I have had so many friends asking about Training Camp. My answer to most who ask is, "It was boot camp physically, emotionally, and spiritually." It was hard. It was awesome. It was draining. There was laughing, there was crying, and there was a lot of singing. There was a lot of praying, a lot of people being prayed for, and a lot of people waiting to have that intimate experience with God.
Training camp wasn't about sleeping in places that you could find yourself sleeping on the race. It wasn't about trying the foods we will eat in different countries. And it wasn't about which squad won during squad wars. Training Camp was about having those intimate moments with God no matter what was going on. The World Race is going to be crazy, busy, and hard to get time in with God.
The first few days of TC were difficult for me. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I felt nothing. We had session after session after session, learning so much but still felt nothing. After two days of this, I went up to one of our squad leaders and asked her to pray for me. I felt numb, I couldn't feel God. We prayed and she saw this vision that completely made sense. He was testing me, He was still around but watching me take this test. Immediately this verse came to mind:
James 1:2-4 “Consider is pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
The next day we had an exercise on listening to God about what He had to say to a certain person in our group. I prayed, listened, prayed, listened and prayed again. I had a vision: I was looking at this sun disappearing behind the horizon. The day is over, and a certain season in life is over. Whether it was a relationship or friendship that needed to end or a struggle that they need to let God have, that season was over for them. But it wasn’t for the person in our group. It was for a few others on our squad so I shared it with the group. I am not sure who all needed it but I knew I needed to be bold and share what God gave me hoping it helped at least one person.
The next day was the day we found our teams for the next year. Feeling nervous and anxious was bit of an understatement. After one more team building activity, our team was formed by that afternoon. Was I excited? Not at first. I thought the squad leaders had made a huge mistake. I liked the people on my team but I couldn’t see how living with them for a year would work.
We had time to hang out with our teammates that afternoon. We piled all seven of us in my moms car and went to chilis and ate some amazing American food, shared a few testimonies, and had our first picture together as a team. Then we were craving some good coffee so we went to Starbucks, prayed for our team name and got it within a few minutes. Spending those few hours with them, I realized God did not make a mistake choosing teams. He had us right where He needed and wanted us.
That night we had worship. I honestly cannot tell you what all when on that night because God and I had our moment. Finally! He broke me. I cried a lot. People came up and hugged me and said things I needed to hear. To those who know me, you know I don't cry unless something is seriously going on. God knew I needed to be broken. I try to do things myself and let God in a little bit. He showed me I cannot do that on the race. I cannot do anything without Him. We are going to be put in situations on the race that I can't control. I will have to fully rely on Him. He told me it's okay to cry, it's okay to be broken, and it's okay to need prayer.
At training camp I learned what true community is, how complete strangers can become family within 6 days. For real, I love my squad so much!
I learned that feedback is hard to take in but is the best way to grow with your team and your relationship with God.
Overall, Training Camp was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. If TC was that intense, I can only imagine what the race will be like….bring it on!
16 days till launch!
Here is a video of our squad! Thanks to my squad mate Natalie!
