The following is taken from my teammate Kristin’s blog she posted…I thought I would share because this is the last few days we have as Team Rapha (they always switch up teams at this point in the World Race). We’ve had quite the journey so far together! Before I share what she wrote let me give a little shout out to Kristin (KK) who has been our fearless team leader these last 4 months. KK is an incredible woman of God who is full of energy and loves people. She can be found doing P90x (her workout video of choice), jumping rope, listening to her favorite country tunes on her ipod (she’s from Tennessee), or reading a book (her newfound hobby on the Race). She loves the color orange (representing for the UT Vols), her sorority Alpha Delta Pi, and loves diving into the Word and growing in wisdom! Thank you, KK, for your example and for sharing this blog about our team:
Team changes are just around the corner so I wanted to give a shout out to the people that have made my World Race experience so memorable. Team Rapha has not just been my travel companions; they have been my support system, prayer warriors, entertainment, and family! We eat together, do laundry together, cook together, watch movies together, and share God’s word together. They have been by my side as I have overcome lifelong struggles and they wiped my tears when I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore. They have taken care of my when I was sick, and they have played games with me to cheer me up. April, Elaina, and Roberto know more about me than I probably know about myself (they even know what I’m thinking before I say it). I’m so blessed to have spent the last four months with them and I pray that my next team is just as great!
APRIL (sister)
She is the resident Aggie on the team. She is from Texas and bleeds maroon and white. She just graduated with her degree in Nutrition, and she is one AMAZING cook. This girl is going to make a special man happy one day. She can make a delectable meal out of anything! She can knit like no other, and she has some amazing skills when it comes to keeping everything tidy. She can’t lie to save her life and her conscience keeps the whole team in check. She likes bright colors (even if they don’t match). She loves to read and learn new things every day. She enjoys exercising and doing yoga. She loves her family and can’t wait to have her own (not til after the race). She has a heart of gold and is one of the best listeners I have ever met. When she asks a question, she truly cares about the answer. She might be shy at first, but once you get to know her she is amazing!
ELAINA (pumpkin)
She is representing Boston, (which we found out sounds like the word ‘pumpkin’ in Romanian). Before the race, she was a children’s minster which has come in handy with all of our children’s programs. Not only can she make the kids smile, this lady brings the personality to our team. She can make anyone laugh! She is not just a comedian; she is also the motivator on the team. She brings joy during the hard times and can put a smile on anyone’s face. She always knows when someone needs a little “cheer me up” and she loves giving gifts. She enjoys blessing people with her incredible treats or handmade crafts. Elaina has a great ear for languages (praise the Lord, because I never know what’s being said). Her desserts are to die for and she presents every food like a masterpiece. She can play the piano and has a great voice. Elaina is also an incredible spiritual leader. She has memorized a ton of scripture and knows just about every story in the Bible! She has a way with words and gives awesome advice.
ROBERTO (aka Robbie, Robert, Berto…)
The lone male (and he is enjoying every minute of it)! Roberto is a unique Puerto Rican from the Bronx. This guy shows true signs of a Puerto Rican. He always talks with his hands so you better not be standing too close when he is telling a story. He doesn’t have any idea what an “inside voice” is, but we still love him. He idealizes the GREEN LANTERN, and his favorite color is green (imagine that). He recently has started doing pushups so he can defend himself from us three strong ladies! (They aren’t working too well, because we still win every fight)! He often walks out of the house with his pants tucked into his shoes and he wears the same Indian Jones outfit about every day. On the flip side, he is an amazing servant and man of God. He would put any person before himself. He always has a hand waiting to help us out of the vehicle and is the best “sharer” I have ever met. He is always willing to listen (even though he will probably forget what you said in ten minutes). Roberto is a great example of what a man of God should be.
Here are some pictures of Team Rapha throughout the journey— seven members to the fantastic four!
