Tomorrow, starts training camp at Adventures in Missions. So, I decided to go back and read my blog post from when I arrived in Gainesville, Georgia just one year and three months ago. I had no idea what I would be getting myself into. All I can say is I needed to read this old blog post for myself. I feel like I have come to another cross roads and this was a great reminder of just what life feels like now in my life again. Now, that I am off the race and I still don’t have it all figured out but… remembering the prayers I prayed one year ago to put my agenda aside and puts God’s plans first is my number one priority.
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Posted below is the blog I am thankful I read.
First, I want to define what Training Camp is: It is a week that my teammates and I come together for intense preparation for the journey we are about to go on. The Worldrace asked us to throw away any expectations, because what we think we may need for a trip of this magnitude is probably not what we will actually end up experiencing at Training Camp.
This past week had been quoted to me as the best week of my life/ going to love this training camp, etc. This is exactly how the name came about. Instead of experiencing HELL week like sorority/fraternity’s do, we experienced a HEAVEN WEEK.
The goal of camp is: To determine who are you? Who does God intend you to be? How has your journey brought you here? Through this weeks training I decided to get rid of my expectations and allow God to show me what he wanted for me this year because lets be honest his plans for me are way better than what I have planned for myself.
So, this week did not include any type of schedule. We were notified on an as needed basis. If you know me you know that I do really well with a schedule. So, this was hard task!! BUT… I am so thankful I did not know what was about to come! Even if I was told I probably wouldn’t have believed it!
Overall, I left the week with a family of 52 individuals who I had never met before! Adventures in Missions prepared me for the worldrace in so many ways that I had never even imagined prior to training camp. We were exhausted by the end of the week: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually hightened. This week was REAL! It allowed me to be vulnerable! This week presented challenges that we weren’t expecting to face as quickly as we did. It opened up past wounds in some and brought healing to others. It brought us together as a squad while we also drew intimately closer with the Lord. Although the days seemed endless, our week at training camp was short and we just scratched the surface of the growth to come in the next 11 months. There is so much more that we have yet to experience. So without a laid out plan or schedule Training Camp happened and gave me more than I could have asked for.
The one thing that I am asking for prayers as the journey is getting closer and closer is to simply allow for me to not be selfish and allow the lord to show me his direction on this journey. It is important for me to put my personal agenda aside. It isn’t a vacation! I am leaving and going on the mission field.
My squad and I are going to be under the devils attack over the next few weeks prior to leaving and over the next year and it is important for me to stay strong and examine my walk with Christ!
When walking with God I won’t know what is coming next, even though I want to, because just like training camp I probably wouldn’t believe it. So, this year I am going to be vulnerable and allow God to work through me while being vulnerable on the mission field.
The Lord is faithful and shows up in the most amazing ways but He calls us to follow and obey Him by faith. That means that I won’t ever have a blueprint/ checklist for my life and that’s okay. He has far better things in store for me than I could ever plan for myself.
So that is what I pray I will do. I will obey and depend on Him, by faith, when He calls me into situations that I am not prepared for. I will follow Him to areas for which I don’t have a schedule, and I will go where He is leading me because I know that He will grow and challenge me the way He desires. Dependence on Him is what the World Race is about.
Yes, it will be difficult for me to break my American routine but the intimate relationship with God is so much greater than my agenda.
Much Love,
Courtney 🙂
