they are. Oh how often I miss this!
10. Team Exuberant Peace is wonderful!
Introducing Team Exuberant Peace.. the ladies I will spend at least the next 4 months with if not the whole race! I already love them and am SO excited to spend the next year with them. From L to R: Carolyn, Liz, Hope, Sydney, and Casey!
11. HUMILITY
This is what the Lord taught me most at training camp. I most clearly saw this in the way I saw my squadmates serving each other all week. Philippians 2:1-11 was LIVED out.
This is ironic too because God has given me the opportunity to actually be the team leader for my team for the first few months! So exciting and.. HUMBLING. I am specifically asking for prayer for this role. That I would serve from the back and that I would live out Philippians 2:1-11.
That’s training camp in a nutshell!
Currently, I am about $700 away from my SECOND DEADLINE!! Praise God!! This deadline is coming up fast though (June 17th) and still need all the help I can get.
If you read all of this, thank you! Thank you for everyone who has supported me prayerfully, financially, or in any way thus far!! I am so grateful for you!
In Christ,
Karleigh
