Introducing: Team Aletheia! (Aletheia is Greek for "not concealed")
(Left to Right: Brittany Cantrell, Tiffany Carty, Nate Swedberg, Angela McKenzie, Me, Johnny Eastman, and Josh)
On the World Race, we travel with a large group called a squad. There are currently 62 people in our squad, and we will all be traveling to the countries together. Once we arrive in the country, we will split off into our teams and travel to different parts of the country and to different ministries. Our team is like our family. We will live and work with them 24/7.
One of the (many) reasons for Training Camp is so we can get to know one another as a squad, and so we can be placed on teams. I believe that the AIM staff, Squad Leaders, and Coaches fully have our best interests at heart when forming teams, and they have a great process to do so. They get to know us personally, and look for sparks within us and place us in groups that will encourage growth.
I am absolutely thrilled with my team, and I wanted to share a bit about them. Josh and I will be on this team for at least the first 3 months of our Race (after which they often switch up the teams to keep things fresh), and I will be referring to them in stories, and you will be seeing them in pictures and videos.
Nate Swedberg
Nate is our team leader. He is an amazing man of God, and is one of the most humble leaders I have met. He always takes others' interests into account, and is a great listener. He also has a great singing voice. He desires to see our team grow and suceed, and I know he will do a great job leading us.
Johnny Eastman
Ok, sidenote…I can't get the font unbolded. This bothers me. I like to have everything consistent. Ok…getting over it.
Anyway, Johnny was a late transfer to our squad from one of the other groups leaving in September. There was a need for a few more people to switch to L Squad, so Johnny volunteered, and I'm so glad he did. He is so funny, caring, and I'm pretty sure he almost always has a smile on his face. He has a wicked tattoo sleeve, and I think he will be the comic relief for all of us, when we haven't slept in 30 hours on travel days or feel like we just can't take another bucket shower.
Josh
Ok, well, you already know Josh, but I'll take the opportunity to brag on him anyway. Josh may seem like a quiet guy from the outside, but it is just because he is a ponderer. There is always something going on inside his head, that he is pondering, and whenever he decides how he feels about it it is almost involuntary that he lets it out. He has extremely dry humor, that you often won't get right away. He is also a very literal thinker, and he thinks in pictures. For example, one night I had just gotten home from work, and I asked Josh if he would rub my feet because they were hurting. I asked if he would focus on the arch of my foot, because "I think I pulled my arch." He nodded and his eyes glazed over. After a second, I said, "You are thinking of the St. Louis Arch being pulled, aren't you?" He said, "I am. How did you know?" And I just gave him the "wife look".
Josh has been chosen to be the Treasurer for our team, and I am so excited for him. Admittedly, I usually do the organizational things (except for paying the bills…ahhhhh, I hate it. So like a good husband, he takes care of me). I am excited to see him step into this role, and to grow as a leader.
Brittany Cantrell
Back to unbolded font again. Yes!!! I was so excited to learn that Brittany was on our team. She is vibrant and full of life, and she loves to help out however she can. Just from knowing her for a week, I can tell you that she is all in. She is committed, and I am so excited to grow with her and to speak life into her this year.
Tiffany Carty
Tiffany is amazing. She has such a nurturing spirit, and she always makes sure everyone else is taken care of, sometimes even forgetting herself! We got to know each other over the internet for the last several months, so meeting her in real life was just like picking up where we left off. She is dedicated, and is a beautiful picture of God's redemption. She already feels like a sister to me, and I can't wait to serve alongside her.
Angela McKenzie
Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to talk to Angela much before we learned we were teammates. As we spent time with the team, I was excited to get to know her better. Brittany describes her as the firecracker, and I think that is so true! She may seem quiet and reserved, but underneath is a strength that rivals many.
I could not be happier about my team, and I am so excited to share life with them over the next few months. They will be my family on the Race, and just like biological families, we will have our ups and downs, but I know that a year from now, I won't be sure how to live without them.
