This one’s for my wolf pack. My R Squad. The fambam. (#wholetthedogsout #Ryoureadyforthis)
No one reaaallyy knows why we started calling ourselves the wolf pack, but that is what my squad has become. (If you’re lost, my squad is the 50+ ladies and gentlemen that I will be traveling with from country to country. We’re officially called “R Squad,” but that just doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as the wolf pack.)
It started with a conversation on a Google hangout late one evening about wolf shirt Wednesdays, and it just kind of went from there. But the reason it stuck is because of what the wolf pack symbolizes and means to us. It means unity. It means family. And it means always sticking together.
The more I think about it, the more fitting I feel like this odd little nickname is for our group. For fun, I decided to do some research on wolves and wolf pack dynamics. So without further ado, I present to you four fun facts about wolf packs:
1. The pack, the basic unit of wolf social life, is usually a family group.
Although my squadmates are from all over the country and even the world (shout-out to Holland!), they already feel like family to me. There’s nothing like having 56 brothers and sisters in Christ there to pray for you, celebrate with you, and encourage you whenever you need them.
2. Wolves travel and hunt in a group and perform almost all other activities in the company of fellow wolves.
One thing about signing up for the World Race is that we’ve pretty much signed up to never be alone…like, ever…for the next year. Although community will bring its challenges, I am so excited to do ministry and life alongside my squadmates.
3. Wolves develop close relationships and strong social bonds. They often demonstrate deep affection for their family and may even sacrifice themselves to protect the family unit.
This one pretty much explains itself. I’d be willing to do pretty much anything for my wolf pack and I know they’d do the same for me.
4. They are known to roam large distances, perhaps 20 km in a single day. Wolf packs in the far north often travel hundreds of kilometers each year.
Perhaps most fitting of all, wolves are natural travelers. One of my squadmates calculated it, and we will be traveling an estimated 35,631 miles over the 11 months (Thanks Ryan). I can’t wait to roam the world with my wolf pack and take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
And last of all, like I said, the wolf pack symbolizes unity. In just a couple days, we will finally be truly unified at training camp, but I already feel such unity within this group. For my R Squad, I can’t wait to meet you all for realsies and serve and grow alongside each one of you. <3
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Romans 15:5-6
