Training Camp Broke Me

Where do I even start, cause I have no clue. Training camp was so many things. It was challenging, draining, hot & humid, and way outside my comfort zone on certain aspects of it. But oh my word, it was the most incredible, enjoyable, and eyeopening thing I have ever done. 

 I guess I’ll start with my squad. I am SO in love with them. There’s 53 of us & then we also have 3 dope squad leaders who will be on the mission field with us for the whole 9 months. I have never felt so connected with so many people. I made friendships on this squad that’ll last a lifetime. Besties for the resties you know. These are my people. They are all running so hard after Jesus and I’m so excited do life with them for 9 months. 

 So first of all, coming to Atlanta I flew on a plane. I HAD NEVER FLOWN ON A PLANE BEFORE. Hands down coolest thing ever. But anyways, I have never been so happy to see a group of people. I had been anticipating this moment for almost a whole year, so to finally be meeting these people that I have been texting, snap chatting, & skyping with was pretty amazing. Some aspects of training camp were pretty easy for me, like the sleeping scenarios. I was chill with sleeping in my tent or my hammock. A couple nights there were some of us that pulled out our sleeping pads & slept on the concrete. Surprisingly, those were the nights I slept best. But airport night.. that’s a different story. Also, I actually enjoyed living out of a 65L backpack believe it or not.

 Now there are some aspects of training camp that pushed me way outside of my comfort zone. Like having to be vulnerable. Vulnerability and transparency isn’t something I like to do, at all. But with these people, it seemed so easy. Never have I been able to open up so easily to so many different people. The first few days we really focused on our relationship with the Lord and dang my homie JC (Jesus Christ) taught me so much. Honestly, I think training camp broke me, in the best way possible. And now the Lord is building me back up to be able to serve Him well. I also learned that physical touch is one of my love languages. YOU THINK I’M KIDDING, BUT I’M NOT. For those of you who know me, I used to absolutely hate being touched. If you were even 6 inches from me, I wasn’t having it. Jesus does crazy things homies. 

 The biggest thing I learned though at training camp would probably be to accept love. Whether it be from others or God’s perfect love for me. For a couple reasons, it’s always been hard for me to accept love from people. When people would compliment my personality or character I wouldn’t believe them. I thought they would just tell me these things to make me feel good, not because they actually meant it. And it took a couple of my realest homies on my squad telling me that they love me & appreciate me for me to understand this. And that I shouldn’t be afraid to accept that love (so I found out that words of affirmation is also a love language of mine). And then one of the days I was reading Isaiah 43:1-7 where it talks about how God has created me in His image, how He has summoned me by name, and that He loves me. I’m a sinner, so unworthy of the love Jesus has for me. But this passage & training camp showed me that I am worthy of His love & I am worthy of this calling that He has on my life. 

Also, how could I almost forget. We got our teams that we’ll be doing ministry with on the Race, while at training camp. I am on an all girls team and I love them SO MUCH. I can’t wait to do life with these girls. So pumped to see the work the Lord will do through us during the period of time we are serving together.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE: 

 I am currently 82% funded, so I have $2,487 left to raise. THIS IS SO AMAZING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED & BEEN PRAYING FOR ME THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. My goal is to have everything else raised by the day I leave home for launch in Atlanta, which is October 2nd. So I have a little over a month to raise this money. If you feel called to financially support me on this, there’s a little donate button on the home page of my blog. Thanks y’all. 

 PRAYER REQUEST:

 If y’all could pray for my team, the rest of my squad, and my squad leaders as we prepare to leave home for 9 months that would be incredible. Thanks y’all so so much.