Let’s meet the Ladies of Westward!! Here’s a fun collab interview from each of us on our hearts behind why we’re on the race!
Alaina Joy Puchalski
23.5 years old
Chaska, Minnesota
Hi!! I have joyfully served in my community and church for as long as I can remember. However, I never considered doing international missions after graduating college. God called me to do the World race in November 2015 and I am still in awe of this crazy experience. I am so blessed to learn about a variety of cultures and be part of the Church in 7 countries and counting.
Fun Fact: My granny is my best friend. She’s pretty cool and fancy! I also love kids! I get to teach preschool this month in Swaziland which is dream come true.. so many boogers and smiles.
Blair Grace Guerry
21years old
Sunshine State (Florida)
Hiii! For a long time I felt the Lord calling me into missions and ministry. I was in school and leading Younglife but the Lord kept putting missions on my heart. I wanted to wait to go and follow that call until I finished school and had the security of a back up plan. BUT the Lord needs no back up plans and he kept pursuing and challenging me with the concept of success. He asked me, “When will you stop defining your success by a degree, or stability, and start defining it by my standards?” SO here I am, in Swaziland learning more about the Lord than I ever have, that he is faithful and his plan is good!
Fun Fact: If you’ve ever seen Country Strong, Chiles Stanton has “7 smiles”. I’ve been told I have “7 looks” aka I talk quite a bit with my eyes.
Clarissa Johnson
27 years old
Oklahoma
I came on the World Race because I was no longer content to settle for a life less than what God intended. I started to see that he defines success differently than I have most of my life, and I wanted to pursue his kingdom in a way that I never have before and see his heart for people around the world. We have a good Father who created a beautiful world full of people who are desperate for the hope he offers. I’m so excited to be a part of sharing that hope with them.
Fun Fact: I used to work for the Oklahoma Thunder and I can tie my shoes with my hands behind my back.
Ellie Hamstra
21 years old
Fort Worth, TX
I came on the race in hopes of seeing, experiencing, and knowing the God of all peoples, all places, and all time, not the God of a skewed reflection of the last 21 years of my life and the lukewarm Christianity I grew up in. Already, I know God in such deeper and more intimate and genuine ways than I have ever experienced and known him before. God is honoring and blessing my seeking. “When you seek Him, you will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart.”
Fun Fact: My spirit animal is a baby dinosaur.
Rachel Kois “Kois Fish”
23 years old
(Very) Proudly from Colorado
I am already so excited to be a part of this team. I have a huge heart for sustainability and empowerment, financially and otherwise. Seeing the needs in each country has simultaneously broken my heart and lifted my spirits as I see their potential. My heart behind being on this trip is to serve those who are already doing so much good here, and to help them reach maximum potential. I’ve learned so much about myself and the Lord over the last 6 months, and I am jazzed for the growth I’ll receive from being on a team with these beautiful women.
Fun Fact: Pizza is my favorite food and my birthday is on NATIONAL PIZZA DAY!!
Sherese Miller
22 years old
The great mitten shaped state of Michigan, Go Blue!
Hello! Most people on the race call me Reese (you can call me that too). I came on the race to serve, but it’s been so cool to see the ways the Lord has used others to serve and speak life into me. I am very excited to be on this team, to learn and grow along side these amazing women of God.
Fun Fact: I’m a butcher and I once had to pee in a bucket on the race.
