I’ve been trying over the last week to come up with some
words to describe what World Race Training Camp (part 2) meant to me. I am
heading overseas in January to squad lead P Squad, and just I spent a week in North
Georgia for their training camp. It seems like just yesterday that I was
preparing for my own training camp back in May 2011 – scrambling to buy last
minute gear at REI’s annual sale, getting ready to host my new W squad teammates
at my house before we drove up to Tennessee, and trying to figure out what the
heck I should expect out of the next 8 days. It was the same way this week, but
this time I was on the other side of things: the team formation sessions, knowing
the schedule as opposed to being in the dark, and being able to just observe P
squad and offer insight from my own perspective and past experiences. It was a
week full of new things – new depths of understanding how the Holy Spirit
works, new friendships with co-leaders and 47 World Racers, new and fresh
worship, and just a whole new training camp experience all together. It was different, and refreshing. I can honestly say it was one of the best
weeks of my life.
It’s been over two weeks
since it ended, and somehow words just don’t seem to do it justice. This was
the theme of my entire World Race, I feel like. Word’s are never enough,
pictures help but always look a little less extraordinary than the actual
expressions on people’s faces, and videos don’t capture the depth of the
moment. To quote a text I got the other day from one of the guys on my
squad: “So I should expect this feeling to continue? This inability to convey
the whole experience…” Yes, this feeling is only just beginning. is where I
have to do my best and trust that God is going to work through the inadequacies
and limitations that I face while staring at this computer screen.
But, in an effort to capture this week, to fight off this
writers block, and to give you a taste of this past week and what it means
going forward, I’m just going to share some pictures and also link some stories from some
of the racers I’ll be leading. I’m excited about the next step in this adventure. I found out this week that I’ll officially be leaving January 4th for Washington D.C. where we will do some leader and squad training, and then I’ll be heading back overseas to southern Africa and Asia for 5 months. Is this my life?? I’m so excited to be a part of something that is so much bigger than me. God is so good.
Myself and one of my co-leaders, Renee. I’m hoping P squad catches on to some of our crazy mannerisms!
It’s a crazy world out there, trying to find our place among all the new World Racer’s at training camp!
It was so awesome to see P squad find so much freedom this week. Freedom from religion, unhealthy past relationships, and lies that they’ve believed for so long that have no place in their lives! Check out their blogs to read firsthand what Training Camp meant for them.
Aaaaand there’s P SQUAD! Can’t wait to head out in January with these guys!
And I leave you with this quote from “Into the Wild”:
We are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us. It is in everything and anything we might experience. We just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living.
Thanks for reading, ya’ll!
Cheers,
Steven
In order to be fully funded financially, I need to raise $6000 by January 1st. If you would like to be a part of helping make this happen financially, please click on the “Support Me” tab to the left of this blog. If you would prefer to send a check, please put my name in the memo line, make it payable to “Adventures in Missions” and mail to:
Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353
