Time is flying by, and here I find myself with one week until training camp, the week that I'll spend with my fellow January World Racers in a simulated week of on-the-field experience. At least that's what I understand. To be honest, this "training camp" business is shrouded in such a cloud of mystery that I don't even think Jesus himself knows exactly what goes on there. From some sneaky inside sources, one week until training camp means one week until:
sleeping in tents
sleeping in buses
meeting my entire squad
team-building exercises (imagine youth group at its worst)
minimal bathing
questionable food options
hazing
an intiation ritual involving blood, sacrifice, and bears
Okay, the last two might have been made up. But still! The control freak in me is currently being challenged by the lack of information that I have about what will go down there. Thanks for the opportunity to grow, God, but wouldn't it be easier to let me in on my own future? I don't even know what I'm going to wear for goodness' sake. (Side note: if anyone knows what aspiring hipsters wear while backpacking, please get in touch with me ASAP. Really just if you know what in the world I am supposed to wear, get in touch with me.)
All jest aside, one week until training camp means one week until this reality check gets cashed. After training camp, there's really no going back. I'll know my whole squad, I'll know my team and leaders, and I'll be as prepared as I'm going to get in terms of our mission experiences (apart from personal spiritual growth). I'll have new friends, a working knowledge of a 65-liter backpack, and I'll know what it's like to sleep in a tent in 40-degree temperatures.
It would mean the world to me if you would pray for me and my squad as we prepare to 1) meet each other, 2) work together, and 3) learn, share, and grow to become unified under one mission. Pray for oneness, for fun, and for God's will to be done amongst us. My squad is officially known as N-squad (we like to write #Nsquad because we're hip like that), and our team color is blue. We seem pretty cool, y'all.
If I make it out of training camp alive, I'll be sure to blog and let you know if the ritual sacrifice rumors are true. Until then, wish me luck.
m
