There’s a lot to say about Training Camp so I divided it into 2 posts, the Natural and the Supernatural, to kinda organize my thoughts(although, in hindsight, it could all probably go under Supernatural because God did it all).
“Without the bitter, the sweet just ain’t as sweet!”
I can’t even count how many times I said the above phrase during my week at training camp. Training Camp was the LONGEST WEEK OF MY LIFE. And I mean that in the BEST way possible and the WORST way possible. Seriously. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything! I learned a lot about myself and about God at camp.
It seemed like just when I thought I’d recovered from the latest difficult situation, I was slapped in the face with a new hardship. And it was in those moments when I had to make a choice: JOY or NEGATIVITY.
Now, I’d love to sit here and say that I always chose joy, that I was the woman whose light was always shining and whose mouth was always speaking praise and celebration, even in the moments when I thought quite literally that I wouldn’t make it. But that just wouldn’t be true. Yes, I chose joy many times; when my backpack that held all of my possessions “got lost at the Thai airport” I chose to find joy in the fact that I still had my day pack that had a few toiletries and items in it. Or when it was pouring down rain and 40 degrees, I chose to find joy in the beauty of God’s creation instead of focusing on how my shoes, socks and feet were completely soaked through. Or, when I had to sleep in 30 degree weather with no blanket, no pillow–no NOTHING–just me in a flimsy tent, I chose JOY, ya’ll, I chose JOY!
But there were many more moments when I didn’t choose joy. When I was exhausted after only 3 hours of sleep; when I was starving because I hadn’t gotten enough to eat at lunch; when I felt overwhelmed by the 24/7, constant, in-your-face community living; when leadership failed and/or communication was lackluster…. I did anything BUT choose joy. My eye rolls, my hands on my hips, my muttered cuss words under my breath, my deep sighs, my side glances to a neighbor that said “Seriously??!?“. Those were not my brightest moments. But I learned a lot from them! I learned a lot about how I handle hardships and loss. And through the great teaching of my squad leaders, I learned how to process and even grieve situations that sadden me. Long story short, I got an attitude adjustment at camp. God used the people and situations around me as a mirror. And once I glanced in that mirror, I knew I had to make a change.
I’m glad for my moments of joy and my moments of utter chaos and frustration. I now know how to better deal with myself and others in ALL kinds of situations, including a hectic 3rd world market rife with pickpockets, buskers, corrupt police and shady vendors. 
The hard moments at camp helped me to enjoy the fun times at camp exponentially! And that’s just a metaphor for life! When we survive the tough stuff, everything else feels like a cake walk.
To all the future racers out there who clicked on this blog trying to find out the “secrets” to camp, sorry! You came to the wrong place! But the image below is my gift to you; it’s my gift of wisdom and warning. Read it carefully and take in every word because it absolutely, positively, 150% applies to the Training Camp experience. It WILL hurt. It WILL require sacrifice and healthy decisions and dedication. But IT WILL BE WORTH IT. Trust me. It’ll be so so worth it!
