getting the [insert various method of transport here] packed. often when we’ve had to walk long distances,
they’ve carried an extra full pack. they
walk us back to wherever we’re staying after dark. they deal with the drama that inevitably
comes with 21 girls.

special. he looks you in the eye. he is confident, caring, patient &
optimistic…but not in an in-your-face kinda way. he loves meeting new people, building
relationships and connecting people – and he’s incredible at it. aaron is the guy that asks how you are, and
means it. when we get our haircut or get
a new something, he notices & tells us.
aaron has given and given this year.
he has, by observation, been broken for every place we’ve been. for the children. for the mothers. for the men.
for the pastors. month after
month, aaron has arrived at debrief exhausted from truly pouring every ounce of
himself into the people on every path he & his team crossed.

brings deeper meaning to intimacy with jesus.
in quiet time. in prayer. in worship.
he is sensitive, obedient and introspective. he is awesome to sit and have coffee or a
bite to eat with – and the coffee or food is completely secondary to the
conversation. he pays attention to
detail and remembers things…and then asks you about them later to see how
things are going or how a specific person is doing. he gives readily, selflessly &
joyfully. brandon has an amazing way of asking tough
questions and saying tough things without being offensive…and then sticking
with you through the “how do i deal with it” part. brandon
is an amazingly loyal, dedicated, passionate friend, and it is obvious that he
learns this directly from jesus.

to know danny are: he loves worship, he’s goofy, he’s got a servant’s
heart. months have passed. danny leads worship, and he plays guitar and
worships in his free time and his quiet time.
danny is, indeed, goofy. danny
has served. and served. and served.
these things aren’t just things about danny…they are the core of danny,
and he shares them passionately with us.
he is just as easily deep in worship as he is available to go do the
most random, fun activity. he has,
without hesitation and on many a day, gone from playing in the dirt with kids
to teaching english to organizing ministry & talking with contacts. danny always has time for everyone, and he
makes each one feel uniquely important.

brother. growing up with two younger
sisters, he is always watching over us – especially when we’re not aware of
it. he waits back when one of us needs
“just a minute” after the rest of the group is out the door. he is honest about what he’s gifted at and
works humbly at the things he’s still learning.
he has a sixth sense for when someone needs a hug or a simple word of
encouragement, and he’s always available to listen. he’s also our free spirit – he loves to
wander new cities and see what they’re all about, and he just might hitchhike
all the way home across canada
after the race!

he has learned a ton this year about simply being with the Lord, and
after any teaching, you know he’s mulling it over for awhile. he’s great to sit with and talk about what
God’s teaching you and how that ties into where He’s leading. kyle has a passionate heart for prayer, and
he’s always there to help with anything that needs to be done. he has an incredible tenderness towards and
children. he is an equally great friend
and teacher to them…although you may not notice these two qualities at since
initially they tend to hang off of him like a jungle gym. anyone who knows kyle well knows that he
deeply desires to live simply, connect deeply & give everything.

continues to surprise, me most. he is
often quiet, but when he has something to say, you best listen closely. he’ll say he doesn’t do a good job of showing
when/how he cares, but i’d disagree. he’s reached out to everyone around him in
the simplest, kindest ways, whether by cooking birthday breakfasts or a
thanksgiving feast with a hotpot & two fry pans, standing to the side to
let all the girls get a meal before him, checking in with people to see how
they’re doing, etc. seth’s patience with
where the Lord is taking him & what He’s teaching him along the way is a
gift not only to his own growth but also a lesson for the rest of us.
