We have been in Uganda for about a week now. We camped out in Jinja for a few days as a squad then we had team changes and we even rafted the Nile!!! I was seriously thinking about backing out because of all the crazy stories about near death experiences I've heard but I'm so happy I didn't because I will never forget how fun and scary it was.
I will post some pictures of rafting soon but for now I want to introduce you to my new team! My teammate Rachel made these profiles for everyone on the team (except her own 😉
Here is A-Team: Abundance, Abandonment, and Awesomeness
Kendall Thompson
Our fearless team leader!!!! You’d love being around this spirit-filled woman of God. She speaks out exactly what the Lord puts on her heart and when she prays you better watch out because BIG things happen! When she laughs you can’t help but do so as well because her laugh is so contagious. She was a hairstylist before the Race and X squad is keeping her busy now! She accepts payments in food, mainly Snickers bars. She’ll probably be a ship captain one day after rafting class 5 rapids on the Nile river and not letting go of the raft once. Even when the boat flipped and was being swirled underwater she never abandoned ship!!
Julie Horst
Jules may be quiet when you first meet her but don’t let that fool you- she’s got spunk!! Her love for the Lord is evident to all through her compassion and gentleness towards others. The Lord’s given her a love for children, which is perfect for the Race. Her Grandma is her hero and best friend.
Savannah Rowland
This joyful woman of God brings laughter wherever she goes. It’s refreshing to spend time with her because you’re guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face!! She loves to dance and was a dance instructor before the race. She’s a dinosaur lover and shaved her head a couple months ago. She has a newfound love for g-nut butter and is working on perfecting the recipe before the end of the race. One thing she doesn’t like is when her teammate Rachel chases her down the Nile River.
Jill Jones
Words to describe Jill- enthusiastic, energetic, and has a love for life!! You might find her randomly jumping on beds or dominating at dance competitions. Her lifelong dream is to be married to Harry Potter, have Justin Bieber sing at their wedding, and then celebrate their honeymoon at Cameron Indoor to watch Coach K and the Duke basketball team dominate. Jill’s been given the role of Financial Manager of the team so she’ll be keeping track of all our money. She’s perfect for this because she was a math major in college.
Rachel Balson
This chick is the strongest I know! She can fight a herd of baboooons with her biceps and can run the entire country of Uganda without stopping. She is a warrior. Her arm gets a workout being on the phone arranging travel and lodging for our squad aka- she is LOGISTICS. Yep, that’s right… the mind and details behind X squad…without her we’d be a big fat messsss. She’s not only strong physically but spiritually! This crazy girl we know as Rachel Balson wants more…more of the Lord! Watch out folks! Here Balson COMES!!!!!
