I wake up, look around. I’m surrounded by trees, taller than buildings, wider than cars. It’s dark, but I can see dashes of sunlight through the branches.
My head is throbbing. I notice after holding my head, my hands are covered in soot. They’re dirty as ever.
Where have I been? Where am I?
I look around.
There is nothing.
I cry out to see if anyone is there. Not a soul in sight.
What happened to my brothers? Where did everybody go?
I start to walk further and further into this unknown territory. Proceeding with caution, I make my way over what seems like miles of ground with the uncertainty of ever really reaching a destination, which I’m praying for.
But I notice there’s something following me. I can feel the hairs on my arms starting raise one by one. I look around again. Still nothing.
And then I feel a cold, sharp breath on the back of my neck…
Time to run.
I’m sprinting into the darkness. I don’t know where I’m going, and frankly I have no clue what’s behind me. I look back to see what’s chasing me, only to fall flat on my face.
Done. Game over.
This is it. Whatever is chasing me is going to get me. I turn to face my opponent, and out of this tall, dark figure comes an all too familiar voice…
“….Chris? I think I heard the door open downstairs and I’m scared…can you go and check it?”
Hello. My name is Christopher Garcia. I’ve been the only guy on an all girls team for the past five months. Yes, that is correct, five months and actually going on six. And in the past few months, I’ve started to learn what it looks like living as the only male swimming in a pool of estrogen.
Community looks a little different when you’re the only guy. In some ways, yes, things are limited. There’s not exactly another guy to talk to about girls, guns, and manly man goodness (this is a very large category) about. Poker isn’t considered a love language, and it’s not exactly acceptable for me to leave the toilet seat up. But doors open too, and things actually expand. I get to learn new ways to diet (vegitarian for example), it’s easier to work out by carrying three extra bags that are about the same size and weight as me, and I get to put my Boy Scout tools into use tying up knots to put up clothelines, duck-tape holes in walls shut so rats won’t get in, and use my expertise at lighting fires, whether it be on an open fire, or the amazingly unpredictable gas oven.
But the most incredible thing about living with three other girls is my chance to be the man I need to be. It’s given me the opportunity to live out being a protector, a provider, and a leader. Now of course, it’s not easy. It’s a trial and error run, and I don’t exactly get everything right on the first time….or second….or third. But living with such Godly women has not only made me push harder to be a man of God, but when I fail, there is so much grace and wisdom poured into me from them. I have my good days, but when I’m down, they are my family that picks me up. I’ve never had a sister before, and getting the chance to live with three of them, has one of the best experiences in my life.
So, to the girls of team Pleres, the girls on my old team Agape Life Song, and to the girls of R-squad, thank you. Thank you for making this experience life-changing for me. You are amazing women of God. Angels. Every single on of you.
Now if I could only convince my girls to stop washing their bras in the sink so I can brush my teeth…
