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"I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent"
Barlow Girl, "I Believe in Love"
 

Training camp.

I'm an introvert (this may surprise many of you). Being thrown into a group of 60 some people I've never met is difficult, even if it is for a dance party and fun squadwar games. I'm someone who desires strong intimate relationships, and well, that wasn't going to be an option in the first few days. I felt like an unparticipating observer most of the week.  Where I would have usually stood up and taken lead, I followed and watched. I think most of it stemmed from the fact that I sat through AMAZING worship and sermons the first few days where my squadmates were connecting to the words and lyrics, experiencing healing, crying, dancing, and being filled with the Holy Spirit in such beautiful ways…and I just didn't feel Him. I spent the week relying on Truth, what I know to be real, because it was all I had. To be honest, it was isolating. Not only did I not connect with God, but I couldn’t connect with peers that were going through some heavy things. I don't know if God was teaching me a lesson in the silence, or if I was being spiritually attacked, maybe I'll never know, what I do know is that even if I don't feel him, He is there. And for now, I will rest in that. And I will rest in knowing that He wants me on the Race.
Training camp was full of challenges that I may face on the Race, and that part of me that loves the outdoors looked forward to each of them:
-Everything I owned was “lost by the airlines” so I spent a night relying on others because all I had was the clothes on my back and a Bible in my hand.

– The "borders in Africa were closed" which meant 60 people and all their gear jammed into a school bus for a full night of (no) sleep. There were three people per seat, and people in the aisles.

– Campout!  They took our tents gave us a few large tarps to share, sent us on a hike to set up camp in swamp. With the exception of being cold, I LOVED it.
– Food was not nearly as bad as I had worried- fish in rice mush, tomatoes, rice, ugali, hard boiled eggs, tacos…things that we would find out on the race. I lost a few pounds in the process. 

Each region was served with a lesson on eating etiquette that had to be followed for the day-eat only with your right hand in India, or serve the men at tables and then eat on the floor in Africa.
I had a certain amount of peace dealing with each scenario. It helped that I took on a “deal with it when I come to it” approach. These things weren’t worth my worry. Next year is going to teach me to appreciate even the simplest things: I had 2 showers this week with running water that wasn't freezing, who cares that there were 5 spiders watching me.

As promised… I’d like to introduce to my team, Arise & Go. The name was chosen from the command to both Saul and Ananias in Acts 8&9 that led to Paul’s conversion (but see also my favorite reference, Luke 17:19)  These are the people that I will be spending every day with next year: 
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Jolene-our leader with lots of love and joy for the Lord
Jan- the often giggling German with few, but wise words
Steve- a strong goofy teddy bear that is always up for an outdoor adventure (he promised to be my cage diving with Great White sharks partner in South Africa)
Cassie– a cowboy hat- wearing Texan with a bit of mystery and knowledge
And the married couple:
Alyssa- a hard worker with a servant’s heart
Jeffery– a talented musician with admirable love for his wife 
 
Fun fact: no man in my Bible study at home is over 5’6”, no man on my WR team is under 6’! How’s that for protection detail, mom?

If you're interested in more pictures, find me on Facebook.