Hi friends!!
TONIGHT I will be taking my very first independent adventure to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the world race gap year training camp! Wahoooo!! This is an 11 day intensive training camp that is held at Adventures in Missions headquarters. It is designed to prepare each racer for the challenging road ahead by giving us a glimpse of what life in the field would feel/look like. Everyone from each route will come together for this camp. I will get to experience it all right alongside my squad. I’m SO excited to finally meet all my squadmates, coaches & leaders!
Since it’s pretty much a mock up of the real deal, I have packed all my gear in my big backpacking pack just like I would be if I were actually launching. During camp, I will be setting up my tent & situating my sleeping area to test out all my new gear. The coordinators of the camp have prepared many activities that are designed for each route to get to know one another & grow deeply together as a squad. There will be many activities that will challenge us in all areas of our lives so that we are prepared to deal with whatever comes our way in the field. We will also learn more details & tips for our trip.
This week is also designed to help us connect deeply & intimately with the Father. Through teaching, scenarios, prayer & even relationship building we will be stretched, refined & brought closer to Him. I will learn more about what it means to listen to God & to be open to whatever He wants of me to help build His Kingdom.
I signed up to attend a Storytelling Workshop the day before training camp. This is a day filled with learning how to tell stories & the importance of storytelling to bring more people to Him. There will be people with experience in the field that will share their stories as well as answer any questions we might have about gear, storytelling, blogging and photography.
As I have been preparing for training camp, I have gotten so impatient & excited to board the plane & make my way to Georgia. This day couldn’t come soon enough! I love the independence that goes along with this first step of my journey. I love being independent! Even as a little girl I was very independent & you would often hear, “I wanna do it myself!” It might have something to do with growing up with two older brothers (and being the youngest). This will be a fun way to start off this new adventure.
Okay, let’s get back to how I’m feeling leading up to camp! If ya couldn’t tell, I’m ecstatic!! I have a deep desire for more! An intimate & deep relationship with God. I’m at a point in my life where I’m ready to dive into whatever He has for me. No holding back. I’m done going to church camps, getting on fire for Him & having it only last a few weeks. If that. It’s a cycle I’m unsure how to break and feel so guilty about. I’m ready for more than just a spark that expires after a week & the feelings that go along with that. I’m ready to dive into His love & grace full heartily and for my soul to be on fire for Him, with no expiration date. Where do I start? How do I make this happen? Well, these are just two questions I hope will be answered at training camp.
I’m reassured that I am not the only one. This training camp is full of other believers who are eager to learn more & have similar desires as me. We will be going down the same path with similar questions & will be able to walk alongside each other in encouragement, prayer & love, all while sharing with others how incredible life can be when you have a relationship with Him. That is what I think I am most excited about.
During these next weeks, I ask that you would walk alongside me in prayer- praying that God would answer my questions & transform me. I would like prayer that this camp will be the starting point of this journey of learning & growing. I want it to be the spark that will never go out & will gradually turn into a soul on fire that I’ve imagined.
Thank you <3 I can’t wait to tell y’all about it!
