When I explain the World Race to people, I get everything from “Is that like the Amazing Race?” to “So, kinda like Christian Survivor…” Truth be told, sometimes I feel like it’s a mixture of them all. Especially on Monday. After 3 months on the Race, it was time for team changes. In Survivor terms, it’s like saying:
Drop your buffs.
We were given a piece of paper with our new team written inside. Then we were given an hour and a half to spend with the Lord to get our hearts in the right place before talking to our squad mates. These would be the people I would spend the next 8 months with; the people I will freeze my bum off with in Eastern Europe; the people I will survive the sticks of Africa with; the people I will walk the Red Light district with… When I felt I was ready to read the names written on the inside of my paper, I opened it.
I smiled.
Steven Reed.
Jamie Ham.
Ashley Caple.
Nicole Ransom.
Nick Rice.
Clearly, we are not going to have any fun on our new team…
Stellar people. A bit of comfort with 3 original teammates mixed with some new squadmates I’ve wanted to get to know better. God’s given me that opportunity. As we reconvened, I gave my new teammates a big hug, we were all smiles. We were then given this prompt:
“Make a memory. Come up with a new team name. Be ready to present it to the squad after dinner tonight.”
We enjoyed a delicious Mediterranean lunch together, and then hopped in a TRUFI to get a 2 for 1 special at a local coffee shop.
We were all excited about our 2 for 1 special!
I shared with my new team some words I had written down in my journal that I wanted to describe our team.
Pursue. Deeper. Surround. Pour. Flow. Heart. Honor. Overcome. Intimacy. Capture.
We began to brainstorm team names. Our sides hurt after all the laughing we did that afternoon.
“I’m all for our team being intimate, but I just don’t think that I can get behind a name with intimacy in the title, “ Nick stated.
We all agreed. Then someone declared that Nick should be “Captain Intimacy,” that everyone on the team should have a persona.
“Steven, what word do you want to describe you?”
Steven looked at my journal page. I had doodled the words real artsy-fartsy like.
“What’s Peeper?”
“No, no, it’s deeper. I just was doodling…”
“Steven should be Captain Peeper. We’ll have Captain Peeper and Captain Intimacy.”
‘No! It should be Private Intimacy.” (rolling laughter)
“Yeah, and Sgt. Peeper…you know, instead of Pepper…”
“Okay. Who’s next? Ash?”
“I like the word heart.”
“Well, you do love playing cards…what about Queen of Heart?”
“Love it. Done.”
“What’s another term for a woman? Not General or Sgt…umm Lady? Lady Capture? Lady Pursue? Lady Flow?”
“Lady Flow? Really?” (rolling laughter)
And the conversation went on like this for a good 45 minutes. Again, our sides hurt. We introduced ourselves to our squad later that night- Family Force 6. The following is the script we used, but to get the full effect you really MUST watch the video. I’m serious. You’ll get a full indication of how crazy we are and how much fun we’re going to have in the next 8 months. I hope you enjoy your introduction to Family Force 6!
Family Force 6 on our "Make a Memory" Outing.
The Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZrspj_SHls
The Script:
A few hours ago, in a coffee shop far, far…down the street, 6 God-fearing, caffeine-seeking individuals united together over a 2 for 1 special. They entered alone but emerged as new creations.
JAMIE “Lady Reliance” HAM
Some know her as Jaime, Jaims, Hampster, Hermione and Finance but she is now know as Lady Reliance, who not only relies on the Lord but on her family.
ASHLEY “Queen of Heart” CAPLE
Our resident card shark is out Queen of Heart. As she’s shuffled into a new deck, she’s ready to reveal her hand and show us her heart.
NICOLE “C6PO” RANSOM
She desires more emotion than an intergalactic robot. Therefore, she shall now be known as Captain Cultivating Christ-Centered Captivating Community Prefering Others- CCCCCCPO or C6PO.
EMILY “Made of Honor” BOUCHE
She was originally made in Wisconsin, but in know Made of Honor…instead of cheese.
NICK “Private Intimacy” RICE
He has desired more than the average friendship and sick of hiding behind closed doors. He is now known as Private Intimacy.
STEVEN “Sgt. Peeper” REED
After seeing the lonely hearts of the 60’s, he desired to go deeper and in his pursuit, became Sgt. Peeper!
And when our powers combine, we form
FAMILY FORCE 6!
If you haven't watched the video, you really should!
