Training camp.
I couldn’t figure out how to put everything I am feeling, processing, etc. into words, so I decided to just answer some common questions I have gotten since I have been back.
How was it?
-“It was the hardest thing I have ever done. The first night, I told my parents to come pick me up, because I honestly didn’t believe I could it.” If you have seen me since then this is probably the response you got from me. Quickly followed by, “but it was so very good for my soul.”
Yes. Training camp was physically, emotionally, spiritually the most stretching thing I have done in my life. But I made it out. I am alive. and I am better because of it.
Physically it was hard because everything changed so quickly. My sleep schedule, exercise, food, bathrooms, showers. LITERALLY everything was different. Not a bad different, just different.
Emotionally I was stretched to love, and be loved. Go live in tents with 50+ people who haven’t showered, have different ways of living and you are forced to love at new depths. Relationships grew so fast, and when you have been hurt in relationships trusting people into the dirty, secretive, swamp land of your heart after knowing them for three days isn’t simple, but it is worth it. I allowed 58 people to love me for who I was. No make up, Not many showers, Stinky feet in all. I was also able to return the love.
Spiritually I grew more in those 10 days then I think I have in my life. Growth was constant because I was around people who are in the same stage of life, have the same goals, and pursing the Lord’s heart. Conversations were deep, perspective was on the Kingdom, everything I have been craving was at my finger tips for 10 days, but that doesn’t mean it was all fun and games. Growing and stretching your view points and perspectives is challenging. It was hard, but it was worth it.
At the beginning of camp I asked the Lord to help me truly love people how He loves people. (I always felt like I had some fake perspective of love and didn’t think I did it well) but at the end of training camp, I know the Lord did exactly what I asked. I was able to love my team mates, and even just people at training camp better than when I arrived. It was awesome. God is good.
What did you eat?
-“Training camp was actually under cover fat camp a loved one signed me up for. It was like ‘no food, go exercise.’” or “nothing.” …..Well we did eat, but the portions were smaller than what I am used to and to be honest, it wasn’t my chick fil a lunch I am used to. My dad always tells me, “When you are hungry enough, you will eat what is in front of you.” He was right. We had a bunch of different food from a bunch of different places. I learned food is for survival, not pleasure.
Did you sleep in a tent?
-“Yes.”….well most nights. 🙂 Everything we did was scenario based, so like it could all actually happen on the field.
What was the hardest part about it?
-Living in community. I would also say living in community was the most rewarding part about it. It was only 10 days, but living with 50+ people is not an easy task. Some people like to stay up and chat at night (FYI tents are not sound proof), some people snore, some people (me) move around a lot on a noisy air pad, some people set 13 alarms, some don’t set any, some people brush their teeth right by their tent, some people don’t brush their teeth until after breakfast, some people have the stinkiest feet ever (me)….everyone has their own way of life, and getting used to that is hard. It is nice though because you are never alone, if you forget something someone on your team is bound to have it, if you sleep through your alarm don’t you worry someone else set one, or six. Community is hard, but its good and its worth it. Its real, its raw, its a blessing.
Do you love your team?
-“Absolutely. Every single person has something to bring to the table and its so cool to be able to love our differences.” Now that I am typing that, that answer sounds so churchy but its so true. We are 57 (I think, well plus 3 real cool leaders) individual people that God perfectly created in His image. We are all very different, but in every single person I get to learn more about who God is, and more about His character. We are not all clones of each other and that is okay. That is good. That is the Kingdom, yall. So yes, I adore my team.
Team, squad, leaders?
-Okay so my squad is J squad, 57 people who will travel from country to country together. My team is 7 people who will do ministry together. Squad leaders are 3 individuals who have been on the race before and are going to lead us the first 5 months. Team leaders are one individual on each team who is the head contact with ministry host, and of course, the leader of the team.
Did you find THE one?
-Stop asking this. Not one person on my squad is going on the race to find the person they will marry. We are all pursing the Lord and His Kingdom right now, and we don’t think about pursing each other. The men on my team are the most loving, genuine, kind hearted men of God I have ever met in my life. I adore every single one of them, because they love us females as sisters in Christ.
Bathrooms?
-Porta potties (tbh I don’t even know how the correct spelling.)
Was it like church camp?
-“No.” It was like training camp. Like training for what I am going to be living for the next 11 months 🙂
Did you wear that blue shirt the entire time?
-“No.” No i didn’t not wear one shirt the entire time, although I did wear clothes for more than one day I did not wear “that blue shirt” all 10 days. That was just the day we took a lot of pictures.
Spiritually what did you get out of training camp.
-This question is a blog in itself but im going to zoom in on something very specific that happened. One night one of our leaders said, “Ask the Lord what He wants you to give Him.” So I did, then she said, “Ask Him when you give Him that, what will He replace it with.” so I did and He responded, then she said, “now ask Him what your life will look like when these two things exchange places.” and I did and He responded.
I know this is kind of vague, but the point is God wants to be in communication with us. All the time. My prayer life was flipped upside down this night, and yours can be for you too. Ask God specific questions. Ask Him to examine your heart. He is good and He wants what is best for you. This night I learned that that still small voice is my heavenly Father and He loves me more then I could even ask Him to. I also learned how small the box was I had put God in.
Y’all, allow God to bust out of that box, because it will rock your world. He will change your life. Just ask Him.
After training camp I am even more excited to head to Lesotho, Africa in 34 short days!!!
ONLY 34 MORE DAYS IN AMERICA. WHAT?
LOGISTICS UPDATE:
I have finished buying all my gear (shoutout to my lovely mother for road tripping to Santa Fe, New Mexico to finish up my last little bit!)
One thing I have learned recently is God is so present in the little things. In the trips to the grocery store, sitting around a pool, in the long car drives God cares so much about every single aspect of our lives. I have been “unemployed” for about 2 months now, and everything has worked out just fine. God really has taken care of me! <3
Currently I am sitting at 64.29% of the way funded meaning I have met my goal to be able to leave with my team August 5th, but I still need 6,056 dollars! God has been so faithful in providing and I know He won’t stop now! Please consider partnering with me and supporting me financially. None of this is possible without the love, support, and prayers from yall! I sure am blessed!
Please subscribe to my blog. 4 real. Its nice to know this Kingdom journey isn’t only changing lives around the world but it is also allowing people who love me and care about me see how their prayer and support is being used around the world.
Thank y’all for believing in the journey the Lord has called me to!
I love you guys, I love praying for you guys, I love getting to love you guys
MP
