Training Camp: Answered Prayer and a New Name

Training Camp has been a sweet, sweet time. God has been pouring out His love on all of us. I want to share some snapshots with you of what God has been doing in my heart and life the past two weeks of training camp.

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My biggest fear and prayer for the world race was in regard to unity of the team. I knew that the friendships and trust between teammates could easily make or break the whole year. Squads at the world race generally have thirty or more people; our squad has nine. God is the most important part of this experience, and He can redeem and restore anything. However, I was really praying and hoping (and a ‘lil stressing, I’m not gonna lie) about whether my team would bond or not. But God began to answer my prayer within the first couple days. We met our squad leaders who will go with us into the field: MiKay and Chach. They are both so fun and free, and they go deep when talking about Jesus and holding our hurts and questions. We met our squad mentor Cami who will be advocating for us to our sending organization while we are out on the field. She has such compassion, and she kindly ushers us back to prayer and hope when we can get stuck in our heads. And there is a special place in my heart for our coaches, Keith and Karen. Keith’s mind is awesome, and he tunes into my questions and has the best book recommendations 🙂 Karen’s heart for people and the truth of the Bible is inspiring—she held me and spoke encouragement over me during a particularly emotional worship session. I am loved so well by these leaders.

And I haven’t even introduced you to my amazing team yet! I knew I could trust them, love them, and grow with these people when almost our first team conversation pivoted (unprompted by leadership) to the diversity of church denominations. We all shared so we could start to understand and respect each other’s backgrounds and journeys in the faith, and it was SO beautiful, y’all! I didn’t realize how much I had been stressing about whether these people were safe to ask questions around and disagree with sometimes, and within the first few conversations we were talking about how our team can be unified in Christ and our mission while being diverse in backgrounds and ideas. I feel so loved and supported, and I am so excited to grow with these people who all love God in ways specific to each one of them and bear His image uniquely.

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Another big take away from Training Camp: Identity is key and names matter. In a small group, we were challenged to spend some time thinking about the names that we have internalized and been believing about ourselves. I wrote down a lot of insecurities and names that were informing my thoughts and actions. They were names including (but not limited to) Unloved, Overthinker, Anxiety… And I knew in my head that these names were lies. But that didn’t stop them from feeling true and swirling deep into my heart and mind. I was frustrated at first that I could only think of the old names. So, I read Bible verses. I worshipped. I sat in the quiet. And eventually, through being surrounded by believers and by welcoming Jesus, I heard and accepted a new name. I am not Alone, I am surrounded by friends and family and even when physically alone, I am filled with the Holy Spirit. I am not Overthinker, that is not my identity despite having cloudy thoughts sometimes. I am not Anxiety even though I can struggle with anxiety sometimes.

My new name is Seeker of Beauty. I live on a planet filled with humans that all bear the image of God. I see freedom and creativity and dignity. In nature, I see the fingerprint of a creative God that works so slowly and makes even the smallest things so beautiful. In cultures, I see the diversity of stories and music and food and so much more. I am surrounded by beauty. And God is pulling me deeper, and calling me to push in and see the beauty everywhere. Even in myself.

Abba, thank you. Thank you for being a patient, kind, and attentive God. Thank you for caring about all the little and the big things. You are so worthy. Send me and use me to remind those around me of their inherent beauty and worth.

“The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

Love,
Megan