Blog #3: Training Camp (AKA The Week of Bucket Showers, Wet Tents, Eating Crickets, and Experiencing our BIG 3-in-1 God)

**To Preface: In order to go to Training Camp we had to provide proof of a negative COVID test, each day we filled out forms of whether or not we were experiencing symptoms, and we had our temperatures checked and recorded every morning.**

Okay, now that that’s covered, let’s get to the good stuff… 🙂

I just got back from World Race Training Camp, and wow, what a week. We spent 7 days on campgrounds at the Adventures in Missions (WR umbrella organization) headquarters located in Gainesville, GA. For the first half of the week, it was POURING down rain. AKA we got to wake up to wet tents, shake them out, wrap them up, pack up our whole pack, and move it all in the rain 🙂 Talk about making sure we are ready for anything and everything.

Throughout the week, we had team building challenges, worship sessions, teachings from leadership (some of the most wise, qualified, humble, and loving people to get to learn from), culture-specific food, a fitness hike test, and more. The teachings covered a wide span of topics from contextualization (sharing the Gospel in culturally relevant ways), to our international insurance coverage, to the role we have in the Kingdom, the Holy Spirit, etc.. I nerded out in the lessons on cultures 🙂 It reminded me so much of the classes I LOVED in my minor (International Business), yet this time it tied in the Gospel, so even better! 

I walked into Training Camp trusting our leadership and their heartsets, mindsets, and wisdom. I am walking out of training camp believing and trusting these all the more. From the President, to the Director of Field Ministries, to our Squad’s coaches, mentor, and leaders, across the board, I am grateful to be guided by such humble, equipped leaders. I’ll put it this way – it’s easy to trust and submit to authority that trusts and submits to our ultimate authority. They’re eager to be led by God, and I’m excited to be led by them.

Other people who are eager to remain humble and useful to God are my SQUADMATES. Wow, I get to serve alongside 43 other members of my squad that each have their own stories, personalities, and gifts to bring to the table. I am expectant for this upcoming year with them. Specifically, this week our squad mentor, coaches, and leaders observed and prayed over how to divide our squad of 44 into seven teams. This team will be who I spend everyday with in our country. At the end of training camp, we were given our teams to start the race with! I am SO excited to grow and serve alongside and BECAUSE OF this incredible group of five other women.

This compiled video of experiences at Training Camp will bring this more to life! I eat some weird food… including a cricket and a fermented egg, so enjoy and feel free to laugh 🙂

If you’re wondering after watching the video, yes, the first thing I did this week was return my tent and decide to invest in a bigger and better one. I am thankful for the pouring rain in Georgia, because it allowed me to test out my tent in that kind of weather before I’d be stuck with it in the rain overseas. 

Training camp gave me a glimpse of the goodness to come of this experience. The hearts of service, the genuine encouragement, the overall unity displayed in this group of people… there’s no way this next year can’t be powerful with God’s hand all over it and each of our obedience to where He’s calling.

Speaking of God’s hand over this experience and our obedience to where He guides us, THANK YOU for each of you displaying this on my support team whether that be through financial support, prayer, or both. None of this is possible without you and ALL of our hearts of obedience coming together… its making something powerful. I know it. I’m grateful to be a part of it.

If you want to jump on board this powerful train of my incredible supporters, let’s talk! I’m about $7,000 away from being fully funded!

[email protected] or 972-400-8590

SO excited for more!

Your girl,

Sierra 🙂

P.S. Not only does my squad love Jesus and want to bring Him glory through boldness, obedience, and sacrifice… they also like playing volleyball, singing songs from Hamilton, and dancing to early 2000’s hip hop and R&B… sooooo TELL ME when the Lord provides, He doesn’t go above! and! beyond!!!