I have started to write this blog in 10 different ways and keep deleting it. So much happened and I don’t know how to share it. I am usually good with my words but training camp has left me speechless. Well, here goes nothing.
Have any of you experienced a life changing week? One that you know redirected your path for the rest of your life? That is how training camp in Georgia was for me this past few weeks. I thought I knew how people worshiped. I thought I knew how Jesus worked. I thought I knew what it was like to be loved. I thought I knew how to love. Training camp opened my eyes to a whole new life, a whole new approach to chasing after God as well as friendships through Him.
It all started by 150-200 people coming together in a state of nervousness. It ended in new friendships and life long stories. The World Race training camp has already given me life long friends and memories, I cant wait to see what 11 months with these people and Jesus will do.
I will start with the food since that’s easy for me to talk about. Every day we were in a “different region”. One day we would wake up and we would eat Asian food all day. The next day we would be eating Middle Eastern food. With the region changes came cultural changes as well. Some days we could only eat with our right hand, no utensils. Other days, the men had to hold hands while going to get the food. One day we had to all look at each other and say “Namaste” before we began to eat. It was very fun to learn all the different cultural norms from regions around the world, even though the food changes every day weren’t too friendly on the stomach.
Who has had problems while traveling? Long layovers? Lost luggage? We did too. One night they bunched up our whole squad and split us in half. My half was told, “The flight you were just on has a delay with your luggage. Figure out how to sleep tonight.” We had to come together as a squad and share clothes, toiletries, tents, etc. I borrowed a hammock from a squad mate. Dun dun dun. I hate spiders. Let’s just say I was up all night boxing 8 legged critters. I may have hit some high notes that were choir worthy. Another night they told us, “It’s a travel day. You have a 12 hour layover in a South Korean airport. It’s 12 noon but you still need sleep.” That night we were in the training/worship center. The lights were on all night and they had the stage speakers on full blast. It was a loop recording of a South Korean airport with plane noises and intercom announcements. Sleep deprivation is real people.
Man hike. Who goes two weeks at a camp without having a bro day? We gathered all the guys at the camp and went to the Appalachian mountains for a day and night. We hiked 13 miles with our packs and connected on another level. It was a time for the men to learn what it means to be a man of God and also hear each others stories. Physical exhaustion leads to some deep conversations. It was a great day and night to really connect with other men in the camp, even men who were not on my squad. That night was another night to remember. After we finished the hike, we had a “hobo dinner” together and listened to a message from a South African pastor named Deon. That’s when the skies opened and checked to see how optimistic we were as men. Monsoon is a simple way to put it when you can barely see your hand in front of your face. That was fine, I had a rain jacket on. The tough part was my tent that was thankfully staked into the ground. I got back up to my campsite and it was floating in a mini pond. I got into my tent and the water had made it through the bottom of the tent. I unrolled my sleeping pad and used my big pack as a pillow. Side note: I had a dream I was drowning, no joke.
Who loves worship music? Personally, I connect with God the most through music. I have been spoiled to have Shane and Shane for the past three years. This camp showed me a whole new level of worship. When we had sessions throughout the time there, I learned so many new things. From constant prayer over each other to not singing a single song, it all counts. There would be times where instrumentals would be playing for 30+ minutes, but not one song would start. They opened the floor to everyone to worship in their own way. Some people would sing looped lyrics. Some would walk around and pray over random people they didn’t even know. Some people would get on their knees and just simply spend time with God and listen. When I was younger I used to think worship was just time singing songs to God. I now realize it is much more than that. Praying with people is worship. Singing songs is worship. Helping feed the homeless is worship. Worship is anything that builds intimacy with God.
June 3rd-14th changed my life. I learned what it really means to love. People are different than you, it’s okay. Everyone has a different story. We all have suffered heart break in our own ways. We all have made many big mistakes in our lives. We are, however, all children of God. It’s time for us to come together and build up the kingdom rather than separate ourselves into our own safety bubbles. I challenge you to step out and learn something new about someone. Make the initiative to spend intentional time with someone every week or day. Learn their stories. Share their heartbreak. Lift each other up. Love like God loves. I promise you there is nothing more fulfilling.
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8
