47 different people, 47 different stories, 47 different homes, 47 different families, all sharing the same love for each other and for the Lord. If we are being honest that is what I will remember most about training camp. Not the squad wars competition, not the smells of the people or the Port-A-Potty’s (even though they were horrendous), not the amazing worship and speakers that taught us. But I WILL remember the 46 other people that I will be forming everlasting bonds with over the next year, and the rest of my life. I will remember the testimonies of how people realized that Christ was the light at the end of the dark tunnel, how he was the missing piece of their puzzle, and how he really can save.
But, I know everyone who is reading this will want to know what training camp is actually like. I went into it thinking it was going to be just like any other church camp where we just talked about God a little bit worshiped some and then went out kind of did what we wanted and bonded with our squads and teams, plus the added fun of camping.
I couldn’t have been more wrong about any of it. There was not a time that I can think of where the holy spirit was not working in or through me or for that matter anyone at camp. During the sessions that we had there was always something that someone needed to hear, and it really felt like every single person there was put in those seats for a reason. And Worship was a whole different story, I don’t think I have ever been in a room with so many people worshiping that actually wanted to be there. The Port-A-Potty’s and people still smelled bad though… Bucket showers don’t really work out that well.
I learned about the bond of brotherhood. I have gained six new brothers and growing up with only a sister the bond that I have already made with those guys are going to be hopefully for a lifetime. I know that through this transition into the next part of my life they will be a critical part of shaping me into the christian man that I want to be and we can all be examples to each other. I also got 40 new sisters that I love so much already. They already are all so special to me even though I have only officially known them for 11 days. I also gained an amazing mentor that I know will have a tremendous impact on how I view my walk with Christ, how I grow in my personal life, and how I grow in maturity through this transition of life. I have made connections with people all over the country, in my squad and in other squads.
I also learned how to be a man of Christ and a man of honor. A few nights out of the 10 days we were there we had an extra sessions after our big sessions called “guy talks” where all of the guys that are in the gap year program would get together and talk about things that could help us on the field. One thing that really stuck out to me was that being a man is a choice. Id I really never thought of it that way. I guess I thought that once you started working and needing to provide for someone else you just would . But that’s not the case at all. I will need to grow up quick while i’m gone because I really will need to be a man and do the things that I left to do. I already have one foot in the door because I am following what God has told me to do. I learned in another one of these sessions that I need to be able to pick my battles. I don’t need to always fight for things but I need to fight hard for what I believe in.
I know earlier I talked about our sessions, and the hardest or most emotional session for me and a lot of others was the talk on forgiveness. Because as humans bad things happen. People hurt other people. And as Deon (a very relate-able speaker there) said “sheep happens” which could not have been better said. I tend to hold on to things for a long time which in turn makes those things harder to let go of. The longer you hold on to something the heavier it will get on your heart. It will get to the point where you just cant hold on to it anymore and you physically and mentally break. I was almost at that point. I just hold in all my anger and frustrations until it makes me legitimately sick. But after that session I was able to forgive and let go of something that had taken a big hold on my life. And after I was able to feel such peace. It really is incredible the feeling that you get when that can happen.
I learned that its okay for me to get my emotions out. its okay to cry, its okay for me to be angry, its okay for me to be broken. Because everyone is broken. And god loves the broken. Everyone has a story about what or who has hurt them. And everyone’s story matters. All stories matter because they can help bring people to the kingdom of God. they also can be an inspiration for other people to come out and share their stories.
So I will leave y’all with this verse from the book of Psalm. Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” I think it was day 6 when I stumbled across this verse with a squad mate. It was amazing to come across this while there where over 300 Godly people all living together for 10 days. I honestly don’t think it was a coincidence that I found it. It was just one of the many God moments that filled that magic week and a half.
