Boot Camp!!

Hey friends, I got back from Boot Camp on June 20. I have waited to write this blog post because I wanted to post some pictures from my disposable camera! 🙂 

Boot Camp was not easy, but it was extraordinary. Something that really was remarkable was the intentional relationships of my squad. It is extraordinary and very rare to be in a place surrounded by people who WANT to be there, and who have struggled and persevered to be there. I felt surrounded by people, who like me, strive to follow the Lord and walk a walk like Jesus! We all have one major thing in common: our professed hope and faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! That basis leads to such abundant and vulnerable and amazing relationships! Gap G is already my family! Gap G just opened their arms and accepted everyone for they were and cared with love and compassion and intentionality. It was strange because in some of the first moments of talking to everyone it felt as if it had been forever + old friends.

One of the most beautiful moments of boot camp was on the ?third? day, one of my squad mates got hurt and had to go to the ER (She is all good! So strong! So brave! and So inspiring!). Now here’s the beautiful part: As she left, the rest of Gap G came together in prayer and prayed over her. I loved this because all of us came together as family to pray for our sister in Christ. It is just amazing that we have such a firm foundation in Jesus so that things go wrong, we have Him to rely on! I am thankful to be in a squad that goes straight to the Lord no matter the situation! This will be super helpful and abundant on the field!

As these amazing things kept happening and this adventure was kicking off, it felt so clear that this is where I am supposed to be. The Lord just gave myself so much peace and clarity (THANK YA JESUS)!! If you know me, you know that I am so indecisive, and really struggle with truly being certain in my decisions. Though, thanks to Jesus, I am so very certain that this is the correct choice and where these 9 months of my life are supposed to be.  

Honestly, the fact that I am doing the World Race is ironic and at the very least an example of the unpredictable yet outstanding ways that the Lord works. I distinctly remember one day in youth group my freshmen year talking to someone who’s sister was on this 9 month mission trip (I had yet to learn it was the World Race…) and she was telling me about what they are doing and the sickness they were facing. I remember saying how I would never ever do that. God probably was like “hahaha ya thought WRONG”. It is honestly hilarious thinking back to that and being like, wow, thank you Lord! 

Okay so going along this God given peace, I have some pretty funny stories and things that I probably would not have been able to handle if it were not for Jesus and my ultimate hope in His grace-filled salvation. First, I don’t handle spiders/ any sorta bugs very well. Hahah, ya… so Georgia has a lot of spiders + centipedes. There were probably 5 daddy long legs on my tent consistently. Every time I would go to my tent I would do a routine tent shake and kick to hopefully get them to fall off (P.S. those things do NOT fall off to well). Also, it was kind of funny, but not as funny in the moment, but still kind of funny, because on the last night when it was pouring rain like nothing else (to be honest, it was probably the HARDEST rain I had ever been in) and my tent was absolutely soaking on the bottom because I did not have a proper footprint, I thought I had fleas in my tent! It was late and I could not fall asleep, so I decided to get my headlamp out and read my bible. From there, I see these tiny lil bugs that are literally jumping + look like fleas. I was like, well, ya got to be kidding me. At that point, I started laughing, took a picture of myself in my soaking tent to use my last disposable film piece and went to bed! Good news is that I learned the next day- they were not fleas!!

Another crazy thing we did were bucket showers! I only took one, but it is what it sounds like. Basically, you get a bucket full of water + go in one of the wooden stalls. I was a bit freaked out that there was gonna be a snake because it would not be the first time there was a snake coiled up in the shower rafters… So ya! The best bucket shower strategy is to dump your whole head in the bucket, shampoo your hair, rinse, condition, rinse, body wash, DUMP. Let me tell ya, it is COLD. If you ever are half asleep when ya take one, I can almost promise you that you will be awake after that experience. In the showers there are lots of little screams whenever the water dumps because it is cold! I basically did it as fast as possible because I was trying to get away from the bugs. Thankfully I learned about the wasp nest AFTER my shower! See below for the picture of sweet Ruthie and I after we took our first (of many to come) bucket shower!

Finally- the food at boot camp was unique! It was delicious food, but different than I was used to! On the first day, it was Africa day. Africa day had the most memorable meal of Pap which is a cornmeal mash that you squish with your fingers into a spoon shape. From there, you pick up lentils and greens and plop it into your mouth! The next day was Asia(Lots of rice + noodles) day, and then South American(lots of rice and beans) day! But anywho, all of this to say- Jesus is rad and really put me out of my comfort zone yet gave me peace and excitement and joy while pushing me!

Something though that was very different for me at boot camp than I was used to was the worship. It was much more charismatic than I am used to. Growing up, I went to a more legalistic, hymn singing sort of church. Being in the charismatic environment at boot camp honestly felt a bit like culture shock and different than I have always been used to. Though, even though it was different, it was still good. I was having worries such as “Why am I not crying… is there something wrong with me… why can I not feel the Holy Spirit the same way…” and other thoughts. Though, from there I would pray and know that Jesus is constant, He is the same, He is good, and He is sovereign. Even when I am not “feeling it”, God is still there and God is still good, and God is still worthy of all of my praise! I kept repeating Psalm 118: 28-29 during worship, “You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Thanks be to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I came across this verse in one of my devos during boot camp. It really stuck out to be and just reminded me to thank the Lord. He is in control. He has everything in his hands. All I have to do is praise him and give it up to him, and he will take care of the rest! It honestly is so fun trying out different ways to worship the Lord because he deserves it all! 

Overall- the Lord really just showed me how he is steadfast and provides. The Lord will be with me in all moments, good and bad! I am just a part to fulfilling his great commission and am here for the ride! Thank you Jesus!

Fundraising update: God has fundraised ~12,800 for my trip! That is about 81% funded!!! That means I have about 3000 left to fundraise! If you would prayerfully consider financially donating to my trip, that would be such a blessing. Also! Tell people about it + encourage other people to donate as well:) My hope is to be fully funded by launch (September 11).

Ways to donate:

donate on my blog: hit donate + click your amount! anything helps!!!

venmo me: username: peytonkaiser

give me cash or check/ mail it 🙂

buy a shirt! link: Peyton Kaiser World Race Fundraiser 2021 Reopen | Duo Designs | powered by OrderMyGear (itemorder.com)

 

Also, I ask for your continued prayers in preparing mine and my Squad’s hearts for launch in September.

Love you all + enjoy the pictures below!!!

Peyton