Wow – where to begin? Throughout 11 days of port-a-potties, bucket showers, mosquito bites, nights with little-to-no sleep, soaking wet clothes that never dried, heart-to-hearts between your squad, the smell of mildew and the radical LOVE of Jesus Christ, Training Camp produced a whirlwind of emotions – some I can’t even identify. Training Camp was extremely emotional, spiritual and physical. I was attacked by the enemy but I felt the presence of God like I never have before. If I attempted to write a blog sharing everything that I saw or experienced throughout the 11 days I spent in Gainesville, GA, we’d be here for 11 more. So instead, I’ve decided to share 11 of the greatest “lessons,” if you will, that I learned at Training Camp.
1. Your Race Starts Today
Wherever you are in life, your race starts today. If you’re about to embark on the World Race, don’t say “I’ll start doing ___ when I get to South Africa.” No, start doing ___ today. Share the gospel in the lines at the grocery store, speak healing over a crippled man walking through a parking lot, tell the homeless man on the side of the road that he is worthy in Christ’s Kingdom, bless your server with a few extra bucks and note sharing Christ’s love. Don’t wait to start doing all of these things. Do these things now. In your hometown, on vacation, while running errands. Your race starts today and you’re already behind.
2. Forgiveness Allows Freedom & Healing
Many times in life we experience traumatic events that hurt us deeply and scar our hearts. Instead of forgiving the person who caused this severe pain, we bury the memories and eventually move on, hoping that we’re never handed a shovel to dig it up. The reality is, we will never be free until we forgive. Fortunately, Training Camp doesn’t ask your permission to dig up what you’ve buried – it’s dug up without your permission, brought to the surface and requires your forgiveness. It’s a scary thought, but it’s one of the most freeing feelings you can experience. Additionally, forgiveness allows healing – both emotional and physical. Once you receive emotional healing that is long overdue, you can receive physical healing for whatever it is that was associated with your unforgiveness. Forgive. Be free. Be healed.
3. Grieving Allows Growth
Much like forgiveness, grieving is a vital part of growing close to Christ. Sometimes, we can’t grasp all of the greatness God has provided for us or our futures because we haven’t grieved what we’ve lost. We must grieve our losses; not only the heartbreaks and deaths we’ve experienced, but also the seasons of life – holidays we miss spending with our families, our streak of straight A’s, our athletic careers. A small loss to one person may be a huge loss to another. All losses matter – and they all need to be grieved.
4. A Bucket Shower is Still a Shower
They’re cold. But I promise that after 3 days of wiping your body with baby wipes, the frigid water feels like you’ve been given an entire new outer flesh. I’m not going to sugarcoat it though, trying to wash thick and curly hair is seemingly impossible; fortunately, during the night of Airport Simulation, you’re allowed to use the real bathrooms (which have sinks) and guess what? With a friend and a backbend, you can wash your hair in warm, running water!
5. Community is Cool
As an introverted extrovert (yes, it’s a real thing) alone time is a necessity. Funny thing is, alone time at Training Camp is much like the presence of hand soap – nonexistent. It’s okay though, because by sleeping in tents with 6 inches between them, overhearing male conversations that weren’t meant for women’s ears, pooping in portapotties, sharing a hammock when you’re pack is held hostage and not knowing if the old sweat you smell during huddles is coming from the clothes on your back or the clothes on the back of your squadmate, you grow so close that you don’t want to be apart. Instead of lying alone in your tent each night, you decide to have slumber parties so that you don’t have to be alone. You learn that community must be a cool thing because everyone who works for AIM who went on the Race still lives in community, regardless if they’re single or married.
