You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, It’s who you are
Its who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, It’s who I am
It’s who I am
Oh it’s love so undeniable
I, I can hardly think as you call me
Deeper still, as you call me
Deeper still, as you call me
Deeper still, into love love love
-Housefires II
World Race Training camp is not a vacation. It’s not some cozy little camp out or a church conference in a hotel.
It’s Training Camp.
This isn’t to say that it isn’t fun or exciting, it totally is! But it’s also a crash course in all things World Race and in Georgia in the heat of July that means red dirt, sweat and tears.
I won’t go into too much detail because I don’t want to ruin it for future racers, but here is a little glimpse and some stuff that I learned.
Training Camp is a 10 day long experience full of porta-potties, bucket showers, weird sleeping scenarios, hammock/tent cities, small portion-weird food meals, worship, awesome people, and the chance to step deeper into faith and deeper into your relationship with God.
Camp was full of red dirt, sweat, and tears.
Red Dirt.
When I came home from camp I quickly realized that any white clothing or gear that I had taken was forever stained with red dirt. This includes my chacos and tent and almost all of my white tank tops.
Sweat.
I strongly dislike sweating buckets. And I strongly dislike sweating buckets and then not being able to shower. I quickly realized that in our living situation in Georgia (and potentially many countries we go to) I was going to have to just get used to it. In Georgia you just sweat a lot, all the time, unless you are in air conditioning. There was no combating the sweat and the shower was only effective until you stepped out of the shower and started sweating again.
(Praise Jesus that our squad meeting point was in an air conditioned room!)
Tears.
I am a leader.
If you know me you know that I like to take charge and I like to plan things and run the show. Whether that be as class president in high school or planning parties or concert festivals, I like to lead and I’ve done it a lot.
Something happened at Training Camp though.
They spent a lot of time asking us to dig deep and find out what was holding us back, what had happened in our lives to create a false self and where we had built walls.
This happened really early on like Day 2 at camp or something like that. Honestly its all a big blur that I can’t keep in order.
I quickly realized that in this group of people, in this setting, on the Race, I was not going to be a leader.
God’s plan for me on this trip was not to lead, not to plan, not to run the show.
I was shown that this new chapter in my life was going to mean learning a new role. And ultimately learning new things abut myself.
For the Race we are called to leave behind certain comforts, food we like, friends, family, warm beds, hot showers, and we are called to walk as God’s sons and daughters. We are called to abandon.
I have been called to abandon in a way I was not expecting.
God wants me to abandon my control.
I don’t know yet what this new role will be but I know that God is going to be walking me through some big stuff this next year. He’s got a whole new world to show me through the eyes of a follower, through the eyes of His daughter. This journey is an opportunity to grow in intimacy with the Holy Spirit. But relieving me of my leadership mentality God is opening up an avenue for me to focus solely on Him and His grace and love and awesomeness.
At first this reality was hard for me to comprehend but after a lot of processing and sitting with the Holy Spirit I am So ready for this new journey.
This is just one of the MANY things that I learned and experienced at Training Camp, I can’t even begin to scratch the surface.
On September 6th I will be in Atlanta Georgia or Launch! A few days after that I will be leaving for Kampala Uganda. My team and I will be serving Suubi House for the month. It’s an organization that serves special needs children and their families. I am so excited for this ministry and getting to bond with my team in Kampala!
I have currently raised over $6,200 and still need $3,800 to leave in September! Please keep me in your prayers as you consider supporting my trip financially and through prayer!
Have a Blessed Day!
