The Infamous Training Camp Blog ft. eating crickets

Training camp… where to start. I got back home one week ago yesterday. 

When the Lord rocks my world, unveils new stuff, and has me come undone for things he cares about, I can get a little wild. It feels similar to having fire run through my veins and chilly rain fall on me all at once. Sometimes, I just have so many words that I want to process through that it can kind of turn into a giant ball of tangled thoughts. So here I am, one week later. To reveal some of what happened in my heart at training camp. To share what he showed me as he moved a chair, pulled me up, and let me peek into the window to catch a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.

I have a running list of things training camp taught me. I think the number is sitting around 25 crazy new things and I’m not even halfway through my notes. I think it would be impossible to tell you ALL that happened, but rest assured, i’ll get there eventually. I will say, there were days during the time I spent in Georgia that felt like utter bliss. Moments I was floored by God’s goodness and love. Some, where I was taught life shaking truth, others where I felt for my brothers and sisters around the globe, and even more where the only words I could muster up, were “IT’S NOT FAIR”.

I would sit during worship or even alone at night in my tent and feel the weight of those words. I would tell God, “it’s just not fair. I have all this opportunity to walk out my faith with strong believers cheering me on. The freedom to pray out loud and sing in a room with hundreds of other Jesus followers, at the top of my lungs. To talk freely about my Jesus, like a giddy little girl with a first crush; loudly and to whoever I wish. Some people don’t get this freedom, and it’s just not fair.” 

That exact thing actually further confirmed and encouraged me. That is exactly why I am going on this trip!!! Cool how he aligned that. Here are a few things he taught, reminded me of, and placed in me during training camp.

Buckle up, this is kind of a long one. 

1. HE Brought Me Back

Two years ago I was at training camp for a short term trip to Portoviejo, Ecuador with Adventures in Missions. Among the other amazing things he told me on that trip, God spoke that he would bring me back at least two more times to the very spot I was standing then. Last year on my Nepal trip, I stood in the same worship room, and a few weeks ago I saw the fruit of those words and the prayer that asked for it to come true. At training camp the first night, the weight of those words hit me.

He told me he would bring me back, and he did.

Singing the same song 3 years in a row, dancing on the promise of the Lord’s unfailing words. It kinda blew my mind. That was just night 1.

2. Dancing on the Father’s Feet 

The Lord gave me a new picture of us worshipping. Everynight. Some personal things between me and Papa, and some more corporate for my team or squad. There was one underlying picture for all of worship during training camp; really for all of my time collectively. Dancing on the father’s (yeah that’s God) feet. 

Have you ever seen a movie where a little girl wants to dance, but she’s like 4 or 5 and can’t even really walk. The dad lifts her up to stand on the tops of his feet. Where she steps he steps, leading sometimes, but also allowing her to choose where to go. Yet every step taken his feet catch hers. HOW COOL IS THAT. THAT’S US, AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE LORD!!! He leads (because he knows so much better), but not all of the time. 

This plays into another picture I got during strumming my ukulele one morning before team devotionals. I was playing, just singing what was in my heart that morning, and it physically felt like I was in the warm glow of my heavenly Dad’s smile. He said to me,

“It is because you’re my kid, that on ordinary Wednesday mornings, we get to get ice cream Sundays for breakfast.”

And let me tell you, that is truly what it felt like. Thinking back to that sweet time, it is so evident that not only is God, a big powerful Lord, but also a Dad (Ephesians 1:5). Jesus is not some savior covered in blood, but also a friend (John 15:15). The holy spirit does not only do radical miracles, but also gives some bff advice (John 14:16-17). 

Just as ice cream for breakfast every morning is a kids dream. A good dad doesn’t allow it every day. Because, well, the kiddo would probably turn into a marshmallow. But, back to my point. As we dance on our Abba’s feet, sometimes he lets us step where we want to go; to get some ice cream. Even in these times, he still places his feet under ours; not letting us fall too far off course. Yet not all the time does he give us bliss. He knows what we are capable of (thank goodness), so sometimes he leads us to a salad bar (not as yummy, but imagine him saving us the whining of a tummy ache later). 

3. Greater Things

In John 14, Jesus is talking to his doubtful disciples, and he tells them that they will go on to do even “greater things than these”. With the “these” being raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons, and cleansing those with leprosy. What is greater than raising the dead? I don’t really know but that’s just what the big man said. 

At training camp we had a night where one of the speakers, Deon, was speaking on the gospel. He came to the end of his sermon preaching on the supernatural of the holy spirit; healings and miracles. He in passing mentioned that his wife for 20 years had dealt with severe migraines, and then one day they prayed for healing and she never had one again. He stopped for a moment and asked if anyone dealt with migraines. Two girls voiced that they had one in that very moment. He called them up, said a prayer in Jesus name, and they felt no more pain. It was INSANE. A few minutes later, he had one of the girls that just were healed, pray over her. You can guess, she also was healed. That night, around 30 people raised their hands, speaking that they had a physical pain or ailment. Over 30 people that night were miraculously physically healed. I saw it. I saw the power of the holy spirit. That night, I believed so much more greatly in the “greater things”. That they don’t just happen overseas, by some other christians. But that they happen in America through people like you and me. 

I will just leave you with those 3 stories right now. I leave for Swaziland in about 5 weeks, so if you would like to hear more stories!!! Don’t hesitate to ask. My fundraising is so close to being fully funded!!! If you would like to give, I would encourage you go use Venmo @carissatayylor so I can make sure my goal is met but all excess money I can use for my flight to launch and other gear!! If you would like to write me a check, please shoot me a message and I will get with you 🙂 

Thank you all SO SO SO much for getting me where I am, you guys are the best. 

ps. yes, one day we had crickets for breakfast

All the hallelujahs!!!

                            Carissa