Training camp was mind blowing, overwhelming, cold and life altering. I learned a lot about a lot all throughout. However, the very first thing that I learned is that God highlights people for you. I mean that literally. When I am asking God for an answer, I listen with all of my being. I listen with my ears, heart, mind, and eyes wide open. I made it my goal to live like this very intentionally all throughout my training camp experience. Let me tell you, it worked.
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So, one of the biggest questions we all have after meeting our squad (33 people), is who will be part of our team (7 people) team?! Well, God highlighted my team from the moment I stepped into the Atlanta airport. There was already a group of people from other squads waiting at the airport once I got there. Some of my squad was already there so we all found each other and herded anyone who looked like a racer and added them to our pack. For those of you who don’t know what that looks like, it is basically anyone who looks like they are ready to go hiking, wears Chacos, possibly a plaid flannel, and of course a 50lb backpack on their backs. (See pictures below)
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Well, I included myself to the quickly growing group of people in the middle of this giant airport. As I sat down, I began to see everyone trickle in. I met Katie first, then Maddie, then Vanessa. Without being a creep, I kept staring at all of them and something about them just stood out to me. We went around a group of about 10-12 people now, introducing ourselves and putting names to faces. We knew our names, I actually remembered most of their last names, but I had no idea what everyone looked like! I didn’t know it then, but I would be living the first part of next year with these complete strangers! After about 3ish hours at the airport, Maddie and Katie and I were already hoping to be put on the same team and Vanessa and I had taken selfies to show my cousin Diana that I would be doing the race with her friend! What a small world it is. Then things went crazy at training camp, crazy in a good way. I met my friend Meyuna “MeMe,” I saw my friend Morgan and I met Jordan for the first time. I also met my entire squad of amazing people, all 33 of us. We all gathered at the training center and got to meet my training team in person! (More on them in the next blog post.) I met my squad, but these girls always stood out. I actually met up with Morgan here in San Antonio a few times before going to training camp so I already knew her, which was super helpful! Not only Morgan, but MeMe and I actually kept in touch pretty often during the weeks leading up to training camp, so I was super excited to meet her in person as well. With all that being said, it is needless to say that I already had them threaded into my daily life!
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Now, I don’t want to give away much because I do want you all to meet them as the year goes by, but here is my tiny snippet of who my team is and what features God used to single them out to me. God carefully selected us; he literally made each one of us to play a specific role for years to come in each other’s’ lives. I am utterly thankful for that, and I cannot wait to do life with them all.
First of all, Morgan is jam-packed with experience, faith and love for other cultures. Her strength and understanding for other’s emotions still amazes me. MeMe is literally the definition of JOY, but like condensed into one small person. She is filled with everything I find absolutely hilarious. I think it is safe to say that she has a direct line to my funny bone, and that is just priceless. Maddie, oh that Maddie! I can describe this girl with one word: faithful. She is another blog in the making just on her own already! (Yes, spoilers alert). That brings me to Jordan, Jordan literally looks like sunshine. I mean it, look at her below! A huge part of training camp that I was dreading was a 2.3 mile hike in fewer than 38 mins that I needed to complete in order to not be deferred to a later time. Guys, Jordan literally saved me from a broken ankle and from having to repeat the hike the very next day. I’m positive she would have carried me to the top of that hill if she could! I finished my hike at exactly 37 minutes! I know for sure that had I been alone for that last part, I would have stopped to rest instead of pushing through. Her faith is inspiring to me; I can’t wait to grow with her next year. Finally, Katie…Katie is just…she is so kind. Have you ever met a person and you’re just blown away by their kindness and familiarity? No? Well, I have! LOL I met Katie at the airport and the way she carried herself, with such patience and openness was eye opening to me. Not only that, the wisdom she carries so humbly is just…amazing. Now all I can say is the truth, for this community I prayed! It is clearly stated in multiple times in the bible. Matthew, Mark, in Joshua! My favorite is Matthew 7:7, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
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One of my biggest fears was that I would be put in a team where I do not get along with my team. However, with such amazing people in my squad that was fear is literally impossible. God has shown me how to grow this next year, this team represents what a sister, a friend, a daughter, and a girl should be like. God has put together a team of role models. A team that I can call my family and one I can fully trust and love openly. Never have I ever (pun intended), had a group of girls I can trust wholeheartedly. Although this may be cheesy and girly, it is the truth. I have learned in just two weeks what community looks like, what God highlights for me and that I can trust without hesitation. In only two short weeks I fell in love with these people who were complete strangers to me.
Please subscribe to my blog to hear more about training camp! Ten days is a lot to cover in only one post, the good thing about it is that I have soooooo much to share with you!
Also, I am still fundraising to meet my next goal before I launch!! I leave January 3rd to Atlanta, but I must be at my goal!! Please share my story, my blog, my posts on social media and even my email!
My next deadline to meet $10,000 is due December 21st! Stay tuned for my next fundraiser.
I love you all,
Marilyn
