I cannot begin to explain what all happen the week of training camp. And to future racers, there is absolutely no way to prepare so stop reading every blog about TC and just go experience it for yourself!
I can tell you a little bit about what I experienced/learned while at training camp:
1. God showed me His love through my squad. They are so incredible! From the moment I got to TC to the "see you in a month," we became family. I am so blessed to be spending the next year with my squad.
2. I like sleep. I like sleeping in my bed. Training camp wrecked that. We slept in tents, in sleeping bags under a tarp, in a school bus, and in a hammock. The first night back home, I slept in my nice comfy bed wishing I was back in my hammock under the stars.
3. I realized showers/bathrooms will not be available in some countries. TC helped prepare for that. Lake and baby wipe baths will work. It got to the point when I forgot the last time I took a real shower and didn't even care. Gross? Smelly? That's what body spray is for!
4. Food….it was interesting. Each day was a different part of the world so we ate a variety of food. We ate Indian, Asian, European, African and American(saved this for the last day…so good!). We ate how they would eat. Some countries you have to remove your shoes before entering, some you can eat with only your right hand, and some eat without silverware. So glad I brought some trail mix. Meals in America are twice or even three times more than most countries.
5. "We must grieve the painfulness of the past seasons of our life before we can effectively embrace the present of the future." Ron Walborn.
6. I asked God to show up…boy did He ever! He moved in my life as well as every person at TC. If you have never experienced God in an intimate way, ask Him to come in your heart and move. Be prepared to be broken, for Him to remove stuff from your life, to be made stronger, to be humbled, and to love people like He loves us.
7. Found out who my family will be for the next year. We split up into smaller groups and there is 7 on my team. They are so amazing, they have already challenged me to be a better person. At first, I thought staff made a mistake putting us together on a team. But after 2 days of spending time with them and praying, I can see why we were put together and I am seriously excited to see what God has for us. They are incredible and I am so blessed to do ministry and do life with them.
8. Eno hammock…..best purchase ever.
9. I thought some of the stuff I packed to have on the race was so important….good thing I learned the truth before hauling it all. I know now what I really need, what I can live without, and what to bring to remind me of home. After packing and carrying everything my pack, I definitely do not want the max weight to carry on travel days.
10. Life goes on. Shocker right? A few of my squadmates and I were talking about how it's hard to believe we are going to be gone for a year then coming back with so many things being different. Friends will get engaged, some married, some will have kids(my sister!), unfortunately some will pass away, and some will move off. The world doesn't stop for us while we're gone.
11. The next year will be the best year of my life. I will be stretched in every way possible. I will see things that maybe I wouldn't want to see and others will be breathtaking. I will experience so many different cultures and eat some crazy foods. We will cry, we will laugh, we will sing, we will pray and we will have the time of our lives! Bring it on!
Thank you so much for your support! I am still in need of support. If you want to be a part of this journey, click "support me" under my picture.
