My writing ability does not even come close to the skill level I would need in order to describe training camp to those who have not been. Every emotion that you could possibly imagine will hit you at training camp. However, every emotion will not thrive at training camp. Despair and fear have no place there. Guilt and condemnation are simply banned.
Chains are broken, lives are restored, miracles are witnessed and performed over and over and over again.
It is extremely reasonable to assume that you have not seen Kingdom worship until you have been to training camp. Hands in the air and face on the ground, screaming and listening, dancing and frozen, eyes closed and eyes wide open. Training camp worship is not about the image or rules, but rather it is worship dedicated to praising our God and building relationship with Him. You want to speak in tongues? Go for it. You want to kneel and be completely silent? You are free to. You want to dance on the stage because God healed your broken ankle? Please do.
It should also be noted that control freaks will not function well at training camp. You will not know anything. Not what you are going to eat and not where you are going to sleep. But it's ok, you will know the details you need when the right time comes for you to know them. God has your life under His control. The lack of control I had at camp reminded me of one of my favorite stories.
Corrie Ten Boom's father told her this when she was a little girl. After she had asked a question far too mature for her age her father asked her to carry his suitcase for him. Try as she might, she could not lift it. Her father replied that in the same way there were questions that she could not carry the answers to yet and she would have to trust him to keep them for her until she could handle them. Then he furthered that to our Father in heaven and stressed that God knows when you are big enough and strong enough to carry the weight of knowledge. It is ok not to have control. Don't worry about it, God will not let you go.
I could write an infinite number of blog posts about training camp. About bugs and lizard roommates and waterfalls and thunderstorms and goldfish in the middle of the road. About family and freedom and declarations and faith. About amazing leaders and incredible encouragers. About olympic games and untangling hair strand by strand. About laughter and tears and smiles and unrelenting joy and peace. But I am not going to. If you are a future participant hoping to get some details; I'm not going to give it away. Let yourself be surprised and walk into the experience with an open heart. If you are a friend or supporter and want to hear more ask me about it in person, it is much easier to explain that way.
Training camp has been the most impactful and spiritually strengthening week of my life. If this is a window into the next nine months then bring it on.
