Training camp: the fastest yet slowest 10 days of my life. I went into these 10 days without expectations because I was physically unable to develop any expectations. I don’t know anyone personally who has been on the race, so I didn’t have anyone to tell me all of the secrets of TC. I am so grateful that I didn’t have the inside. My lack of expectations allowed me to experience every session, every field scenario, every team bonding activity, and every meal to the absolute fullest.
When people have asked me how TC was, my response has consistently been “training camp was really hard, but it was really good.” Typically, the conversation continues with someone asking, “well, why was it hard?” and my response is always “there really was no comfort at all.” Training camp was not comfortable at all. We slept in tents in the woods every night, we ate foreign foods for every meal, our only bathrooms were porta pottys, we showered in buckets, we weren’t able to wash our clothes, we didn’t have our phones, and man, Georgia is hot! God recognized my discomfort and decided that it was His time to shine.
Y’all, He wrecked me. Almost every night, we worshipped. The very first night of worship, I was so blown away with the people I was worshipping with, and with the way that God was moving in my heart. Before going into training camp, I think that I had convinced myself that I had a relationship with Jesus. That very first night of training camp, I heard God calling to me and telling me that my heart was so closed to Him and that all He wanted was for me to let Him in. I realized that my “relationship” with Jesus was not a relationship at all, it was just me talking at Him and asking Him for things then getting mad at Him and blaming Him when He didn’t give me the answer I wanted. I had so many expectations for my faith life based on what I thought other people wanted me to look like or how I should pray or comparing my faith life to that of someone else. But God left no room for comparison in my heart. He wrecked me. He pulled all of my broken pieces out and He put them on the table in front of me and we attacked them together. We had two way conversations and my heart is changing!! I have lived my life in doubt and fear that He isn’t real or that He won’t do what He says He’ll do. And that fear has made me turn my back to Him so. many. times. But through worship, through alone time, through prayer, through my team, through the people at training camp, God has revealed Himself to me in so many ways and I am so ready to step out of the boat with no fear and walk toward Jesus. Freedom. Broken chains. Wrecked and restored. These are the words I have to describe training camp!!!
Switching gears real quickly, I would love to introduce y’all to my team!
The very first day at training, we were given a list of names and our team number. Going into training camp, I only knew two of the girls on my squad just from previous meet-ups and text conversations. The next morning, we met all of the members of our teams and we sat together at every meal. Again, so much discomfort since none of us knew each other. But WOW does 10 days make a huge difference, especially when God is moving!!!
MY TEAM!!! A bunch of kingdom seekers!!! A group of 8 girls pursuing Christ with every bone in their bodies!! My team WOW my team! We spent 10 days with each other, only 10 days, and I have laughed to the point of peeing my pants, cried to the point of no more tears, and have never felt more myself with these girls. I’m not even kidding when I say I think it was day 2 and my team was already so open about their lives and the messy, broken pieces of themselves. But the thing that is so cool about my team is that we build each other up. When someone on the team is hurting, someone else is immediately at her side to comfort her and pray with her. When someone is happy, someone is right there to smile and laugh with her! We are not in this alone and my team is so SO good at walking with each other.
Alexandra!!! The sweet mamma of the group (she loves being the mamma)! This girly brings so much to the team. Not only is she so motherly, loving, and caring, but she plays the ukulele! She is also so good with the camera and captures so much beauty in her pictures. Al, you’re the coolest.
Avery!!! What a light. Fun fact, I scratched Avery’s arm one day and I cried about it for like an hour, but Aves did not even flinch and ended up comforting me even though I scratched her. Avery is such a good soul. She gives of herself so well and doesn’t even think twice. She’s the typa gal that has the perfect shoulder to cry on, but also the perfect spirit to dance with. Just the greatest.
Hallie ugh what a gal! If this pic of her doesn’t describe it all I don’t know what does. Hal is so quirky but in the absolute best way!!! She can make anyone laugh and she has the ability to light up a whole room, even though I think she doesn’t realize it yet. She has a hidden courage about her and she is so willing to let God move within her. A true weirdo and a true homie.
Sweet Tierney!!! My girl. A fearless leader, one who is not gonna let things stand in the way of her pursuit of Jesus. T is an encourager. She’s the biggest cheerleader but in such a subtle/sweet way. She brings a sense of peace with her wherever she goes. She is so strong! A happy face, always.
Taylor!! This gal pees her pants on the regular, but only because she laughs too hard! It’s super rare to find Taylor not laughing or smiling (or sleeping honestly lol). But Tay is mighty. She is determined but gets things done in a way that everyone enjoys themselves while completing a task. She can flip a negative atmosphere with her positivity! A sweet, simple soul. Wowza.
The perfect addition to our team of 7:: Sarah!!! Sarah was originally on a different team, but she was moved to our team and I could not be more excited about it! She fits so perfectly. Sarah is just a fun spirit. She loves people so well and isn’t afraid to jump into uncomfortable things. She has the best laugh. Sarah will go out of her way to make sure that everyone is doing ok. She’s a good one. We are beyond blessed that she joined our team!!!
Last but for sure not least, Mack : ) Mack is the best. She carries herself so well, like no one I’ve ever seen. Mack loves to scratch backs and play with your hair. She is so comforting and brings such a peaceful presence to our team. She is BOLD. She is courageous and she brings strength. Mack is someone you can always count on and she doesn’t skip a beat. She loves so well. A sweet, brave human. A warrior. A blessing.
So that’s us!! Team 4. We spent 10 days together. Just 10!! It makes me unbelievable excited for the 9 months ahead with these ladies. Wow. We build each other up. Grateful does not even do my feelings justice! God is so good and He has blessed me so greatly with these 7 gals. Please keep Alexandra, Avery, Hallie, Tierney, Taylor, Sarah, and Mack in your prayers over the next 10 months as we journey around the world together! These are my sisters, sweet blessings in my life. I CANNOT WAIT to see what God is going to do in their lives throughout this journey. It’s going to be incredible and it’s going to be so full of Him!
(If you click on any of my teammates names above, it will connect you to their blog page!)
