After spending some time with family and friends in south Georgia and Florida, I headed back to north Georgia where I spent ten days cooking for and helping out with the training camp for the World Race “H” Squad. For the first three/four days the Breakthru conference was also going on, so Krystle and I were cooking lunch and dinner for around 150 people. It was hectic and chaotic most of the time, but I actually thrive in environments like that, so I really enjoyed myself.
Toward the middle of the week our load in the kitchen lessened a bit, enabling us to be able to spend some time with the racers–getting to know them and observing some team builders. We were also able to sit in on many of the evening sessions. I was so encouraged not only by the lectures, but really more by the racers themselves. I am excited to see what this squad does when they get out into the “world.” They strike me as the most equipped and ready team that I have crossed. They were open to discovering new areas of their faith and developing their walks as Christians; they showed huge potential as leaders; were supportive and sacrificial toward each other; and were very genuine.
Friendships were built, bonds were made, and theirs teams were even created. World Race training camp is hard-core. It is not for the weak at heart, yet if you are prepared and willing, it can really soften your heart. You realize this world is bigger than your current lives and that God and his power are even larger than that. Barriers and strongholds were broken down and burdens many people carried from childhood were lifted. I cannot tell you how encouraging the whole time was even though I was not a direct participant. I wanted to live in that training camp forever. In the end we all went our separate ways and the “H” squad has a lot of final preparations to do before they head out in January. Keep them in your prayers as they continue to align their hearts with his, raise support, and say goodbyes.
