With the red Georgia mud still fresh on my pack and Chacos, I figured it would be a good idea to do a quick blog update of my week at training camp. As I’m still trying to process a lot of stuff that happened, this will be a quick list of the top 11 moments of training camp! In no specific order:
11. Dance parties! You can’t have a World Race Training Camp without dance parties! Easily the best bonding and relaxing times for squads!
10. The other squads. This week was all about getting to know Q squad, but I had fun talking and laughing with a few R and T squaders. Since I switched from R squad, it was fun to meet a few people on that squad that I talked to previously. And, it was refreshing to see and talk about how God was moving in the other squads. After all, it doesn’t matter which squad you’re on—it’s all about the Kingdom!
9. Laughing! I was trying to think of one specific time that was super funny, but I couldn’t. When I’m tired a lot of things are funny, so the majority of the week I was laughing. But really, laughing is all you could do given the situation.
8. God. (Remember this list isn’t in a specific order haha.) He showed up and showed up BIG! He spoke to me. He pursued my heart. He knew everything I would need. Walls were broken down, souls were set free, and lives were transformed.
7. 11 women, 1 family tent. Warmest night ever! I finally showered that day, so that might have added to the greatness.
6. Team Breakthrough! The people I will spend the most time with on this journey. How grateful am I to be a part of such a strong team in more ways than one. There will be a whole blog coming up dedicated to this bunch! But for now, just know that my team is made up of 2 strong, powerful Godly men and 4 beautiful, gentle women of God (plus myself)!
5. Squad Wars! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ!!!!!!!!!! We really brought it. If it were based on squad spirit we totally would have won! #Qbelieveit Shout out to all the staff that helped us out when we were short handed!
4. Hammock. How did that make it to the top 11? I’m surprised too! I bought an ENO hammock as a splurge, hoping I would have room in my pack. Boy, oh boy, am I glad I brought it! Easily the best night sleep ever. At camp I slept in my hammock 3 nights. I would have slept in it every night, but some nights we had special instructions or it was raining. And dare I say, sleeping in the hammock was better than my bed the first night home after TC! Crazy, I know.
3. The Hike. This is unique to Q squad only. The other squads didn’t have the same kind of hike we did. We were told that we would only be hiking a maximum of 20 minutes. Our 20-minute hike turned into a 2 hour and 10 minute hike (with gear, food, water, and other needed items). So we got a little lost, walked through R and S squad areas twice, and made our own hiking paths…Q squad had a blast! When most people would complain, Q squad rejoiced and encouraged. When other people would quit, Q squad persevered. When other people would get frustrated, Q squad trusted our leaders and prayed for strength and wisdom. When others would get super sweaty from the heat, Q squad, well, we got super sweaty too! This was by far one of the best nights that everyone on Q squad will remember forever!
2. Holy Spirit Night. I don’t have another name for the night, nor do I remember which night it was. Ron Walborn, one of the speakers, had spoken to us about hearing the Spirit and different ways the Spirit comes to people. Then he asked us to stand and ask the Holy Spirit to come fill us. There really are no words that could describe this night in its fullness. I had staff speak life and truths over me. I felt the Spirit in the room. A transformation happened that night and not only to me-everyone at training camp felt it.
1. Q Squad!!!! #Qbelieveit #sQuad #QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ Q What? Q Squad! However you put it (or yell it), Q squad is unique! At first I was still sad about switching squads, but by the third day I knew I was exactly where God wanted me to be. I have been so blessed to be on a squad with 46 other brothers and sisters of God who all strive to give grace, serve, encourage, and be all together amazing! I can’t wait to go to the nations with this new family of world changers! Love y’all!!!!
