As soon as the car rolled off the bridge and into the familiar territory of yellow stalks as far as the eye could see, I felt comfort wash over me. Although scenically monotonous, Iowa has a simplistic, charming feel to it. No matter where I am in the world, this great state will always claim my heart.
This past week, however, I called a campsite in the middle-of-nowhere my “home”. Nestled in the outskirts of the Smoky Mountains, the camp housed 250 Racers who came from all over the world to spend a week in training for our year-long adventure. You know when you meet someone for the first time and you feel like you’ve known them for years? That’s how I felt when I met my fellow squad members. I would risk my life for them, and I know they would do the same for me. Our bonds already run deep, and I can’t wait to see how God transforms our lives next year.
While at training camp, my ideal living situation was broadened.
I showered among daddy longlegs; slept in a cold, wet tent; woke up to a rooster before the sun made its appearance; ate ethnic food with my dirty fingers. I even ate that food off the ground when it fell out of my hands. Gross, right? Maybe for some, but golly, I was hungry. People tend to do crazy things when they’re desperate.
And I was so desperate. Beyond anything physical, I was spiritually desperate to see Jesus move in my life in huge ways. I discovered our great God in aspects I could never have imagined! He stretched my faith this way and that, asked me to be obedient to His will and opened my eyes to see how gracious and powerful He is. The second to last night of camp, two women on my squad approached me at different times and whispered words of support in my ear.
“God just wanted me to tell you that He loves your spirit. He finds your attitude of encouragement to be beautiful in His sight. Never be afraid to be the leader He called you to be.”
He told them exactly what I so badly needed to hear.
Another thing that happens at training camp is the assignment of teams within the squad. Since it’s difficult to keep track of fifty people at once, our squads are split up into smaller teams. B-squad will send seven different teams out into the field come January, and I’ve been given the incredible honor of leading six other women on my squad! We have named ourselves Team Lion Seekers. Although we have tender hearts, we will not shy away from the bold task of bringing Truth to the nations. We will seek out the greatness of God in every way and ask Him to give us lion-like bravery along the way!
In what ways can you stretch your spiritual muscles and ask God to make you more like Him? Go ahead and ask Him. The journey may be the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do, but I promise you, you will not be disappointed. HE WILL BE FAITHFUL. He always is.
On another note, being a part of the Race, squads understand that plans change, and that means routes change! B-squad’s route is different and here is the NEW and IMPROVED list of countries to which we will be traveling!
