The Skinny on Training Camp - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

Two weeks later, and my head is still spinning. Who would have thought that a week in the middle of nowhere Georgia could make such an impact? Since giving a detailed description of everything that Training Camp was would take pages and pages… I’ll give some of the highlights.

In this crazy week I…

Slept in a tent all week.
Wore my long johns to bed because it was that cold.
Had to get up at 7 am for mandatory workouts (bleck!).
Repacked all my stuff into my pack at least three times.
Had the “airline”, aka AIM staff, “lose” my pack for 24 hours.
Yay for sharing and super generous teammates. That means you Sarah!
Ate food from a different continent every day.
Thereby, going hungry some days because some food was a bit hard to stomach.
Sat through hours of really incredible lectures from some awesome speakers.
Heard some “wisdom talks” from former racers. Lesson 1- don’t be a dirty idiot.
Met more southern people than I’ve ever been around before.
Watched God show up in some amazing worship.
Did some crazy team building games to help put us together in our teams.
Got all decked out in orange for Squad Wars. Go B Squad!!! (BTW, squads are everyone going on our route. There happened to be 5 squads there. And Squad Wars are an awesome competition and dance off where the points didn’t really matter because we were all having too much fun.)
Got to go to quite an authentic African market with 230 other people complete with pickpockets, beggars, loud music and lots of people trying to get you to buy lots of stuff.
Crossed the border from Thailand to Cambodia.
Was told that our route had officially changed (more on that later).
Found out which other six people will be on my team (also, more on that later).
And most importantly, I walked away realizing that God had given me exactly what I needed.

I left for training camp not knowing what to expect. What if I got put on a team with people I didn’t click with? What if I got chosen as a team leader? What if I didn’t get chosen as team leader? What if I ended up on an all girls team? What if no one thinks I’m cool? What if my sleeping bag isn’t warm enough? Turns out it is.

Turns out God knows what’s up. Because I didn’t get chosen as team leader. And after 10 seconds of having my pride pricked, I breathed a sigh of relief. I’ve led missions trips before, so I thought because I was qualified I might be chosen. After almost two years of leadership in YWAM and three years of intense responsibility on the worship team and almost four years of a demanding full time job that has left me drained… I get to step back and enjoy serving God. I’m not in charge. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s no vacation. But for the first time in years, I can relax. I can breathe in the presence of God. I will be filled with His spirit so I can then pour His love out on others.

You know what else? I’m on an all girls team. Something I never thought I wanted, yet now I’m grateful. I would have expected drama. Instead, I’m partnered with six other incredible, strong, single women who I know will challenge me (in the good ways), and walk with me and love me. Did I mention they’re all single??? To some, that might be an insignificant detail; to me, it makes all the difference. Over the past couple of years, the number of single ladies in my life has significantly decreased, to the point where I belong to a extreme minority. I’ve spent the past couple years surrounded with weddings and boyfriends and engagements and babies and double dates. Well no more! I’m going to have me some serious girl time. Because apparently even God knows just how important that is.

Coming soon to my blog… I’ll introduce my incredible teammates and share what exciting new countries I’ll be headed to!