I went to Training Camp expecting to have all the logistics and details of the World Race outlined and every question answered. However, God had an entirely different plan that far exceeded my expectations. God taught me how to be okay with not knowing every detail and having no control because honestly walking in faith requires complete and total surrender to God’s will and timing. So HE lovingly showed me how to stay faithful in communication with Him and my team and trust that HE is good.
God showed up in BIG amazing ways over the last 12 days and a great way to refer to these days are that I went through is “heart surgery.” WOW did God prune me and reveal Himself in new and deeper ways.
Here is a glimpse of what Training Camp was like:
We had several different Field Scenarios that have happened to people on the World Race, which involved all kinds of crazy sleeping arrangements, time limits, and almost daily packing and unpacking our stuff. For example, the second night half of us “lost our luggage at the airport” and had to partner with a stranger and set pride aside and ask for help or give generously even if you had to go without. Another scenario the amazing Adventures in Missions team simulated was a 12 hour airport layover. A surprisingly fun night was when we had to fit 12 people with gear into a community tent.
Training Camp was also helpful in realizing the physical toll traveling can have on your body and we were required to hike 2.2 miles carrying all of our gear in 38 minutes or less. This hike was not flat like I’m accustomed to in FL rather it had a few hills and valleys and one massive mountain (or at least it felt that way the second time going up!). The only way to complete the route on time was to run on the decline and walk/run as fast as possible on the flat part of the route. While this hike was physically exhausting, as soon as people finished their hike they went right back out there to cheer, encourage and at times physically push/pull/share the weight of teammates who felt they couldn’t go on. During this time I felt God telling me this is the life I have called you to, to share the burdens and joys of others, to persevere through pain and go beyond your limits, to live in community with love and honor for each other. I was overwhelmed with excitement that I get to live life with these amazing people for the next year serving Jesus in everything we do.
Panda Rangers- meet the lovely ladies I will be living out the book of Acts with for 11 months. Left to Right: Jen, Marissa, Alli, Rashelle, Taylor, Jaclyn, Tori
Every day had a theme such as Africa, India, Eastern Europe, Travel day, Adventure Day, etc. These themes influenced our dress code, eating habits, and food. For some countries we had to hold utensils in a certain hand, make a toast, cover our head, or at times share a communal plate and have no utensils at all.
Pure craziness!!! Adventure Day Crickets
That is a general overview of the fun and physical part of camp, however in reference to the “heart surgery” God also moved in mighty intimate ways. Below are a few of my favorite takeaways:
Abandonment creates a space for Jesus to fill and for HIM to move mountains.
You don’t have to be a “cookie cutter” Christian before God can use you…He meets you wherever you are, to walk alongside you through your journey towards intimacy with HIM.
The Holy Spirit literally dwells inside of me and we are called to do even greater things than Jesus.
Shame is from the enemy to get you to stay quiet and isolated. Meanwhile guilt leads us to the Father and is a gift to realize we did something out of alignment with God.
Comparison is the thief of joy. If I’m wanting to have the gifts/talents of someone else than who will fulfill my calling?
If someone needs prayer it is an invitation to partner with Jesus.
Whenever God asks me to do something learn not to respond with what I lack.
Affirmations are an exchange of thoughts we have about ourselves to what God thinks about us and taking more time talking to ourselves than listening to ourselves.
God calls us to be a voice on how he uses us not just an echo.
I am loved. I am redeemed. I am valuable. I am chosen. I am empowered. I am influential. I have been set free. I am HIS.
Please prayerfully consider joining me in this opportunity to share Jesus by investing in the Kingdom. I am still in need of funding and I am grateful for any amount. You can support me financially by clicking the “donate” button at the top of my page. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day!
