It has been over 2 weeks since I got home from training camp. For those of you wondering what “training camp” is, it is where all the World Race squads leaving in August come to together for 11 days for our first experience as a world racer. Think summer camp mixed with informational seminars and bible study. We learned more about the race and what our role as a racer entails, met the people we would be embarking on this journey with, and ultimately learned how to build a deeper relationship with Jesus. Some highlights were camping out under the stars for 9 nights, bucket showers, eating fried crickets, losing my pack for a night and having to “sleep” in an hammock with only a towel for warmth in 60 degrees, and so much more. While these things may not sound very appealing, they were some of the most memorable parts of camp and definitely filled with the most laughter. What really shocked me about training camp though was how evident God is in this process. The bond that I share with every single one of the 24 goofballs on my squad can only be explained as divine placement. There is not a single other person I would rather go on my race with and share this experience with. The AIM and world race staff is made up of some of the kindest, God-centered humans I have ever met. They sowed into us everyday with their love and knowledge to help prepare us for our upcoming journey. I experienced more growth in those 11 days than I have this past year as a Christian. I could go on for pages about what I learned and how camp impacted me, but for your sake I won’t. Instead, because everything about the World Race is done in 11s, here is a list of my top 11 takeaways from training camp!
1. When asking God to fill you up, make sure that you’ve actually created space for Him. Sometimes he’s unable to come in and fill us with His presence because we are holding onto control; control of how we think He should fill us, control of our emotions, control of the external situation…
2. The first step in seeking the kingdom is starting small. God doesn’t expect us to move mountains in one breath. All he asks is that we take a step.
3. It’s not about what you know about Him, it’s about knowing Him. This was huge for me because I’ve only been following Christ for a year, and it definitely hasn’t been a straight and narrow path. I thought my lack of knowledge of biblical teaching and experience in missions would make me far less capable of doing His work than my more experienced peers. But Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship. A relationship is not about acting based on rules, but communicating and acting based on that communication. When I show up hungry to get to know Jesus more deeply and have a yes in my spirit to follow His will, I can be used just as powerfully as anybody.
4. In the beginning of my walk in faith, along with the excitement and the novelty that the revelation of Jesus brings, I had quite a few very powerful experiences. What this developed into was I correlated Jesus ONLY with those extreme experiences and emotions. Then I began chasing that “high” that comes with being in the presence of Jesus and stopped actually chasing him. That small shift in pursuit shifted the focus from His glory to my significance. But throughout camp Jesus showed me what he is like in the small moments, in the waiting. And just because it is a different feeling, doesn’t make it any less profound or beautiful.
5. Hearing God’s voice is a process and begins with trusting that you will hear it. To begin, ask Him everyday to speak to you and then wait and listen. His voice, just like his plan for you, starts small, so don’t miss it because of impatience.
6. Generosity breeds generosity, and if it doesn’t then there is a disconnection between yourself and Jesus. So check yo self.
7. Ministry is life and life is ministry. What I mean by that is ministry is not just going on mission trips or volunteering in your city. Don’t assume that because you are not in those specific environments that you are unable to let Jesus work through you. It is right here, right now. Ministry is the smile you give someone while passing them in the grocery store or the conversation you have while waiting in line for lunch. It is being there for your friend when they’ve had a bad day or giving advice to a coworker. Ministry is any opportunity to let Jesus shine in you. Just open your mouth and let God guide you because He is always the answer no matter the situation.
8. It is always the right thing to ask if someone is open to feedback no matter how uncomfortable that might be IF the intention is to point that person to live in a higher self. And to not tell that person is to rob them of the opportunity to grow.
9. More importantly and usually even harder: the answer to receiving feedback is always thank you. Even if you feel as though they are completely off base, they have a different perspective of you than you do and see things you can’t. You owe it to them to take it into consideration. And in doing so, you have created a level of trust to where that person will be comfortable to continue to give feedback and also receive it with the same level of humility as you.
10. God created all things good. When things are put in the hands of the enemy he can twist and pervert them into something bad, and this can only be done through your permission. Who do you give permission over your life?
11. Shame is the gap between what you think you should be and what you are. And the power of the Gospel is we already are who we should be.