6. Surrender Your Sleeping Bag
God is going to rock your world during Training Camp. He’s going to speak to you loud and clear but listening is ultimately up to you. During one particular simulation, half of our packs were taken away and we had to share what we had with our partner. I was partnered with a guy, so I gave him my tent, sleeping pad, sheet, pillow and sweatshirt. I decided that I would sleep in my hammock with my sleeping bag, which I had decided up front I wasn’t giving to anyone. God had already began teaching me about surrendering material items when the strap of my pack broke off two nights before I was to leave for camp, so it was no surprise to me that He asked me to surrender my sleeping bag during worship that night. For a minute I questioned His request with something like ‘but God, I’m going to freeze without it,’ but He repeated himself, and so I listened. That night I shared a hammock and sleeping bag with a great squadmate of mine and was able to bond with her throughout shivers. And the next morning, the guy who slept in my gear told me that he had one of the best nights of sleep because he felt appreciated and cared for. And I tell ya, I’d sleep without a sleeping bag every night of my life to know that someone else went to sleep feeling loved. Plus: Eno City is a pretty awesome thing to be a part of!
7. God Designs the Teams
Team formations can be a scary thing, but they don’t have to be. Personally, I was extremely nervous. I allotted so much time praying for peace and asking God to put me on a team with a girl I had grown the closest to at camp, but He had already handed picked our teams. The leaders spend hours and hours in prayer asking God to show them the teams He’s designed. They get to know each one of us, ask for feedback during 1 on 1’s and really listen to our requests and concerns. There is no reason to lose sleep over it, because God will place you right when He wants you to be. PS – Here’s my team I’m starting the Race with! Team Wildfire! I am so excited to do life with these beautiful and adventurous lovers of Christ.
8. It’s a Drop in the Bucket
FUNdraising is a big task, but it’s just a drop in the bucket to Jesus. We can’t do it on our own, but if we hand it over to Him, He will provide for us. Say yes to wherever it is that God is calling you and never worry about the finances. Look around and admire all He created. Then try comparing it to $16,277. Spoiler alert: you’ll find that they’re incomparable and that God is greater than any amount of money.
9. You Don’t Always Have to Lead
Seriously. There are going to be so many leaders on your squad that you aren’t going to know what to do with all the personality! But, it’s really a wonderful thing. Take a step back and understand that there are other people on your squad who are capable of leading. I’ve been a leader my entire life, so this was difficult for me at the beginning. But God revealed to me that although He has designed me to lead, sometimes it is in His plan for me to follow. He has things planned for me to learn that I may miss out on if I take on responsibility that I’m not ready for or that He doesn’t want me taking on. Be at peace if you aren’t chosen as a Team Leader, especially if you are on a team with men! And just because you aren’t a leader doesn’t mean you can’t influence others. Use your influence to show others the love and light of Christ! I am so excited to call myself a follower for the first time in my life! Plus: There are many other leadership opportunities on each squad! And I am so excited to be one of the Storytelling Leaders on U Squad alongside of my squadmate Kyle Harper! (Keep your eyes open for a blog to follow about this!)
10. Leave the Promises to God
I said it. As hard as it is to leave your family and friends without any plans when you return, don’t make promises; because if you said “yes” to Jesus when He asked you to go on the Race, chances are you’re going to say “yes” to wherever He asks you to go next. That may not be back to college to finish your degree, back to your job you’re leaving to go, back to your hometown to live with your best friend, back to the relationship you’re currently in. Don’t make promises that have to do with your plans, because there’s no guarantee they can be kept. Instead, promise God that you are all His, forever. Promise Him that you will continue to say “yes,” to His calls. And whatever you do, don’t break those.
11. Share Your Peanut Butter
Or your Texas Pete, protein bars, propel packets and Oreos. Don’t live in a poverish lifestyle once you become a Racer. Don’t take on the mindset of being a “poor missionary.” The gear you’re carrying on your back is worth more than the majority of people you will be serving make in one year. You are not poor. You are blessed and provided for. Do not be stingy. If you have the money to splurge on a nice dinner out, you have the money to buy the homeless man outside the restaurant dinner, too. PS. Bring Peanut Butter to Training Camp (and some protein bars!) You will not regret it and your squad will love you for it!
Training Camp was all in all an AMAZING experience full of growth in every aspect of life. My greatest advice for future Racer’s is to be open minded and set no expectations. You’ll never be able to imagine what’s ahead of you!
Thank you for all of your support! A financial update will be coming out soon!
Xo,
Racquel
