Going into training camp, I wasn’t too sure what I was getting myself into. As I arrived I shortly found out that I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. I was sure to expect some really awesome worship, altar calls, and meeting some amazing new best friends. Yes we did have all of that, but that is not what it was about.
We had worship maybe 4 days out of my time at training. Everything they did had a purpose to prepping us for the race. From packing up last minute and moving to the next place, where all we had was a tarp and rain, to hiking through the woods with a group of girls from my squad doing an intense activity in the middle of nowhere.
Coming into training camp I knew that God was going to deal with some stuff in me before I left in September. But I wasn’t too sure how he was going to do that, because I had seen this stuff and done the services. Boy was I in for a shock. He played a quick one on me that day that we were hiking in the woods. Because of future World Racers that are reading these blogs, I cannot go into much detail, but would be happy to share with anyone who wants to email me.
But God totally threw me for a loop. I found myself in the woods completely vulnerable to my team that I had only really known face to face for such a short time. I am the type of person that keeps how I am feeling and what I think of myself inside, but it was time for me to speak it out and get it out in the open. As I was struggling with tears walking through the woods, I found myself surrounded by staff, and my new family for the next year reminding me of the promises of God and that I can push through. This group of people was not going to let the enemy win, and was not going to leave a man behind. Upon finishing the activity I walked through a line of applause and my new family cheering me on because of what I had just accomplished.
Our team began to debrief and I knew it was time to tell my team what was really going on in the inside of me. Fearful? You bet I was. But once I told them, it was like every wall I had up had just fallen down. Like I said I have done tons of camps, worked tons of retreats, and have seen a lot. But NEVER has God done something like this before. The next thing I knew I was shouting at the top of my lungs proclaiming with my squad as to who I was in Christ and they began to proclaim that over me. I will NEVER forget that day and how speaking out of what I may believe or perceive can be broken over my life. And I would have never EVER have thought that I would be at a training camp shouting in the woods with my squadmates of who I am. I have gained a new family during this training camp that I can’t wait to fight with, cry with, grow with, and encounter new things in God with. Being at camp gave me a glimpse of what is to come. WATCH OUT WORLD! Z Squad is coming for you!!!! 
