All Things World Race Training Camp

Training Camp is designated for meeting the Squad for the first time. It’s also used as a time to get to know the WorldRace and Adventures in Missions Staff and Leadership. We spent a great deal of the week learning about the heart of the mission: Intimacy with God, Community with others and Mission to share the Gospel through service. We also spent a great deal of time considering different worst case world travel scenarios, team building and camping. In summation, think summer camp meets Survivor, meets missionary school, meets a serious lack of coffee.

This was the longest week of my life, by our second full day I felt like I had been there for a week and by the last day I felt like I had been there for a month. Yet the joy of the Lord was present and real. 

We all met up in the airport to wait for transportation to camp. It was fun to realize how many like minded people I would be sharing my time with. In total, there were about 75 missionaries preparing to be sent out on 3 routes this August. 

We camped, we hiked, we slept on the floor and we slept in the pouring rain. I did find a cave on our camping trip so that was pretty neat since we used it as a shelter while it rained that night. 

In Georgia it rains literally every day. 

We worshipped. Everyday. It was incredible. 

We learned all about intimacy with God, community with others and the mission of the WorldRace.

We ate food inspired by cultures all around the world and dressed as though we were visiting those countries as well. 

Greatest Takeaway: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7

We don’t spend enough time talking with the Lord. He really does have words to say to us and wisdom to give us when we make room in our minds and hearts for Him to do so. 

Greatest Accomplishment: Team hike up Mount Yonah

Hiking with 23 people with 18 wearing at least 25 lbs of weight on their backs is a lot different than hiking with one or two friends. It’s endearing to watch so many look to achieve a common goal as one united team.

Greatest Memory: Squad Wars – ending with dancing in the rain

There is nothing like 100+ coming together to praise God for all He’s done in the middle of the pouring rain. It was so authentic. So beautiful. So heaven sent. 

Greatest Joy: Worship 

I love singing. And dancing. There’s joy in it, freedom in it. 

Greatest Misery: Rain. Every. Single. Day.

It never stops raining in Georgia. And when you’re living outside it’s even more noticeable. 

Greatest Realization: I can live conveniently off a lot less than I thought.

Fun Fact about me is I love clothes and to feel prepared. However, in doing so I found it much harder to find what I actually needed in a short amount of time. I really think I over packed and my goal for the next two weeks is to figure out how to pack less. 

All in all, this trip brought me so much closer to the journey I will be embarking on beginning August 6th. I now know my Squad, 18 beautiful women, my leadership, and my Team, TEAM BLOOM!!! There are six of us on this team and I will spend at least the next four months residing and doing ministry with them. I know what our worst days might look like and how to overcome them. I know what living in a community will be like and how to encourage my new family to stick together. I know how to live out of a 40lb backpack and how to endure the elements. I know that God will be with me wherever I go, and that I can count on His provision and timing to get me through this journey and this life. I know I don’t know it all still but I know I’m ready for it.