Around 10, the squad leaders gave us all a peice of paper with our new teams on them. We were told to go off and talk to Jesus about our new teams. I wanted to open it right away but I knew that I wasn’t ready yet. So I sat there praying for about 15 minutes and when I felt like I gave complete trust into the team changes to God then I opened it.
I was so excited that I started crying. I, of course, had formed relationships with my old teammates, but I had also formed relationships with the other 3 girls as well!! So excited!
We were told that we had till 8 p.m. with our new teams and were to get lunch first before we made our first memory together. Along the way, we were supposed to come up with a team name. Our team ended up at a delicious Mexican restaurant. It was quickly apparent that these girls were going to bless me, challenge me (n a good way), love me, and grow with me immensely in the next 8 months.
Over our burritos, nachos, and cokes, we began to discuss team names and what we wanted out of the next 8 months. Personally, I want to learn more about God as FATHER and LOVER. I want to grow more intimately with Christ. The others felt the same way as well as wanting to absolutely fall in love with God. Thus the word Cherish appeared.
However, we needed more. I felt like it needed something more than just that one word. As we were praying, Sam heard Cherished Flame. Along with that, she saw a vision of us holding a flame in each of our hands. We were very careful to not let this flame go out and as we went from country to country, person to person, that flame was passed carefully to others. When she mentioned it, the team immediately voted Yes.
And so our team name: Cherished Flame.
Later that night, my team and I were to give a little introduction on what our new team name was. Stephie wrote an AWESOME “manifesto”.
| Team Cherished Flame is made up of not just females. Not just World Racers. And not even just Christian missionaries. We are seven chosen and cherished daughters of the Most High King, the Creator of the universe. We are dearly loved and called beautiful, strong, victorious warriors. We are captivated by our Creator, and He has planted a flame inside our hearts. This is a flame of love and passion to see our Father’s will be done and see Kingdom here on earth. It is a flame to grow to better understand our Daddy’s love and to fall madly in love with Creator God. This flame is to be cherished with the same care and passion with which the Lord cherishes us. As we grow to know Him better, we will cherish Him, each other, and the nations. We REFUSE to let Satan blow out this flame. Any attempt by him to do so will only provide the wind to fan our flame into a more passionate flame, shining the light of the Lord to the nations. As cherished daughters, beloved by our Husband and Maker, the Lord of Hosts, we will bring this light to all that come into our path, and a city on a hill will not be hidden. All that this light touches will see what it means to be cherished by the Lord as we in turn cherish them. We will not be shaken. Our flame will not be snuffed out. We will be victorious… because we are loved. Because we are His. |
After lunch, the team and I set out to go create a memory. We stopped by the market to pick up some team bracelets. (Yes, being on a girls team is AWESOME!) Then we headed on over to the mall for some yummy ice cream, bowling, and photo booth action. It was absolutely amazing.
Overall, I am so PUMPED for what God has in store for Cherished Flame! Please continue to lift my team up in prayer as we head off to Albania Wednesday at 3am!
(left to right) Sam, Linsey, Stephanie, Karaline, Amanda, Me, and Natalie
