In the middle of a sticky and sweltering southern summer, over 250 college-aged men and women gathered in the woods of northeast Georgia for Gap Year Training Camp. This group of passionate young people came together for 10 days at Adventures in Missions to train for 9 months of mission works overseas. Thirty-eight of these humans are mine to lead.
This was my third training camp with Adventures in Missions – my first was as a participant, my second as a Mobilizer, and this one would mark my first as a Gap Year Mentor. It turns out that even at your third training camp, you can still learn a great deal (whether silly or serious).
Lessons Learned at Training Camp (Round 3)
- You CAN memorize 38 new names in less than 24 hours.
- The most unconventional training teams can turn out to be the best.
- If there is the possibility of hanging a hammock somewhere, one will be hung.
- “Stick and poke” tattoos are a popular trend right now. They shouldn’t be.
- This age group is incredibly hungry – both physically and spiritually. #sNacksquad
- We can do hard things.
- If someone says you shouldn’t worship barefoot, don’t do it. You may end up with a new bottom-of-foot-piercing. (This picture was taken after my squad leaders had to hold me down and pull out an earring that had gone straight into the bottom of my foot. You can kind of see my newest accessory being help up in front of my blurry and pain-induced-adrenaline face. Don’t worry – we cleaned it out and I am up to date on my tetanus shots).
- Hiking 38 minutes through the hills of Georgia in the July heat is arduous, but possible!
- Lice spreads swiftly – 22 people in 6 days swiftly. And Wal-Mart does in fact carry enough lice treatments for 30 people…if you go to two of them at 1 o’clock in the morning.
- Gap N will be prepared if they end up getting head lice on the field. They are now professional lice combers, and many of them have their very own comb! #loveoverlice
- Gap N loves people, and each other, really well. (but that might also be why the lice spreads so quickly).
- My squad is funny, quirky, excited, wise, gifted, and LOVES Jesus.
- Pop-up thunderstorms in Georgia are no joke – especially when they bring lightning, torrential downpours, tent-turning wind gusts, and hail. But our emergency weather plans work well!
- God has blessed me with the best leadership team I could ask for!
- Gap N has a beautiful heart for worship.
- Quiet hours are important. You never know when there are babies hiding in the woods. #emmaoriginal
- There really is no point at which you stop sweating. It keeps coming for daaaaays. #hydrateordie
- We have some really solid and hilarious dance parties to come. With lots of eye contact.
- If you match your great friend/mobilizer enough times at Training Camp, she may just agree to squad lead for you!
- Gap N is full of the Holy Spirit. They hear God’s voice.
- Gap N will stay founded in scripture, rooted in the word.
- 38 people and 10 trainers can become like family in a matter of days.
- Gap N will be a RIVER WILD. They will stay connected to the wellspring.They will follow the course set out before them, whether it be a place of peace or swelling over the rapids. They will change every environment they come in contact with, for good and not for harm, for the Glory of the Lord.
But what was the biggest lesson I learned? That God trusts me.
“Training camp is basically your initiation as a mentor. You’ll cry everyday. It will be hard. You won’t really know what you are doing, and that’s okay.”
This is what I was told over and over again as I stepped into my new role as the head of the leadership team for a Gap Year Squad. Though these words were shared in kindness and encouragement, they also brought up fear and uncertainty. Would I fail my squad? Would my inadequacies render them incapable of reaching the things the Lord had for them? Would everyone see my weakness and shortcomings? Would my squad and leadership team lose trust in me?
A few days into training camp, when I hadn’t cried even once, I began to worry I was missing something. I sat with the Lord one morning during worship, and felt the overwhelming assurance that I was NOT missing something, but instead I was walking hand in hand with Him. He was speaking in and through me. I was capable and confident, because He declared me so. He was equipping me in each moment.
“I trust you, Deborah,” He told me over and over.
I am unspeakably humbled by the fact that I get to do this, and overwhelmed by the amount of trust the Lord has in me. And this awe and overwhelmed-ness does not make me feel incapable, but instead gives me confidence. The last few years, the Lord has been asking me if I trust Him in all circumstances. Now He has flipped the script. God has started telling me that He trusts me. It’s crazy to think that the God of the universe trusts me to steward this part of the flock for 9 months. I sit here, open-mouthed, in awe of that fact! The Lord trusts me! And his goodness extends beyond my abilities. So even in my failures, He is still good, and will still work for the good of my squad. Ugh. Seriously. This lesson might take a while to sink in, but it may be the most profound one to date.
One of the new aspects of my job as mentor is an increase in the amount of money I am responsible for fundraising! I currently have $630 in monthly pledges, but need an additional $370 in monthly donations by the end of September. You can join my support time by clicking “Donate” on the left side of the screen, typing my name (Deborah Jones) in the staff member box, and setting up your monthly or one time donation! Please let me know if you have any questions!
