Two words – Training Camp.
Where do you start? Can words even describe?
Not sure they can.
As I am still trying to process and digest everything that God did, I’m still overwhelmed. Overwhelmed in a good way. It would seriously take my whole life to even portray a glimpse of everything that took place, so I will hit a few things and maybe others as time goes on.
Let me start off by saying – – All week at Training Camp we didn’t have a schedule. For those of you that know me the least bit, you should be able to imagine the inner turmoil this caused.
Each day we were given an envelope that we were able to open at a given time. Other than that, the order of how things would work was unknown. One night, I was asked to meet with some of our squad coaches, along with 3 other squad mates.
Anxiously, I awaited what was going to happen. Before I knew it, the envelope was in my hand with given instructions only intended for the 4 of us. As I read them aloud, the others listened intently.
We had been given a task.
Not just any task, but a task that called for a lot of responsibility.
A task that would start in a couple of hours with no time for planning.
We were in charge of the whole squad, almost 60 people from 4:30pm to 9:15am. This meant directing people to pack up all of their stuff, then leading them to the campsite, picking up needed supplies, providing dinner and breakfast, coming up with stuff to do and just working together sharing ideas to make this night memorable.
Many of you may have experienced this before, but when leaders get together you assume the idea of too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. Well, this didn't seem to be the case. It felt awesome to find each other's strengths and utilize those. Every idea was heard and every thought held high with immense value. I sometimes have had a hard time trusting others to lead, but this came so easy for me and I absolutely loved it.
Mind you, the rest of the squad had no idea of this mission we were instructed to do.
Our squad leaders were present the majority of the time, yet were to serve as observers. On our envelope it said to please make sure the rest of the squad knew this. I am so humbled to say that this was never even something we had to mention because of the squad’s trust in our ability to lead. We took charge and they listened without questioning a single thing. We went to the camp site, where we did the human knot, cooked over a fire, prayed together and so much more.
My personal favorite part was as leaders we wanted to serve our squad in some way just to let them know that leadership isn’t about being on top, but about loving someone enough to serve them and love them. We decided to show this in splitting up into groups and washing their feet. A fellow leader for the evening and I gave a brief discussion on this importance of this.
It wasn’t about how ugly and nasty their feet were, which without showers for several days –
they were all gross. Let's be real.
Despite the fact, I HATE FEET. – But God's grace and love compels you to do greater things beyond your own selfish desires.
It wasn’t about how your legs weren't shaved.
It wasn’t about us touching your feet.
It was about being open to the Love of God that wants to shower you in such a way that is unreal and undeniable.
It’s about blessing others and humbling ourselves to honor who they are as people.
It’s about His presence.
It's about the change it brought.
As I washed the feet of the faces I had just met, I cried almost the whole time. I spoke prophetically over them and saw the Lord move in ways that melted my heart. Most people had never experienced this before, but everyone was so willing to be open. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know the majority of those that were apart of this were changed by this act and by the Holy Spirit who comforted them and spoke life into them as his unfailing, unending love gripped their heart in a way like never before.
The encouragement I received this night was seriously out of control.
“You’re doing an awesome job!”
“I would follow you any day.”
“Thank you for taking initiative.”
“I know you’re called to be a leader.”
“You’re heart is so beautiful.”
These words I always thought I believed, but in the moment of the truth being spoken to me, I broke and came to realization this was only a thought in my mind, rather than truth engraved on my heart. I had for so long thought I believed them, yet this evening I can say I finally KNEW IN MY HEART that such things were true.
This evening seriously changed my life.
My whole life I have found myself in leadership positions.
People have told me time and time again, “You’re a natural born leader.”
Others have chosen me to follow after, even at times when I wasn’t sure I could lead myself.
I’ve always known I had the ability to lead, but never did I trust myself with that ability or believe that others trusted that ability within me.
This week the greatest thing I walked away with was the fact that others believe in me.
And not only do others believe in me,
BUT GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE BELIEVES IN ME.
Not only believe in me as a person, but believe in me as a leader.
This was so humbling for me.
The trust these people put into me I had never felt.
The support I obtained from these strangers was something I had never experienced before.
Someone believed in me.
Not someone that I had to spend 10 plus years trying to gain their approval.
Not someone who made me go through all these hoops to prove to them that I have what it takes.
Not someone who was tapping there foot waiting for me to fail, but someone.
A stranger – who believed in the God inside me.
Later on in the week, I walked in a room of smiling faces, the first thing they spoke to us was, “You’re in here because we believe in you. We believe in you to be team leaders."
Two statements in and I lost it.
These people believe in me, and it’s now time to believe in myself.
All that to say, it’s my honor, privilege, and greatest delight to introduce you to
TEAM RHIZOO (hrid–zo-o)
(Kelsea Johns, Markelle Prince, Sara Anders, Darcie Nicholson,
Myself, Kim Sadler, Ara De Torres)
RHIZOO is a word the Lord dropped in my heart before Training Camp and I immediately took note of it on my Ipod for team name ideas. Without anyone knowing this, the meaning of this word was continually prophesied and spoken over us by our mobilizer and one of my great friends. When I told the girls about this word, we all stood in amazement at how it fit us so well and confirmed the words that had been said about our team.
Rhizoo is the Greek word meaning to be rooted, constant, to strengthen with roots, to render firm, to fix, to establish, cause a person or thing to be thoroughly grounded. A plant or a tree are as strong as their roots are deep. The deeper you and I are rooted in the unfailing love of God, the less we sway when the winds of life blow harshly.
Ephesians 3:17 – “The Christ will make his home in your hearts, as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” I’ve fallen in love with these girls and I can’t wait to see where God leads us and what he does in and through us.
I am seriously brought to tears thinking about the potential, love, compassion, devotion, faith, and depth of this team. What a powerhouse we will be for the Kingdom of God. I seriously couldn't have asked for a better group of girls. The unity is so amazing, the laughter is non stop, the strength is to be honored, and the willingness and hunger is unquenchable.
Here's to a great team, who will do great things, all in the GREAT NAME, JESUS.
For your enjoyment, here are some videos of travel to training camp, training camp itself, and further introduction to Team Rhizoo.
