Training camp…where do I even begin? It was one of the hardest, yet most rewarding 10 days of my life. I know it sounds cliche to say, but I honestly feel like a new person. I met some of the most amazing people and heard unbelievable testimonies that will stick with me forever. When I first got there I was scared out of my mind and was very unsure of myself, but I quickly learned that I could not have been in a better place.
First of all, let me just go ahead and brag on V SQUADDD!! I’m sure everyone thought their squad was the best, but honestly I can’t imagine having a better group of people to travel the world with. Each and every one of my squad members touched my heart in some way, and I am so thankful I get to share my experiences with these wonderful souls! A particular shoutout to my small group…aka my long lost besties! My small group consists of 6 girls who, even though I have known for about 2 weeks, feel like have been in my life forever (and sorry to inform you girls, will be from here on out!). The bond we created in those 10 days was so authentic and pure, which is something I never had until I met them. From pouring our hearts out during group time to slobbery crying on each other during worship, I know these will always be my people. I literally cannot wait to see these ladies again in September for launch!
Now to get into the wonderful details of what training camp is like. I had been dreading training camp for quite awhile. I don’t know why…I think just because of the uncertainty and hearing rumors of how hard it was. When I drove into that driveway and saw all those people I can honestly say I was terrified. It was overwhelming to say the least. However, the staff was so inviting which made me feel a lot better. As soon as I got there I felt like everyone already knew each other and I automatically prepared myself for the worst and let my negative thoughts get the best of me. This caused me to compare myself to other people and trick myself into believing I wasn’t strong enough to do this; biggest mistake I could have made. I remember calling my dad the first morning of camp and crying because I didn’t think this was where I was supposed to be and that everyone else was so much stronger, spiritually, than I was. I can still hear him telling me that I don’t need to be perfect or know how to recite endless Bible verses to love on the children of God. It’s just that simple. Another thing that I continued to stress about was the tent situation…for those of you who do not know me, I don’t camp. Or do a whole lot of outdoorsy things in general. Setting up my tent took me SO LONG omg. I was pouring sweat by the time I was done. But after the 2000th time of setting it up and taking it down I finally got the hang of it. Soooo you can pretty much say I’m a camping pro now:) One thing that wasn’t my favorite was the humid Georgia air…y’all…I sweated so much those 10 days — it was crazy. A bucket shower might not sound like something anyone should enjoy, but all I’m saying is it was the best thing I could have asked for after a long, hot day. And fortunately, our squad meeting point was in the air conditioning (PRAISE JESUS HALLELUJAH) and I was thankful for that every single day. I feel like I should talk about some of the things I really loved about camp now. Worship at camp was my absolute favorite thing ever! The band was awesome and seeing 300 people with their hands lifted high singing as loud as they could made my heart want to burst. The amount of joy and peace I felt during worship can’t even begin to be put into words. There was no judgment, just a bunch of kids praising our good, good Father! I think I made it through maybe 2 worship sessions without crying my eyes out. I’m telling you, it will make you recognize alllll your feels! Another thing I really enjoyed was the speakers who came to talk to us. Each speaker gave me valuable information that I needed to hear, whether I wanted to or not. Between preparing myself physically and mentally I completely forgot to start preparing myself spiritually. These speakers gave me words of encouragement and the chance to begin to heal many areas of my life that I had been ignoring. The last thing I will talk about is the fitness hike…so much harder than it seems(2.5 miles in 38 minutes). With my 50 pound backpack and the uphill gravel, I wanted to die. If it wasn’t for my mentor, Kate, pushing me every step of the way I honestly don’t think I would have made it. Around lap 2 some of my teammates could tell I was struggling and I saw them running back up the hill to come and cross the finish line with me. The love that I felt right there made me want to cry. Maybe I did but I couldn’t tell because I was sweating so bad. This just made me realize what truly amazing people have suddenly come into my life. With the help of my team, my mentors, and the power of prayer, I have come to realize that I am strong enough to do this race. I am worth what God says about me, and what others have to say does not matter. And all I need is to be still and know that He is God!!
So basically, training camp changed my life in the best way possible! I learned so much about myself, my team, and the miraculously unexpected ways God can work!
