I realize that I most likely should have told you about my team by now, and the wonderful people they are, being four months in and all. Well, now that everything has been mixed up, it feels like a good time to tell you about the people that I entered the Race with are vastly different from the people I left in Thailand. Team Raging Waters went through many difficult times, and in the beginning we were unsure of each other, combined into the team. But we were dedicated, and I believe, through a labor of love, we made bonds made strong through commitment. They have all grown so much, and I would love to share this with you.
Drew is my brother. Seriously, this guy was with me through thick and thin, and he was amazing at supporting me in my role as team leader. He is a fellow musician, and we are equally weird/goofy/awkward at times. Boy did we make a pair! He entered in the Race as a man with equal parts serious theologian, equal parts jokester. But even he would tell you that this was part of a facade. Over three months, I have watched him transform into a vulnerable, humble man of God. Through tough days, especially in Nepal, emotionally and even physically, he learned to become open with his team with the deeper things in his life. His goal was to be emotionally vulnerable in front of the team, and in the last sees in Thailand, and I truly believe that his relationships throughout the rest of his life will be dealer for all the growth having taken place.
Alison came on the Race new to the squad and new to international missions. She had never really shared the gospel before, nor her testimony. Over the past few months, I have watched her become confident in her identity as a daughter of Christ, able to comfortably share the gospel and her testimony. She has grown into a vessel of
love and joy, developing amazing relationships with the locals of each country we visit. Her personal knowledge of the joy of the Lord continues to amaze me. Unsure of biblical knowledge at the beginning of the Race, she is a person dedicated to studying the Word, memorizing it, and committing it to heart.
Amanda walked onto the Race, also new to F Squad (she was originally in G Squad). She was shy, unsure of her voice, and the value of her opinion. God has transformed her into the greatest accountability partner for the team. When uncomfortable issues needed to be addressed, she made sure that they were, Albeit not at a volume
level, her voice became one of the loudest, most weighty, most important on the team. Her personality opened continuously through the months and her spunk, her joy, and her laughter made so many moments in ministry and daily life memorable for the team.
Deirdre entered in the Race a bold woman, but not directed in her boldness. I saw great passion in her, but that would burst out in all directions. She has matured greatly over the past few months, coming into a place of being a mighty prayer warrior. She became focused and directed in her boldness, learning to become quicker to love and to listen. She has grown into the quality of zealous love that God has for his children. God has also grown and refined her into a more humble woman, less offendable, and quicker to forgive, quicker to accept constructive feedback. She is, and will continue to be, a totally different person that who started this journey.
Ga'Nene came onto the race unsure of the team dynamics, unsure of her place in the group. But as ministry placed us in challenging situations, God poured out great wisdom through her. She was a mature woman, very aware of herself, but she has grown into someone more trusting of others, willing to let community into her heart. This is amazing growth for a fairly private person. She has continued to make us laugh more as days go by, her vibrant personality bringing an energy into the team dynamic. I have loved watching her pursue her passions, make deep relationships with some locally ministry partners.
Jaime came onto the Race unsure of why she was on it. I watched her fight to be more open in her life with the team, a community of people with no previous foundation of friendship. But over the months, she has become a vital member, God has shown his name of "mediator" through her. And truly do I say that she embodies being a peacemaker and is an amazing example of that beatitude. She has grown into a woman of compassion, of servitude, and has been mode by a heart for the broken by the sex and pornography industry, She came onto the
Race, unsure of what God would be calling her to after the Race. And now, blessed by God, she has an amazing ministry vision, and I am thoroughly excited for how God will reconcile his people, and spread
his kingdom through her.
Well, this is team Raging Waters. There is much more that I could have shared, many more stories of the journey that they are on; unfortunately, that chapter has come to a close. We (most of us) are on different teams now, but I encourage you to keep supporting them and following their journeys. Team Raging Waters, I will greatly miss
you and more importantly, I dearly love you all!
