It has been a little over a week since I came back from the World Race Training Camp and I cannot believe how fast time has gone. In a little over two months I will be embarking on my 11-month mission trip! Whoop whoop! 😀
Ever since I applied and was accepted to go on the World Race, I have had continual waves of excitement as well as doubt about this trip. I’ve asked myself many times, “Is this something that God has called me to do?”�
Yes, I want to travel and experience other cultures, but I know this year is going to be so much more than that. I will be going into countries people avoid, living in conditions that are constantly changing and unknowing, reaching out to those that have different cultural and religious beliefs, all to share Jesus’s love with them. Sacrificing daily my comfortability with comfort, being able to speak the same language, and having access to ‘First World’ things.
Through my thoughts of disbelief and lies from enemy, God has continuously confirmed in my heart that I am to GO. God has called me to go on this journey with Him. That this year is going to be launch pad for the rest of my life. I am going to see things I have never seen, felt things I have never felt, and experience my Savior in a whole new way. As scary as it is to say it, I want Jesus to wreck me. To wreck me for Him, people, and the Kingdom.
So on that note, on how God confirmed my calling to the World Race at Training Camp, there’s so much more!
Training camp was held in Gainesville, Georgia at the Adventures in Missions headquarters. There were around 150 people, which broke into 4 squads. Each squad has a different route of countries they travel to, but we all launch in January. I am on G Squad aka Brute Squad, the Expedition 10/40 Route.
Welcome to the Brute Fam!
In our Squads we are broken down into smaller teams, of around 5 or 6 people. Our team is those we are going to be doing ministry with in each country. I will be doing ministry for the first couple months or so alongside these cool cats! We call ourselves Dauntless! Fearless and Unashamed
All week long, our schedule was packed full with different sessions, scenarios, team bonding activities, and all of the emotions. We camped in tents all week, packed and unpacked, moved, and as the week went on doubling or tripling up into tents for warmth. Who knew Georgia was so cold at night, 35°! To have us experience a little bit of the cultures we may be going in to, each day we had different foods to try. Whether that was coconut rice with curry chicken or crickets for breakfast (with bread, cheese, and eggs, Yum) Also throughout the week we had situations arise, preparing us for things that could possibly happen on our trip, that we had to come together as a squad or team to figure out. Such as mishaps at the airport and visiting a hectic marketplace.
Training Camp was purposefully busy so as to push and challenge us spiritually, mentally, and physically. It was a week where we were getting a taste of what the upcoming year is going to be like. We are going to experience a lot of uncomfortableness, challenges, and weaknesses in our own ways, all while being in community with each other.
The whole, living in community aspect, was something that kept standing out to me as the week went on. For example, throughout the week we had scheduled personal time. This was something I was so looking forward to but somehow never ended up happening for me. Either we were short on time, I had to set up my tent (again) before it was dark, or I was running to get a bucket shower in while it was still warm outside. We were really living in the outdoors this week 🙂
Yes, I was able to get some alone time, but what I was really looking for was some time to sit down and process all that was going on. Usually when I don’t have that time alone, I can tend to push away and not want to open up to people until I have whatever it is figured out. But, it was during those times this week that God was pointing me to my community. Those times where I didn’t have everything figured out yet, He was showing me that I needed to share that vulnerability with others.
God has shown me that we are designed us to be in communion with Him and with others. We have the community of believers to uplift, encourage, guide, challenge, and push us to strive together for the Kingdom. I am excited for this year and challenging myself to be open and vulnerable with others.
The last part from Training Camp I want to share is our vision for when we are on the Race. This is mindset of Kingdom living, is what I want to strive towards experiencing and understanding this year.
This year is about impacting lives for the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is seen as Mission, Intimacy, and Community.
Mission: We have the opportunity to impact someone’s life for Christ
Intimacy: Living life WITH Christ, not just living life for Christ. Personal relationship.
Community: Building the church and being a part of the body of Christ. It is about each other.
I feel like this is only a glimpse of all that happened at Training Camp. But if you have any other questions, want to find out more about my trip, etc. feel free to contact me! I’d love to share!
