Month 1 in India flew by, and month 2 seemed to be over even quicker. It just seemed like yesterday I was at debrief on a mountain meeting my new team. Yes, TEAM CHANGES HAPPENED! My new team’s name: Overflow (Zeta Zeta Zeta- not our official ministry name but this is what we call ourselves mainly). We are a team who don’t want no cup half-full/half-empty crap; we want our cups to be overflowing, touching others that surround us. In this blog post, I want to introduce them to you.
So, lets start with our TL, the lovely Hannah Pauwels/Baru/George. Now George might be a little strange for a nickname but Baru? Let me explain. It is BA Ruth, Ru for short. If you knew this girl, no explanation would be needed for this nickname. She is pretty BA- she has a backbone. She is amazing. She is kind. She makes you feel known by the way she talks to you and the way she loves you. She makes you feel safe. She has a way of seeing Jesus and the Bible, I haven’t even considered/fathomed; this view has inspired me and sparked me falling in love with the Bible in a new way. She is strong. She pushes you into what the Lord has for you/who He wants you to be. She is not afraid to say the hard things. HER QUESTIONS- the best.
Next up, Anna Prevatte. Anna is mystical. She is 100% herself (which has caused me to want to do the same) with no apologies. She isn’t afraid of dreams. She welcomes and chases after them with everything she has. Yet, she has a good outlook on them and gives them to the Lord. She is funny. She is filled with joy. She is inspiring. If she isn’t dropping some heat in her rapping, she is dropping some truth or some great advice. She is the person who is always down to play rummy with me (for those who don’t know, I love card games). She has introduced me to many things, one including worm wrestling (wrestling eachother while in sleeping bags). She makes me feel safe and comfortable.
Dylan Woodbury, or Dyl. Dyl is so great. She has such a gentle heart. She is the person I know I can go to for anything and will be heard. She provides a “safe haven” feeling over the team. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met. She inspires me to dance and sing more. She gives great advice. She is a person of depth. She is bold. She is strong. She is someone I want to learn from. She is considerate. She asks really great questions- whether deep or random. She is free in who the Lord has created her to be, and makes me want to be the same. She is filled with so much joy.
ALEEEEX FREAKIN LEVASSEUR. Alex is a realist. I have not had many of people in my life who are a realist, but I love having one in my life. I need someone to wake me up and bring me back down sometimes. She is so strong. She makes me want to be myself. She has this funny sound she makes and I laugh every time but it makes my heart so happy. She isn’t afraid to say the hard things. She loves well. She is thoughtful. She is kind. She is beautiful inside and out. She is someone I want to learn as much as I can from. She pushes me to be the person she knows I can be. She is so many more things. She is simply a joy to be around.
Hannah Jones, FOXY! She is a wild card. My first impression of her was she was super quiet and reserved but that is not her at all! She is crazy. She isn’t afraid to say the hard things. She is funny. She is strong. Everyday, as I get to know her more, she surprises me more and more. She is someone I know who is there for me, and doesn’t even have to say it. She is someone I know who will keep me accountable. She has a voice. She has no filter, and I love it. She is down for spontaneous adventures. She is gentle, yet courageous. She is someone I want to learn from. She is someone I love to have around.
Oh, and can’t forget about our honorary Zeta. The one, the only, KACIE TILLMAN aka $auce Bo$$. Kace is great. She is one of our squad leaders, but I don’t see her as a squad leader, I see her as a friend. She is HILARIOUS. She practices walking in freedom even though it is hard for her; that is pretty inspiring and encouraging to see. She is very intentional and kind. She has a soft side, one of which I wouldn’t have gotten to see if I hadn’t gotten to know her and talk to her. She is a protector. One day a stranger waltzed right in tryna sit (s/o to our rap), trying to take a video of interviewing us; she was the first one to get up and try to get him to leave. At one point, we heard her talking to a local here and she said, “tell him to leave, I don’t want him to be in here with my girls.” AGH. Talk about all of the feels. I feel very safe around her. She takes the best pictures, and always gives advice that is ON POINT. She has great taste in music. She is someone I want to learn from.
I mean, I guess you guys can see a trend. I said pretty much the same thing about all of them. They aren’t all the same person, but they all provide an environment of sisterhood. They all make me feel seen, heard, and the desire to grow, to be free. I have only had this team for going on a month and half, but I love them all so dearly. Writing about them right now, is causing me to tear up. I still have barely touched the surface of getting to know them, but I want to get to know them even more. This is a “safe haven” team. This is a team where I know that they are going to help pull me up from the pit, brush me off, and keep walking with me. This is a team where dancing, singing, writing raps, having a monthly day (Galentine’s Day), to spend a night hanging out with each other, all is a norm and I love it. This is a team that believes in each other and who we can be. I love them all so much.
Quick life updates:
-I HAVE FRONT BANGS (Anna cut them for me last night during Galentines Day).
-I just recently discovered I am not freely my true self, and am walking in the journey of being free.
-The Lord has been teaching me so much, one of which is that I need to “leave the front porch” (my next blog post will be about this).
-I have been making many relationships here where I am staying, and that has been great.
-I have been experiencing rain for the first time in months!!
-I am reading a great book, Ruthless Trust.
That’s about it. I hope this provided you guys a little look into my new team. Thank you all for your continuing support and your prayers. Love you all!
