Training Camp Recap
Team Time:
Team time has become one of my favorite times of the day during training camp. Not only do I get to know these girls more, but we get to spend time studying the Bible, encouraging each other, giving feedback, and so much more. These pictures above come from a really special team time we had together a couple weeks ago. We walked down to the pond and wrote lies we had been believing on rocks and throw them into the pond. It was so powerful to tell Satan he could not have a hold on our minds anymore.
Laundry:
Laundry around here looks a little different than you may expect! With 3 squads of people living on campus, it would be impossible to keep up with washing and drying clothes by machine. With this in mind, we wash our clothes by hand around here. You are at the mercy of the weather on when you can do your laundry, so re-wearing clothes multiple times is a norm. I have definitely gained a whole new appreciation for machine washers and dryers, but I am thankful for a way to get the dirt out of my clothes even if it is just a bucket of sudsy water.
Nature:
One of the perks of living in a tent during our training camp was getting to be fully immersed in nature all the time. Nature has always been a way I feel close to the Lord, so it has been so special to be able to sit in a hammock, stare up at the tree tops and talk to God or read my bible. Having spiders or bugs in my tent was not always the most fun, but thankfully that can pretty easily be fixed. For a girl who grew up hating camping, it definitely has grown on me a lot and I am so thankful for this simple lifestyle.
Community:
As you would guess, when you live with 44 people there is always someone around. This took me some time to adjust to, but it has become one of the most beautiful pieces of this trip so far. Each of the people on my squad have so quickly become family. They are always willing to laugh with you, listen to you, point you back to God, and walk alongside you in the highs and lows. There is almost always someone either playing music through a speaker, strumming Tennessee Whiskey or worship music on a guitar around here and I love it.
That’s a wrap! By the time you are reading this, training camp is officially over and we have been in Louisiana serving with Samaritan’s Purse for a week now! We get the opportunity to help with hurricane relief down here for two weeks total and then our squad will head back to Georgia for a quick debrief and to get ready to fly to Costa Rica!
Prayer Requests:
-Prayers for protection from spiritual warfare among my squad
-Prayers for endurance both physically and mentally through the long days of manual labor
Thank you for reading my blog!
With love,
Kalyssa
Love your beautiful smile! You look happy…hope you’re enjoying yourself?!? Not fond of camping either…especially the bugs but glad you found a remedy.
Great works for him equal great expectations for him. Love you much
Fun to see all the photos! Praying for you and your squad as you experience new things and follow God into new serving opportunities! Love you!
Yay! Love the pictures. I also have always felt closer to God in nature. It is such a refreshing and intimate experience. May you find God’s blessings in your service to others. Love you.
It is great to hear you are connecting with God and others. Praying for you as you head out to serve.