Gravelly terrain, giant bags filled with mostly necessities, crumbled up granola bars, dead cellphones, unpacked emotions, limited expectations, heat strokes, conversations of substance, prayer, and lots of Jesus is a rough summation of the last two weeks of training camp.
Heading to camp I was fairly neutral. I had just had a long trip up North, so I was silently processing life for the 7 hour drive to Georgia. About ten minutes prior to arrival, the light switched on that I would be meeting some of the people I’d spend a year with. I had showed up a day early to do a workshop, and possibly to slowly ease myself in to full fledged training camp. As soon as I met my future family though any anxiety I had for the past ten minutes left.
After the initial entrance into camp, we met the rest of the team, and I’ll be honest the first three days, internally, were rough. I was overwhelmed at all of the new faces because I wanted to just go one by one and hear each persons individual life story and form relationships all within a day, but that’s hard with a team of over 2 people. I would hear snippets about peoples life throughout the day but in between were sessions of valuable personal growth lessons and that coupled with a lack of sleep and comfort resulted in being way over-stimulated. Of course as time went on things got a bit easier and I think it was after the fitness hike that I felt a bit less on edge.
Highlights: Some things I either loved or learned from:
1. Fitness test- no I did not love it, but it showed how encouraging my teammates are and was the starting point of trust. I wanted to stop approximately 13 times, but the support of the team helped me suck it up and get to moving.
2. Worship- I loved all of the impromptu worship sessions throughout the week, many just with our squad. It was a way to release everything and soak in some Holy Spirit time.
3. Sessions- There were powerful sermons about identity, forgiveness, listening to the Holy spirit, obedience releasing power, evangelism, shame and emotions, and I was built up by a lot of it. Through processing and discussion I felt increasingly freer throughout the week, and bonded with many of my squad mates. We were able to be real and vulnerable after only four days of meeting and feel 100% safe!
4. Camping- I loved the camping by the lake. It was a mini break from the bubble of camp, and late night talks are my all time favorite. A few of us stayed up most of the night sitting under the sky and all its lights over the rippled lake.
5. Night watch- we were challenged to have at least three people awake and praying throughout the night 11pm-6am. So we each took a shift. I was 1-2am but ended up staying 11-12, and 1-3 just for the heck of it. It was much needed prayer time, and was powerful in processing and discussing with God about the upcoming year. We were able to pray for many we would come in contact with over the next year, praying for the people, countries, leadership, movement and power of God, and I found it so awesome that those are 7 hours of our team praying over the next year, because that preparation is so vital.
6. Route- we learned more about our route, and I am SO EXCITED. We are going to be going to over 14 countries, and get this… we are starting in Paris with the refugees. I have a journal entry from November 13, 2015 after the attack on Paris from terrorists. I read Nehemiah, and how he had confidential access to the King and after fasting and prayer went to Israel with safety and security after a tragedy to rebuild. I asked God if He wanted to commission help to rebuild spiritual foundations in Paris, and I wrote that if so, I would go. Now two years later, I will be going and partake in interceding on behalf of the refugees and prayerfully will see a rebuilding of the Kingdom in that community! So crazy and so unexpected.
7. Make a memory day- we got to traverse to the YMCA, get a tour from a previous world racer (Zoe), pray with some people whilst at the YMCA (prayers for Theresa’s daughter Blessing to come to know God, and for Travis) and our new friends offered to be praying for us, ate some Zaxby’s, got hopped up on a hazelnut latte that didn’t wear off for another day, and jammed out in the car with some of my new pals. All in all it was a lighthearted day of fun!
So overall, this has been a crash course on how to live life. We should live each day intentionally, on mission, and on the lookout for ways God can use us. We should be the Body, and strengthen ourselves in every single way each day. I know I came out learning about physical fitness importance, being more bold in faith and learning about team dynamics far more in depth than I thought I would. Community is crucial, God is priority, and please send prayers that He continues this training throughout our lives. #morethanuncomfortable
Thanks for reading <3
Kiana
