To the end of the road
still I can’t let you go
it’s unnatural
you belong to me
I belong to you
This song seems so
appropriate as we have finished ministry on the world race. This is a song
Birkleigh has sung many times over the course of the last 11 months and I know
every time I hear it from now on I’ll always look back on this year. With only a little over a week remaining
before I return to the US I figured it was time to start thinking about the
return home. Doing that isn’t so easy
though. Don’t get me wrong I’m excited
to come home and celebrate with all my friends that got married, engaged and
had children while I was gone, but to think about saying Goodbye to my family
that I’ve know for the last year brings me to tears. I’ve waited for awhile to even think about it
because I knew that the moment I started to think about it that the water works
would start. Sometimes I wish I didn’t
cry so much, I feel that it can be a weakness but it’s not something I can
control.
As my faithful
readers you know that my team is the only team that remained together the whole
race. And you would know that we’ve had
our ups and downs. Well this blog is
dedicated to them. The 6 people I’ve
traveled with who have become some of my best friends, and my family. I don’t know what I’m going to do without
each of them.
Tres Washington: The
big brother I always wanted and a man after God’s own heart. He has grown so much this year. From a man who feared being vulnerable and
intimate to a man who desires to be vulnerable and intimate. His future wife is going to be one lucky
woman! He desires to know God more on a
personal and spiritual level. He has
pushed me a lot this year to become the woman of God I am. He always knows the perfect time to give a
hug and goes out of his way to make sure everyone knows they are loved by
him. I’m going to miss his “Good
Morning, How did you sleep?” and his perfect timing hugs.
Bambi Bigley: If there is one person on my team I feel the
closest to it is Bams. We’ve been asked
a lot in Asia if we are “Same, Same” and for me this is a complement. Bambi has such a huge heart. She is full of mercy and compassion,
something that the Lord grew in her over the course of the last 11 months. I hope that one day I can have a heart that
breaks the way Bambi’s heart does for those that are lost and desperately need
the Lord. I’m blessed to have spent
every month with Bambi. During our time
in Thailand I got to see her awesome leadership skills. Bambi has taught me a lot about being ok with
confrontation this year. I’m going to
miss her words of encouragement, her huge heart, and her awesome photography
skills.
Bethany
Brueggen: A woman after God’s own
heart. Beth has taught me so much about
being a Christian woman. She is
relational and intentional. She is full
of love and joy and will befriend anyone. Bethany has grown in her strength and power as a leader. God definitely called her to lead our team to
build her up to be an even stronger woman of God. By choosing to walk in this role she has
taught me so much about being obedient to the Lord. She’s not scared to share when she feels weak
and inadequate. I’m going to miss her
vulnerability and her willingness to serve and love the Lord with all of her
heart, soul, and mind.
Nicole Marett: A
Beautiful woman of God. I’ve learned so
much about my beauty and being a woman of God from her. She has a huge heart for the fashion industry
and she’s going to change this industry one day! Nicole has grown so much in her identity as a
woman of God this year. Nicole knows the
perfect time to crack a joke, give a huge, or just sit with you. I’ve been lucky to share a bed with her for
the last 2 months. Nicole accepts people just as they are, and for that I’m
truly grateful for. I’m going to miss her snuggling, her random sarcastic
moments, and her morning “toots.”
Birkleigh
Foreman: I think Birk is one of the
people on our team that has grown the most. She has been transformed so much this year into a beautiful woman of
God. She is full of Christ and his light
shines through her all the time. She has
taught me so much about being exactly who God created me to be. Birkleigh has a heart to see the world
changed, and to bring Kingdom everywhere she goes. She has a heart for the arts and I’m excited
to see the change she brings to Hollywood and the world as she pursues this
passion the Lord has given her. I’m
going to miss her random Broadway productions and her encouragement.
Ralph Kelley: Ralph
is a complete example of a servant. Like
Tres he is a man after God’s own heart. He has a heart for the church and missions. Ralph has opened up so much this year. In Ireland he got the nickname
“Sassy” by luck of the draw, but he has grown into this more
throughout the race. He’s quite but full
of joy. He can make you feel better with
just a hug or a laugh. Ralph brings
Kingdom with him wherever he walks and I can’t wait to see where the Lord leads
him after G42. Ralph is a man of prayer
and has grown so much in listen and saying what the Lord is telling him. Ralph has taught me to walk in boldness when
I pray. Ralph accepted me for me, with
all my mess, and he helped me realize that I don’t have to walk in my
past. I’m going to miss his sassy come
backs to and the Christ that radiates from his every being.
This has been my
family for the past year. I’ve spent
24/7 with these people over the last 11 months, with the exception of Thailand
when we were split. I’ve spent more time
with them than I would have with my family had I been home. God has used each of them to help me grow
into the person I am today.
