I don't think I have the ability to describe all that training camp has been like in just words. But I'll try my best!

To be completely honest, I commonly wake up feeling exhausted. My flesh is tired. My flesh craves comfort & familiarity. It's throbbing with starvation because I haven't been feeding it as much as I normally do. The enemy hates that. And he's making sure I know that he does. He wants me to give in to all temptations & believe all his lies. But, my spirit is being fed so much more. My past self is dying in order to be the best servant I can possibly be. Praise God that I'm growing!! Everyone here is, in ways we could've never planned or imagined.

As the day progresses, joy gently restores. From each interaction, I acquire more awe of God's goodness. His love is so evident in these people. At the end of each day, I'm left with so much peace & confirmation that God has placed me here with such intentionality. 

It has only been 6 days since I arrived at the base, but I'm learning more about myself than I would've after a year back home. I have never been more uncomfortable, stretched, & challenged in my life. For example, I tend to lean on the introverted side & there are usually less than 30 minutes a day that I have alone time. I notice that I am growing in that & finding new ways to recharge, but around people!!

Man, I love my squad. 22 of some of the best people I've ever met. There's nothing like this immediate love we have for each other. Each one of them is so intentional & puts so much effort into loving each other the best we can. We've already broken down many walls & we pray for each other & kindly encourage each other to dig into the Bible to search for truth.

Here, there is joy & sweetness found in the simplest of things. The "How are you feeling?"s from my squadmates, meaningful conversations with a friend on our long trek in the darkness to the community sinks to brush our teeth, the joy you feel when an outlet is open so you can charge your phone in order to FaceTime with your parents later, a fluffy pillow or a shoulder to lay my head on when I need rest, no spiders in or on my tent when I wake up, being physically healthy, friends going out of their way to include me, a community that puts efforts to love each other despite differences, falling asleep to the sound of crickets, cicadas, & rain, refreshing bucket showers after 2 days of no showering, the freedom from obsession with appearance, listening to music that feels like home, people reaching out from home, praying for & being prayed for, & so much more!!!!

Each day comes with structure, yet each day seems to offer so much spontaneity! 

The schedule looks a bit like this:

Wake up at 7, personal devotions, breakfast, worship session, a message, squad discussion time, lunch, personal time, another message, more squad discussion times or team building activities, dinner, personal time, & then we have to be back in our tents at 11 to go to bed.

Not gonna lie, I'd much rather stay on the dining deck all night socializing with people than sleeping. It is hard to believe I've only met these friends a week ago when it feels like I've known them forever. Praise God for friendships like these!

Training camp has been so so good & so so fruitful!!!!!! I appreciate your prayers & support & thank you for reading all the way through. 

Much love,

Rach