Dear Team Daughters of Peace/Selah,
We’ve all had our ups and downs on the race but I have no doubt in my mind that God put 6 random girls together for a purpose. We’ve loved each other, fought with each other, fought FOR each other, challenged each other, seen each other grow, and celebrated with each other.
I’m really not good with words but I hope you understand how much I have fallen in love with each and every one of you. Now that we’ve gotten our new teams, I went back reflecting on all of the moments God put us together. Here are some of my favorite memories together.
Remember when …
Month 1: India
… I started listening to the audibles of Harry Potter and then realized my whole team loved Harry Potter
… sang our hearts out during the iPod challenge, especially Lyndie/Rachel at Magic, Me/Amanda at Tik Tok and Hillarie/Audrey at Total Eclipse of the Heart
… I dressed up as Daniel, Hillarie as Holden, Rachel as Andrew, Amanda as Tyler and Audi as Joe for Halloween
… we first discovered Rachel’s love for pepperoni pizza’s when we went to Life Cafe
… we jumped into a body of water and I semi-forgot that I couldn’t swim and yelled “HALP”
… we first learned what a “special number” was… and then had to do it
… we had huge worship and dance parties with the TCS seminary
… we all smelled bad because our clothes wouldn’t dry on the roof because it was raining every day
Month 2: Nepal
… we flew around the tallest mountain IN THE WORLD
… sat in the middle of the kitchen floor eating pasta and broccoli
… we started watching Harry Potter together as a team
… we had a girls night out with Mexican food and going to the movies to see Fantastic Beasts
… Audi got lice
… took a weekend trip with Bipin to Pokhara and went paragliding
… spent the whole day with our two new sisters in Christ, Usha and Pramila… riding elevators, bowling at jank alleys and eating really spicy food
… Rachel had bungee snot
… we had to sit through a really bad Nepali movie
… we woke up to see the sunrise over the Himalayas
… we couldn’t have turkey for Thanksgiving but had an amazing Friendsgiving anyways
… we realized I should be taking my lactose intolerance more seriously
… 1/6th of our team had pooped their pants
Month 3: Vietnam
… we got picked up after a long day of teaching English and Pastor Loc was insistent we go on a late night search to find “corn”
… we met little Jimmy and picked up the phrase “Ummm… excuse me!”
… we randomly did karaoke at a random street cafe with our cafe su das
… we sang Joy to the World in English AND in Vietnamese…but really had to look at Ms. Loc’s mouthing the Vietnamese the whole time
… we would get dropped off at Lottemart and would spend hours and hours there like teenie boppers.
… we had the BEST pizza ever at Pizza David.
… Mai took off Audi’s charger and said “NoOoooO”
… we had dance parties on top of the roof with the kids
… I danced with that weird guy in front of Lottemart… then saw him again 3 weeks later
… we thought we were getting “kidnapped” but were really getting Pho for Christmas eve breakfast
… Rachel and Hillarie found out there are 8 different words/meanings to Lo…
… also thought the police were looking for us and were going to get questioned for being missionaries in Vietnam (still actually don’t know what happened… guess we’ll find out in Heaven)
… we developed our love for milk/thai tea and I stuck a straw up my nose
… Rachel was my diligent partner in crime in meeting my family for the first time
… 2/6th of our team had pooped their pants
Month 4: Cambodia
… we had our first family night at Lighthouse and how it quickly became an icing war
… when we finished all the Harry Potter movies together
… we all wanted to be done with our team. I know I was at the end of my stick but I’m so glad God pushed me to continue loving y’all and not allowing me to jump ships so easily.
… God called us to be a drama team, and so we did the Lifehouse Skit with Joram and Elias
… we played a Cambodian piñata…filled with candy and baby powder
… Elias made us Chocolate Chip Cookies for us
… we had a blast at the night markets
… we would ride our bikes to YWAM/Church
… did face masks with the girls… but then the boys wanted to join too!
… Rachel drove her bike into the ditch.
… Got (the cat) and I got super close… and then a car took him to cat heaven the day before we left
… I developed a massive crush on a cartoon character and Amanda caught me.
… we thought our budget was a dollar a day for food…and we still managed to be under budget (HA)
… I tried crossfit and walked like a duck for a week after
… poured our hearts out when we visited the Killing Fields and s21 prisons
… 3/6th of our team had pooped their pants
Month 5: Botswana
… our ministry fell through for the month and we were all stuck together in one room
… we celebrated Rachel’s 23rd, Lyndie’s 24th and my 25th birthday.
… someone awkwardly crashed my 25th birthday dinner
… spent Valentine’s Day together, eating BBQ at a random game reserve
… Hillarie, Audrey, Rachel and I tried fitting into a single sleeping bag and performing a massive steamroll
… did a 24 hour day of Prayer
… Lyndie and Amanda taught me how to make a grilled cheese sandwich, and then the student became the master
Month 6: South Africa
… got kidnapped by our hosts, told us to get into the “bucket” at 4:55 am, made us dress like clowns and fundraise by panhandling on the streets of J-Bay
… we had to street perform to raise money for our ice cream on Fun Day
… the Tasty Table became our home away from home/ our family away from home
… we got to see the sunset and tried sand boarding on the sand dunes
… performed an amazing musical rendition of “Jack and the beanstalk”
… jumped off the highest bungee bridge together
… we found out the sport of getting your wetsuit off is harder than the actual sport of surfing
… taught Tarina how to waffle stomp
… Amanda and Lyndie got “BEE-F-F” tattoos
… we got a little too competitive playing Settlers of Catan and Hillarie hid under the table
… we managed over 70 cell phones at the IMAGINE conference together
… taught our entire squad our beloved new dance, “The Monkey”
… Amanda, Rachel, Audi, Beks, and I tried to surf
… y’all finally put your foots down and made me stop eating lactose
… I slept underneath the charging table at IMAGINE
… Tarina became an honorary 7th person on Team Selah
… Our hosts gave us the most amazing last breakfast ever, including mimosas
… Jonette, Matthis and Tarina made 3/6ths of our team cry because they donated to Audi and Amanda
To my Crispy Chicken Apple Salad girls, my No Sons Only Daughters of Peace, my Afrikaans of Africa, my “We think we’re funny” team,
You girls will always be a part of my heart, even beyond the race. I cannot wait for others (even though I’m selfish and want you all for myself) on the squad to get to know how awesome each of y’all are! In the words of wise South African man named Dave Matthews, “Life is short but sweet for certain.” Y’all just made my life a little sweeter and I love that God was able to do that for me!
Forever Lactose Intolerant,
Allison
