It dawns on me that back in Cambodia, I posted a photo-update letting people know that my time with team Kairos had come to an end and that the inevitable final team change had taken place. I bid my last team a proper goodbye, however I failed to pay my new team the respects of a proper introduction.
Just in case you lost track (it can be a bit hard to follow all the change that takes place on the Race), let me refresh your memory:
My first four months of the Race was spent on a small team of 5 girls called Lutroo, which is a Greek word meaning “set free to serve”. Lutroo was the first “Race family” I ever knew and we learned and grew so much together during our time in South America. A quaint little team, the smallest on our squad, we had the unique opportunity to get to know each other very well and very quickly. We had the special experience of being there to support one another as we individually came to the not-so-pleasant realization, the one that every person has when they begin to take a closer look at themselves, that we weren’t all as pretty and perfect as we had come to believe. We saw each other at some of our messiest moments and loved one another through it. These girls will forever be my sisters and I have them to thank for a lot of the growth I’ve experienced this year.
I kicked off Asia with my second team, Kairos, which is Hebrew for “defining moments”, and let me tell you, the name embodied us well. If there is anything I can say of Kairos it’s that we had some pretty unforgettable moments; whether filled with laughter or tears or sometimes both, they are moments I will never forget and moments that have been pivotal to my growth as a woman of God. Though still a team of strictly women, we increased in number by two from my last team and that amplified the volume by about 100 decibels. And guess what? I LOVED IT. It was loud and unrestrained and energetic and passionate and the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time. Thanks for the laughs and for the moments Kairos: you are unforgettable.
I should also note that for the first 8 months of the Race, through both Lutroo and Kairos, I had two constants by my side: Lauren Massey and Adrienne Simon. These ladies hold a special place in my heart. They have seen me at my highest high and my lowest low and I believe, apart from my own mother, I have spent more consecutive time with them than anyone else in my life.
Team changes are hard. Change is still scary and farewells still make me cry, but through these transitions come so many new friendships, new opportunities to learn and to grow and new stories to be a part of.
So without further ado, let me introduce to you my newest team and the people I will be spending these last few months of this Race with:
Meet Team END ZONE
(can you tell I’ve moved to a co-ed team?)
(Second from the left is Esther, our squad leader).
The Hansens
As one of only three sets of married couples on our squad, being with these two has given me the unique experience of not only getting to know them on an individual basis, but also in terms of a team; a strong marriage centered around Christ. Since the start of the Race I have said a secret little prayer that I would have the chance to spend some time on a team with these two—they are just too much fun.
Sam: He could make anyone laugh without even realizing he said something funny. A rancher from Wyoming, you can count on Sam at any given moment to throw in a signature expression such as, “Well that’s about as silly as a three-legged dog,” or “Careful, that’s hotter than a two dollar pistol.” Apart from his humor, he has just done such an incredible job serving the women on our team in anything we could possibly need, whether it be fixing something that’s broken, praying for us when we’re going through a tough time, offering sound advice or just offering any service he can in the moment.
Susan: Oh Susie Q (she doesn’t really have a Q in her name, I just like to add that part in because I feel it suits her)… she is just the sweetest thing. Coming from a background of being an elementary school teacher, she has the most loving nature and the most tender heart. She too is constantly looking to help and serve this team in any way possible. Whether it’s providing me with profound wisdom, encouraging and supporting me, or just offering me a friend to laugh with, Susan never disappoints. I am so thankful to have her on my team and I can say that she truly feels like the (slightly) older sister I never had.
Zach
What you see right here is 6 feet, 7 inches of pure goofiness and enthusiasm. (Don’t let the photo fool you, he was basically doing a wall sit to be at my height.) This Wisconsinite can enlighten you on pretty much any topic, whether it is fishing, cheese, or the biomechanics of movement in the human body (I asked him for a sciencey word to use for this and that’s the one he gave me, along with a 20 minute lesson on the interworkings of the human body… I guess I asked for that one). If you ever have the pleasure of meeting this guy, please do not make the mistake of thinking that when you ask a simple question you will receive a “simple” answer. He is intelligent beyond his years, but as big as his capacity for knowledge is, I believe his capacity to show love to those he meets is even greater. I am honored to have this brother in Christ standing beside me to learn from and be supported by. Don’t get me wrong, just like my real brother he can drive me nuts sometimes, but I’m lucky to have him and thankful for all the bizarre and goofy memories we’ve had together and those to come.
Christina (aka Tina)
Oh Teeny… she is one of a kind. I have never met someone so laid back and easy-going as this girl. She is happy and content wherever she is, whether it be relaxing in a quiet coffee shop or bungee jumping off of a 365-foot bridge. I guess one word to describe Tina would be quirky. Her thick Alabama accent, her orange straw cowboy hat, rainbow fanny pack and her ukulele that she plays with a country twang, just make her the most unique blend of fun and joy that you could find. I am so thankful for this friend and for her kind heart and all the laughter that she brings to my life.
Lizzie
Our fearless team leader, you will quickly discover her “Michigan pride” and even quicker, her pride as a true, pureblooded Finlander. I think I’ve learned more Finish culture and history than I know about my own heritage, along with learning the “true” pronunciations of words that the rest of us Americans have been getting wrong all this time. It is safe to say that Lizzie is so wonderfully and uniquely one-of-a-kind. At any given time she can and will burst into song (most often a show tune). She has the wonderful ability to laugh at herself and the situation at hand and I can’t think of many people I’d trust more to lead our awesome team. She can be hyper and bubbly yet calm, cool and collected all at the same time. She certainly adds flavor to our team and we wouldn’t be nearly the same without her.
Shannon (aka Shanny)
Shanny Pants. She has been my partner in crime since team Kairos. We are notorious for having the most awkward, “only you” stories on the squad and I truly believe leadership stuck us on a team together partially for their pure entertainment. And if this last 5 months with her has been anything, it’s entertaining. I just love this girl to death. We can’t go a full 5 minutes together without bursting into laughter or some other bizarre activity. She has provided me with so much joy on this Race and I thank God for her each and every day. She lights up any room she walks into and has the ability to lighten the mood of anyone she meets. She can most often be seen with her curly red hair in a bun straight on top of her head, sipping on a Coca-Cola and dancing like a crazy person across the room. She is wild and weird and beautiful and kind and I love her to death.
Well, that about sums up Team End Zone. We are blissfully quirky, laid-back and easy going, full of laughter and love for one another and we are unified in the mission to bring God’s kingdom here on earth. As we come to the last month and a half of our trip and move through the “End Zone” (hence the name), we will continue to press on in the journey ahead and press into all that God wants to do in us and through us. I’m so thankful to be running this Race beside these 6 crazies and I wouldn’t want to cross the finish line any other way.
