I want to tell you about training camp but I’m not sure where to start; do I tell you about the confusion in the airport and loosing my cell phone; or do I try to explain how awesome God is?
In HIS infinite wisdom God had me arrive during a seminar about grieving. The guest speaking told about leaving his daughter at college and how hard it was to allow himself to grieve the loss and change. Let me remind you I’d just left Alex at Ohio University in Athens the day before. Trying not to be singled out as older or as a mother figure, I stuffed those feelings down as far as I could until the Lord said just let go. That’s how things started.
The first 3 days were spent on unpacking the extra baggage that we’d brought to camp with us, things that might prevent us from hearing God’s direction, things that could stand between us as individuals and God; things that could prohibit us from forming as a team, family. It was great ! We spent time in quiet solitude in the most beautiful national forest; meditating, reading the word, praying and listen for the Lord. We slept in what are called squirrels nests. It reminded me of “Star Wars” and the Ewoks.
This time of soul searching and releasing was ended by the “walk of surrender”. Each of us was instructed to spend 5 minutes in prayer and then find an object that best represented what we were surrendering to God. I choose the most appropriate piece of a tree limb. At first glance it appeared to be strong and sturdy, yet when I picked it up it was rotted and hollow. I carried that limb about 2 miles and up an incline to the top of a hill where a wooden cross waited. Once at the foot of the cross I laid down that hollow limb and the façade of always being strong and in control. The day ended with a beautiful bon-fire worship service where each of us declared, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
The rest of the week was spent in seminars and sessions developing a listening prayer practice (identifying God’s voice); cultural differences and sensitivity; communication skills and living in community and team building exercises that required we trust our team mates with our physical safety as well as our emotional well being.
By the end of the week none of us wanted to leave the others. We’d begun building our team family. Since camp we pray for each other daily and participate in weekly conference calls, where we share our concerns and failures as well as joys and victories.
I’m more sure than ever… that this is where God wants me to be.
