I’d heard the rumors about weird sleeping scenarios, food that was a bit too culturally accurate, and bucket showers.
Those were all true, but they were not the craziest part of training camp. The craziest part was how a group of 58 strangers became my family in 10 short (but endlessly long) days.
We arrived at the Adventures in Mission (AIM) headquarters, and I was enveloped in a hug by a stranger the second I stepped out of the van. Oh boy, what a shocking 10 days I was in store for. I set up my tent along with the help of some new friends and took a mental second to get ready for all I was about to experience.
S Squad’s tent city
Honestly, I came into training camp (TC) seriously angry with God. I doubted whether He loved me (or anyone for that matter) and whether I actually wanted a relationship with Him. I considered quitting a few days before TC, but I didn’t know how to explain it to my donors or how to pay them back. So I went. But I went in thinking, “Alright God, let’s see if you’re really so great.”
I’ve found that a funny thing happens whenever I test God. He really shows me up. The first four days of training camp focused on our personal relationship with God, and thank goodness they did. A phrase I heard several times is that “free people, free people” and AIM helped me make some huge progress on that first part. Through worship and speakers and prayer, I experienced an indescribable amount of love and freedom and grace. I’m happy to say God proved me wrong on all accounts.
I recognized how I’ve been trying to have a relationship with the law of God, rather than the gracious God himself. I recognized how hard I am on myself for trying to meet some undetermined standard in order to make God happy, when in reality, I couldn’t do anything to make him love me any more than he already does. I realized how loved I am as God’s daughter. How loved we all are.
My amazing squad
My large squad of 58 became family. We figured out how to take bucket showers, survived eating cow stomach, and got each other through some rough nights of sleep. We woke each other up at 6am to work out in the dark. We pushed each other through our fitness hike, which everyone passed! We spent a wonderful night sleeping under the stars. We hardly showered, slept, or ate. We were at what many would consider our “worst,” yet we came to love each other as though we were at our “best.”
On about night three, I was forced to share a tent with my squadmate Emily in 35ish degree weather without my sleeping bag or warm clothes. She gave me her clothes and draped her sleeping bag over me. While many went back to sleeping in their individual tents the next day, Emily and I instead decided to share a tent for the rest of training camp. Love you girl!
Our squad came in as strangers, but by the end of 10 days together, we are committed to saying “yes” to one another. These are my people for the next 11 months.
My team, Kerux. L to R: Brandon, Nick, Eric and his wife Krystal, myself, Emily, and Jacob
We were also split into smaller teams, thanks to team exercises and a lot of prayer from our leaders. This is my team, Kerux, which is a herald of the message of the good news of Christ. I will spend the first few months with them. God was so gracious in putting us together. I love them and could not have asked for a better team!
I leave Oregon in ONE month, arriving in Atlanta, GA on the 7th. After a few more days of training, we fly to India on January 10th. From there, each team will head to their assigned city to serve!
Dear friends who understand my need to internally process
+praises+
My squad, and team specifically, are wonderful. God knew exactly what He was doing putting us all together.
I made it through the fitness hike. 3 miles in 50 minutes with our fully loaded packs was the requirement, and thanks to some squadmates who made me run, I made it in 43 minutes.
I am at just over $15,000 in funds! Thank you!
+prayers+
Many people on my squad are experiencing health, financial, or relational trouble before leaving. Please pray that God would carry us through.
I need $1,900 more to be fully funded! Please pray God would provide those funds before I leave.
I will be doing the finances for my team. Please pray that God would teach us to be responsible and generous stewards of his money!
Please pray that God would use our squad in BIG ways to bring his people to know and love him.
