I was a mess! I smelt like a junior high boy who didn’t shower after PE class and I had to admit to myself…I needed a shower. I found my way to the mile long line that formed outside the women’s showers, at world race training camp. Standing in line making small talk with my squad mates I couldn’t help but let my mind wander to what it was going to be like, in a few short minutes to take my first bucket shower. Fast forward 45 min and its my turn. I fill up my 5 gallon bucket with fresh ice cold hose water, and walk to my stall (4 foot by 5 foot plywood stalls with shower curtains that didn’t close all the way) This is where it hits me…my dad was right I was naked and afraid.
When I told my parents I was going on the world race my dad joked and asked if I was doing the Discovery Channel show “Naked and Afraid” I laughed and said “no dad!!”. Well I was wrong, and dad was right once again, I was Naked and Afraid! And it turns out I was more than that, I was vulnerable and exposed….let me explain.
During the first few days of camp we learned about what it means to abandon everything take up your cross and follow Christ. This abandonment can make you feel so vulnerable! I’m not naturally a super open person. I prefer to get to know someone first and then open up to them after trust is built. But World Race training camp wrecked that for me it forced me to share my inner most feelings of inadequacy, and self-doubt with my fellow squad mates and brothers and sister in Christ. I half expected to be looked down upon with shame, but I was meet with open arms and offers for prayer. In these first few days I got my first glimpse of what it means to live in community, being transparent and loving your brothers and sisters because Christ first loved us. Im so incredibly blessed to have such a loving Father in Heaven and such a supportive squad. P Squad will be my church for the year and I can’t wait to see how the Lord moves!
Other things that happened at training camp:
- We camped out for 10 days in tents in the Georgia heat and humidity (don’t even get me started on the humidity!!). Some nights we had sleeping scenario to prepare us for the Race that included: sleeping in one large community tent, sleeping with my squad under just a tarp and some rope, sleeping in the worship hall that was turned into an airport (lights on, airport sounds playing all night) and that wasn’t even all of them!
- We ate community style meaning we shared one large plate of food for one table of 8 people. Our meals were also themed after countries/continents . Example we had Africa day where the women served the men and we ate rice, beans, and collard greens.
- Lots of team building exercises to help us learn how to communicate with each other and to help us form strong relationships. One exercises we did was set up our tent blindfolded while two team mates who weren’t blind folded verbally told us what to do (very challenging!).
- We had lots of sessions where we learned about spiritual things like the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, what it means to be a disciple, and intimacy with Christ. We also had sessions about more practical things like how to live on mission, how to be safe in other countries, how to live in community, and how to support out ministry hosts and serve them well.
- Near the end of camp we got our teams!! Im so blessed to be on an all girls team with, Angela, Courtney, Kelly, and Marissa! We will be traveling to San Juan Honduras this October where we will be working with a local pastor doing teaching, preaching, maybe working with a local school, and possibly working in a local clinic! (im so excited!!). We will find out more when we get there!
In other news!
I have raised over $6,200!! That’s so amazing! Thank you to all my supporters!!
My next financial deadline of $10,000 is 9/16/16 can you make that happen!? To donate just click the orange donate button on the top of this page! I can not launch in October if I don’t have $10,000.
I’ll leave you with a quote from the book “Radical” by David Platt which im currently reading and am LOVING so far!
“Jesus has not given us an effortless step-by-step formula for impacting nations for his glory. He has given us people, and he has said, ‘Live for them. Love them, serve them, and lead them. Lead them to follow me, and lead them to lead others to follow me. In this process you will multiply the gospel to the ends of the earth.’”
Lord let this be our mission! Come on, lets go P Squad!
