Training Camp

Friends!!

I just got back from a good week filled with bug bites, pouring rain, new friends, aggressively played uno, and porta-potties. Going into this week I was a bit worried I would be scared off and rethinking my whole plan to go on The Race. To my surprise, I feel the exact opposite. From night one when the first cord played during worship to the last night where I slept on the ground, every second reaffirmed my calling for this. 

There are so many stories I want to share…Lets start with what our days looked like. Every day seemed like a month on its own. Luckily, I made great friends to keep me company. Every day we exercised, worshiped, had leaders talk to us, ate, laid on the floor, got talked to again, ate more, and bonded with our team. Every morning or night we would get different scenarios of things that might happen out on the field. We went through a simulation of a foreign airport where half our stuff got stolen and we had to make do. Of course my stuff got stolen, because thats just my luck! I spent the night in the clothes from the day before and my friend April let me crash in her tent (Thanks April). The next night all 30 of us were put into a small room and had to figure out how to sleep packed in like sardines. We couldn’t figure out how to turn off the lights and slept with every light on. The hardest, most rewarding day was when we hiked up a mountain with our packs on. It took us a little over 3 hours to get to the top where we got to enjoy the insane view. We camped and hiked back down at 5 am the next morning. I found these scenarios funny and a good way to bond with my 29 new roommates.

Onto the good stuff. Jesus was moving this week. Worship was a time I never wanted to end. Watching people sing their souls out to the Father desperate and eager to see Him change lives. My life has already started to change. I have had a few people speak over me the word “Joy”. I was wrestling with this as I don’t view myself as someone who is joyful. I see myself as someone who is too much or depressing. I asked the Lord to show me what he means. Fast forward to the last day of camp… We had just got back from the mountain top, and my tent was wet from all the dew. The day was sunny and the sky as clear, so I decided when I got back I would pitch my tent and let it dry. I headed over to play games with my team, and an insane downpour snuck up on us. My tent was SOAKED. No rain fly on it to protect anything. I found myself so upset and wagging my finger at God saying to him “Thanks dude!!! What am I supposed to do now?” Instantly I heard the reply, “Find the joy.” So I verbally said, “Okay, God. If thats what you want, I’ll find it somehow.” (Mind you, Ive never talked to God like he was in my body before.) I walked out of camp with my head low to find we were doing baptisms. I started to feel the joy pump through my body as I watched teammates get dunked. Something in me told me to get in the water, but I felt a fight in my body. A voice kept saying “stop trying to get attention. You were baptized three years ago.” I listened to the voice and just enjoyed watching. Most everyone had left and we were praying over a teammate when I started to panic with this feeling I didn’t know what I was doing and everyone else did. I wasn’t equipped for this and I have no idea who let me into this big adventure. I then followed the feeling to find my leader, and she said “Its not too late to get in the water.” So thats what I did. Quieted the feelings that I wasn’t made for this. Renewed my vows and showed that I am not fearful, but equipped for this. Got dunked again in the Holy Spirit and felt more alive than ever. Not to forget the giant slumber party that happened on the porch from all the soaked tents. The rain turned out to make the best night.

I wish I could tell every story that happened this weekend, but I thought I would stick with the big one that happened for me. This team is going to MOVE in the nations and spread love and kindness. I can’t wait to update you all some more. T-16 days until I’m off for Romania. 

Until next time internet friends,

Denny