Training Camp: under the surface

Let me just start off by appreciating the fact that I am writing this from the comfort of my own bed after sleeping on the ground or in a hammock for 10 nights… I feel like a queen right now. Sleeping outside, eating bugs, showering with a bucket full of ice cold water and a measuring cup, running 2.2 miles with my 45 lb pack on, sweating for 96 hours straight, and constantly smelling like the sewer were all fine and dandy but nothing to articulate on. What actually happened at training camp is indescribable, I’ll try my best to put it into words but it was definitely one of those had-to-be-there experiences.  

WORSHIP- Unlike anything I have ever witnessed, the sound of 300 hearts fiercely praising the one who made them beat and using every breath he’s given us to scream his perfect name at the top of our lungs and countless encounters with my creator left me more and more in love with him and forever in awe of his majesty. God moved in ways I have never seen before and revealed areas of my life I had not fully trusted him with. The father met me where I was in those moments, in all of my fear and questioning, and gave me an overwhelming amount of peace and confidence in him. We also had MANY spontaneous acapella worship sessions within our squad, a few while dancing in the pouring rain or gathered around a crackling fire at our campsite. INDESCRIBABLE are the hearts that my squadmates have for praising our king and singing a new song to him again and again.

SESSIONS- Between breakfast and lunch and then again between lunch and dinner, so yes just about all day long, we had session after session over everything from A-Z. Sessions over different religions and how to be sensitive to their culture while also shining the brightest light that is JESUS CHRIST!!! I learned how to look like Jesus in places that have never heard his name and how to display his supremacy in areas that prefer ancestors and idols. We learned how to give God all the baggage we’ve picked up along this trip through life and accept the fact that he is more than capable and willing to take on our battles for us. Every session was followed by debriefs in our teams, which included some of the deepest most personal conversations I’ve ever been apart of!

SQUAD TIME- We had a few squad times throughout camp where we got to play games, sing songs, have crazy fun dance parties, and just get to know every sweet soul we will be doing life with very soon! Growing close to all of my 46 new besties made taking on the full responsibility of being “The Church of Q” (we are Q squad) so much more real and calmed all my nerves about meeting these people! I can already tell I am going to come out of this journey with some forever friends and I am so excited to see God use that for his glory!

ETC- The uncomfortability was next to unbearable but wow did God use that to his advantage! When I couldn’t sleep because I was getting eaten alive by bugs and sweating from every square inch of my body, I prayed for rest and he answered. When I was tired from going hard in sessions and games all day, I prayed for energy and he gave me a second wind. When I was feeling less qualified than everyone else there, I prayed for peace and affirmation and he provided. I learned to lean completely on God for every need and trust his sovereignty. He gave me so many people with hearts on FIRE for him and they constantly poured so much truth and love into me! I absolutely cannot wait to see them all again at launch in just seven short weeks! I have so many goodbyes to say here and a lot of preparing left before September but I am beyond excited to take on the world as apart of his army of kingdom bringers on earth. ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

I. AM. FULLY. FUNDED!!!!!!!

Wow wow wow praise God I can’t believe this! The final donation came when I was on the plane on my way home from camp! I could never ever in a million years express enough thanks to every single person who donated anywhere from $0.02 to $4,000 as well as those who relentlessly prayed for me and supported me every step of the way so far! I’m so humbled by the amount of people who said yes to partnering with the Lord as he was so faithful to provide for me! The year of hard work and worry (even though God proved himself over and over) was all worth it and I can go into the field 100% funded and able to focus solely on him and what he has in store for me on the race! So once more, THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! So many more blogs to come as this adventure is about to be in full swing!