Training Camp, not Church Camp

So, you wanna know how Training Camp went? Well, let me tell you, it was amazing, but not for the reasons you might think. 

Going into Training Camp, I really only knew three things: I had one backpack, seven days, and twenty-nine squad members. At 3 am on Saturday morning, as I gathered the rest of my gear and headed for the airport, I was completely oblivious to the things God would do over the next week. 

First, let me introduce you to my squad, K Squad (or like we call ourselves, Kingdom Builders or K BABABYYYY). From around the nation, God brought together twenty-nine different people who shared the same mission: to spread His Gospel to people around the world. Our stories may all be different, but we all ended up together at the World Race, Pacific Rim. Over the next eleven months, I will travel with these amazing new friends and watch as we grow into the people God wants us to be. 

K Squad, we’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot of change to embrace, but I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else!

Second, meet my team, Sol Sisters! Though we may travel as a whole squad, these are the women that I will be living with day-to-day (for the first couple months at least). If I’m being honest, I’ve never considered friends to be one of my strong suits. I’m friendly, yes, but making friends and maintaining friendships are two different things. I hate to admit it, but I walked into Training Camp worried about the potential drama and tension that came with being on a team. No matter how excited I was to be a part of a team, all I could remember were several past friendships that had failed over the years, some more messy than others. However, God completely eradicated those worries. 

During a training exercise, we were told to get into a circle and ask the Holy Spirit to point out someone that He wanted us to talk to. Minutes in, as I stood awkwardly in my spot, a young woman approached me and said that the Holy Spirit had given her the word “peace.” Immediately, I felt tears come to my eyes as she continued to speak life into me. She told me that God would use me to be an instrument of peace on my team, which to me seemed so impractical. How could God use me to bring peace when I had very few friendships that were peaceful? But, God knows His plans. 

Within a couple days of receiving my word, my Squad’s leadership offered me the Treasurer position for my team. I wanted to turn it down, to tell them that I had no experience and that I wouldn’t be any help. Thankfully, Adi told me to pray about it because if I hadn’t, I’m afraid I actually would’ve said no. 

After talking to God and making sure this position is what He wanted for me, I approached Cami (our Squad Mentor) with fear heavy on my shoulders and accepted the position. She was so excited that I had agreed; I’ve never seen a bigger smile in my life. But, it was her words that let me know I made the right choice. She told me that as leadership was praying about these positions, she noticed that I walked in peace. She told me that this position that I had accepted was an opportunity to invite my peace into my team. In that moment, all the fear that had accumulated in my mind melted at the sound of God’s voice. When I was worried about His calling for me and the ways He would accomplish it, He reminded me that all I had to do was act out in obedience and He would meet me half-way. 

With that being said, Sol Sisters, I’m ready for ya! Over this next year, I promise to walk in peace and choose y’all even when it’s hard. I can’t wait to see who we are at the end of this, so let’s do this together, yeah?

Now that introductions are over, let’s get to the good stuff! When I sat down to write this blog post, all I wanted to talk about was the fun (or crazy) things we did at camp. For example, the 2.1 mile hike straight up the side of the mountain that made me feel like I was crawling more than walking. Who even knew Georgia had mountains anyways?!? Or, the time that my graham cracker cookie was stolen during a minute-to-win-it game and I ended up laughing so hard I almost choked on the other cookie I stole (yeah, thanks, Jose!). I can talk all day about the fun we had or the memories we made, but then Training Camp wouldn’t look any different from Church Camp, would it?

No, it wouldn’t, but the truth is, Training Camp is something completely different.

For the first time in my life, I tasted freedom. As many already know, fear has always been a big motivator in my life. Ever since I was little, I was always too scared to do anything, especially if that something meant living for Jesus. But, through Covid, God met me in my fear, pushed back the walls that confined me, and helped me find the path that He made for me. The World Race was probably the biggest (and scariest) choice I’ve made in a long time. Yes, I was terrified, but I’ve learned over the years that my fear was nothing but a detriment to my faith. So, when commitment day came Thursday of Training Camp, I told myself that the minute I stood from my seat and approached the fellowship table, fear no longer had a place in my heart. Now, I am free! The minute I stood, I felt fear fall off of me and crumble at my feet. I am ready to live life fearlessly, to trust God even when I feel my knees shaking or my tears brimming. This next year will be one for the books because I am ready to fully embrace the life God has for me, even if it looks scary. 

So, World Race, give me all ya got because I’m diving in, and I’m not coming back the same person I was. I am a new creation, saved by the blood of Jesus and freed from fear. I am ready to start my new life with Him!

Don’t believe me? Watch the video!