So training camp was in tents! (get it? – This is every racer’s best joke.) Except not really because I only got to sleep in my tent 3 of the 7 nights. But it definitely was intense, and I learned a ton. I grew a ton, cried a ton, laughed a ton. It was a roller coaster of a week. But well worth it in the end. So in order to give my supporters an inside view to my week without spoiling it for future racers (Don’t lie, you know you’re stalking the blogs hoping you’ll find out exactly what training camp will look like) I’ve composed a list of 11 lessons I learned at training camp.
1. I don’t need much
Apparently, I don’t need much at all. And this was probably the hardest lesson for me to learn. For a 24 hour period, the only possessions I was allowed access to are pictured below (plus the clothes I had on – not pictured).
And I’m not gonna lie – I didn’t handle it well. It was so hard watching my squad mates take showers when I couldn’t. Watching them change clothes when I didn’t have any to change into. Watching them purchase snacks, t-shirts, coffee, etc. when I couldn’t. I was jealous, I was cranky, I was flat up rude at some points. My squad mates were incredible though! They offered a place to sleep, deodorant, money, even to share their toothbrush (I did not take them up on this). However, I turned down a lot of what they offered because I felt like God was trying to teach me a lesson – I need to have joy in Him and Him alone. Not my earthly possessions.
2. PACK LESS
After spending 24 hours without a lot of things, I realized- I don’t need a lot! Apparently it’s normal to wear clothes for 48+ hours. No one even thinks it’s strange! I thought that since training camp was 8 days long, I would need 8 outfits. Plus a sleep shirt (what a joke, pajamas are a waste of space. Who wants to put on a clean shirt to sleep in when you smell like you haven’t showered in 3 days… because you haven’t). I think I changed outfits 3 times the entire week. I brought 4 pairs of shoes, I only wore 2. I didn’t look in a mirror all week, so bringing a hair brush was pointless. I actually don’t think I ever pulled it out of my pack. I will definitely be condensing my pack before launch.
That being said, future racers: bring snacks, and snacks to share! You’ll want them. Plus, you’ll quickly be the most popular squad mate if you are able to offer food to your new family 🙂
3. Trust your teammates, trust AIM, and trust God
Trust your teammates: After we got assigned to our teams, my team and I decided to go swimming in the lake. There were some fish swimming around with us, and Craig said “Those fish will bite.” I laughed it off. I’ve grown up swimming in Georgia lakes – our fish don’t bite. FALSE. Not even 3 minutes later I’m screaming “They bite!! They bite!!” So please, trust your teammates.
All joking aside, these teammates are going to be the source of my growth next year. We’ve already broken down walls and shared stories with each other that we wouldn’t tell to other people. But we are family now, so we trust each other. They’re going to challenge me with daily feedback, and be brutally honest with me even when it hurts. But I know they’re going to do it out of love, so I trust them.
Trust AIM: Many of you know, iSquad lost 3 squad mates and a squad leader during Training Camp. AIM makes those final decisions, and doesn’t always open up about why they made them. So it’s easy sometimes to doubt AIM. To think that they obviously don’t know what’s best. But this is false. AIM has been doing this for years. They pray over every tough decision they have to make. They know what makes this race successful and what doesn’t. Trust the people God has placed in authority over you.
Trust God: Self explanatory. I am not in control of this race. AIM is not in control of this race. GOD IS IN CONTROL. As He should be. When this is lost, everything is lost.
4. The Power of Prayer
Growing up in the Methodist church, we hardly ever laid hands on someone and prayed for them. But during training camp, this happens to everyone 2-3 times a day AT LEAST. I’ve never been prayed over so much in my life. So future racers: Don’t be afraid of it, don’t run from it. It’s a wonderful thing.
Wednesday morning I was running on low. I was exhausted. I was drained physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We were getting ready to start the team formation activities, and I wanted to be at my best. I didn’t want to be dragging my groups down because of the mental state I was in. So I was walking around, trying to cheer myself up. I passed by a squad mate, (Shout out to Megan!) and I heard God tell me, “Ask Megan to pray for you.” My initial reaction was “No, God. That’s weird.” But then I thought, what the heck – trust God, right? So I told Megan how I was feeling and that I felt like God wanted her to pray over me. She was so excited, she agreed immediately. Not only did my day turn around, but my entire week did. I was in such a better place mentally for the rest of the week. So I’m telling y’all. Trust that there is a great deal of power in prayer.
5. People Are Beautiful
My squad mates, the trainers, the staff, the volunteers, my teammates. Everyone has such a unique and personal story about how God has used them, and how He has brought them here. Most of these stories involve hurt, hopelessness, and brokenness. But out of all these stories, God has brought healing. Because He is our redeemer. And out of healing, God brings beauty. Don’t be quick to judge the people around you, because we were all created by God. And He makes beautiful things.
6. I am beautiful
This is a hard lesson for me to write about, because it deals with parts of my past that I’d rather not discuss in private, let alone post a blog about for the whole world to see. But it’s an incredibly important lesson that I learned, and I think it’s important for everyone, especially women, to learn. So I don’t want to shy away from it.
There was a time in my life where my identity was wrapped up in someone other than Christ, my Creator. Because of this, I was broken. I felt unworthy. Unworthy of respect, unworthy of kindness. I also didn’t feel like I was good enough. I didn’t feel beautiful. Eventually, these weren’t just feelings, but they were lies that I accepted as truths. I came to believe I wasn’t worthy, I wasn’t good enough, and that I wasn’t beautiful. But the weird thing is, I didn’t know I believed this.
One night during training camp, the session was on healing, and I was doing just fine! I was taking notes, listening, and thinking, “Thank God I don’t have any deep wounds I need healing from!” At the end of the talk the speaker told us to pray to God and ask Him to reveal to us a memory that we needed healing from.
Out of nowhere (or so it seemed, but I know it was from God) a memory from my past came to me, and I immediately froze. “Why God? Why are you bringing this up again? I’ve gotten over this, I’ve moved on! I’ve found You! So why are you bringing this back up when it hurts so badly?” And I heard God answer, “Because you still think of yourself as unworthy; you don’t feel like you deserve the blessings I have given you, and will continue to give you. And that’s not what I want for you.”
Through my tears, and my pain, and two particular people that the Lord used to speak into me that week at camp, I came to realize the truth. That my identity lies only in the One who made me. That since I was created by God, I am His daughter. He made me to be worthy, to be beautiful. He wants me to enjoy the blessings He pours out to me, because I am His. And I am beautiful.
And so are you. So don’t ever let anyone make you think otherwise. Because you are daughter/son of the Most High. And you deserve to be treated with respect, and to be told you’re beautiful. Because you are. Believe that.
