Well folks … In 2 days (more like 40 hours, but who's counting) I will be at training camp. That's right, I'm gonna have my first taste of what The World Race will really be like. In a way, I feel like I've already had a little taste because I've already packed for my week at training camp and this will be very similar to how I pack for the entire 11 months.
For some reason, I don't really comprehend exactly what it is I'm doing until I begin packing up stuff (And I'm sure I'll never REALLY understand until I actually start my race). The same thing happened when I packed up my house and moved out. Something about putting things in boxes and suitcases made me really think about the things that I'm leaving behind. Last night as I packed my bag for training camp, I started thinking of things that I'm really going to miss. This, of course, made me a little sad.
Rather than sulk in my sadness, because that would accomplish nothing at all, I decided to encourage myself. I remembered a scripture that says:
"Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life" (Luke 18:34)
So, I took that scripture at it's worth and began thinking of the things that I am leaving behind and the things that I will miss. Once I had that list, I sat and thought about what God is giving me in return in this present time. I wanted to make this scripture real and relevant to me, so rather than thinking of one thing that I'm gaining for every one thing that I'm leaving I decided to do 2-for-1! Here's my list ….
- I'm leaving behind my family & friends. I won't have the opportunity to see or speak to them whenever I want to and I'm really gonna miss that.
- I will have an even larger family in my World Race team mates and W Squad mates that I'll be meeting for the first time at training camp!! Instant Family … AMAZING! I don't even have to get married or have kids for that! 🙂
- The work that I will be doing will help win souls for the kingdom. This will enlarge my spiritual family and grow God's kingdom. And my prayer is when it's all said and done I'll be able to party in heaven with ALL of my family members, old & new. It doesn't get any better than that!!
- I'm gonna miss wearing cute clothes! I thought about this as I was putting away some laundry, lol.
- I will no longer have tons of laundry to put away. I really HATE doing laundry.
- I get to be comfortable in my clothes. Ladies definitely pay a painful price for dressing up!??
- I will no longer be able to buy things when I want it & because I want it. This has already become a reality to me!
- I will learn very important lessons about money, material things, and budgeting that I'll be able to hold on to even after I finish the World Race.
- The Lord will change my desires and will GIVE me the desires of my heart. My Father is the creator of the universe and controls all the money in all the banks in all the world. My little chump change is nothing!
- I won't be able to primp in bathroom mirrors, get my bi-weekly manicures and pedicures, have my monthly facials, enjoy those wonderful Spa Sydell massages, and all that other glitzy stuff that makes being a girl fun.
- I will learn the true meaning of beauty and begin to see myself and others the way God does. He will give me spiritual eyes to see beyond the make up.
- My future husband (who I may or may not meet while I'm on the race, LOL) will love me for who I am. He will find me beautiful in my own skin and I won't have to worry about being insecure about how I measure up to the women we see in the media.
- I'm giving up my freedom to have alone time whenever I want.
- I'll get to experience community the way Jesus and His disciples did. Learning to be vulnerable, teachable, and honest with myself and others … Even in the bad times when I want to shut everyone out.
- I will appreciate my alone time with God even more and won't take for granted the privilege we have to sit with God, pray to Him, and hear Him speak.
- I'm leaving behind my precious baby, my dog, Kamille! I don't have any husband or kids, and since I've lived alone for such a long time Kamille is the only living thing that I've spent just about every day with for the past 2 1/2 years!
- I adopted Kamille through an animal rescue organization in Atlanta. After adopting her I got involved with the organization as a volunteer and helped to keep and find permanent homes for other abandoned, homeless, and mistreated dogs. I'm hoping to get the opportunity to work with orphans on the race. Every time I think of Kamille (which will be often), I'll think about the children who I'm helping and will work even harder to care for the abandoned, homeless, and mistreated children around the world.
- I have a little more than a month before I leave for 11 months. I've been trying to find someone to keep Kamille while I'm gone for about 3-4 months now with no luck. The longer it takes and the closer it gets to launch time, the more certain I am that God will show up in a miraculous way. If I didn't have Kamille, I wouldn't have to leave her. If I didn't have to leave her, I wouldn't have to find a temporary home for her. If I didn't have to find a temporary home for her, I'd have one less thing to worry about. And if I didn't have this [major] thing to worry about, God would have one less opportunity to show me in a [major] way just how much He loves me and that He will take care of His children.
So, there it is guys. Those are my 2-for-1's. I know, without any doubt, that God will honor His word and I WILL receive many times more in this present time. This is only the beginning!!
ALL PACKED UP & READY TO GO!!
OH … ONE MORE THING!! Just in case you were wondering what Training Camp will be like … Here's a glimpse!
