The time has come for all of you to
meet my team. I am so excited to take this journey with these
beautiful women, but before I get ahead of myself I want to backtrack
a little bit.
To be honest, I was really nervous
about this team at first. See, all of my life I feel like I have
struggled to find where I truly belong. I have spent years stifling
my voice. This year, the Lord is calling me to step out of the
shadows and to find my voice.
The team I am on is full of beautiful,
confident (whether they are aware of it or not), outgoing women. As
we sat in a circle with a couple of our trainers, talking about
whether or not we felt this team would work, I nervously bit my lip.
After a few minutes of pained silence, I spoke out. I voiced my
concerns that I would struggle to find my voice on this team. We
talked for a few more minutes and then we were left to wait. Thoughts
swirled around in my head and I was honestly wondering what I would
do if this was going to be my team for the race. Throughout the
course of the day we waited and waited, not knowing for sure when we
would find out who was on our team. That same day, early afternoon,
our squad was told to head to our squad locations. It was there that
the teams were announced.
Who was on my team, you ask? The same 6
women that I had sat around the table with that very morning. But
something funny happened as my team was announced. There was a slight
second of fear, immediately replaced with an overwhelming sense of
peace. In that moment, I knew that this team would be my family for
the next year. And I was so incredibly excited.
As I’ve had more time to process
everything that went on this past week, I’ve been able to see what
some of my hesitation was. These 6 women that I am going to walk
alongside for the next year walk in confidence. Some of them are
aware of this confidence, some are less aware, but nonetheless, it’s
there. This is an area where I have always struggled and it sometimes
intimidates me. However, I know that this is something that the Lord
will work on this year and He has chosen these 6 women to walk
alongside of me in this process. I feel so honored and blessed to be
able to call them my sisters, to learn from them, and to serve them
in this next year.
After, our teams were announced, we
were told to go out and make a memory together. As we were getting
ready, some of us began to joke (so I thought) about the idea of
getting a tattoo together. Once we were ready, we set out to find a
place to eat, all the while still talking about tattoos. As the
evening went on, the idea of tattoos continued to come up. Our
leader, Chelsey drew out a heart with an 11 in it, left open (that
part is important) at the bottom. The open part signifies being open
to everything the Lord will do in us and through us this year. By the
end of dinner, it was decided… we were getting tattoos together.
I will spare you the details of how we
had to go to three tattoo shops before we found the tattoo shop that
had enough time and tattoo artists to do tattoos for all seven of us.
But I will tell you that each shop we were in directed us to a shop
with a man named Turtle and I know without a doubt we were meant to
meet Turtle and his friends that night.
As we got to Turtle’s shop, we were
beginning to think we had run out of time and we knew there was no
way all of us would be getting tattoos that night. But just our luck,
there was more than one tattoo artist available and they said they
could get us in.
Once we signed the papers and
everything was set up, we split up. Me and Lindy went with Turtle and
the rest of our team went to the other side of the shop. Lindy went
first and I sat beside her, and I cannot tell you how beautifully the
love of Christ poured through her as we talked to Turtle and some
other men that were in the shop. She was able to talk about what a
relationship with Christ looks like and the forgiveness that He
offers. Yet again, proving that this tattoo shop was where we were
supposed to be that night.
Not only were we able to create a
memory together, but we were able to kick off our Race a little
early. That night, I was able to get a taste of what the Race will
look like for my team. Taking the love of Christ to the most unlikely
places, no matter what it looks like.
It can look like playing with orphans
in the street. Or holding the hand of a prostitute.
It can look like praying over the sick.
Or seeing demons flee.
Or it can look like spending time with
a tattoo artist named Turtle and his friends.
Yes, this tattoo is about an incredible
11-month journey my team is about to take off on. Yes, it is about
constantly being open to the new experiences and freedoms that Jesus
has in store for us. Yes, it is about always being open to pouring
out the love of Christ onto every single beautiful person we
encounter.
But for me, it is about so much more.
This tattoo is a sign of commitment to my team. I have no doubt that
this team is exactly where the Lord wants me to be and I am committed
to loving them and serving them well over the next several months. I
know there will be days when it is hard (let’s face it, genuine
community can be messy) but I know deep in my heart that the Lord
will teach me how to fight for this team… and I cannot wait!
All of that to say…. Meet Team
Desiderio Domini (which is Latin for, I dearly long to be with my
Lord):
Chelsey: Our fearless leader. I have
already seen her serve our team well, leading with incredible
humility. She has such a fun-loving nature about her, but there is
also a sweet and gentle side to her too. Our team is blessed to call
her our leader.
Jenny: This girl has been raw and real
with us and I appreciate her vulnerability with us. I am excited to
grow in this area and I know the Lord will use her in amazing ways in
my life.
Saige: This sweet girl is so genuine in
the way she cares for people. I have already felt so loved and valued
by her, and I am incredibly grateful for that. There is power in the
words she speaks, and I know that the Lord will use this well on the
Race.
Emily K: I didn’t get to know Emily
super well at training camp, but from what I know there is incredible
power in her story. I am so excited to see her come into that in the
next year. I cannot wait to see the way the Lord calls her into the
strength, beauty, and confidence that He provides.
Leah: Me and Leah got to spend quite a
bit of time together at training camp (and in the airport after TC).
She has a nurturing and tenderhearted side to her that allows her to
love people well. Leah has learned how to walk in confidence with the
Lord and I’m so excited for that to rub off on me this year.
Lindy: As stated before, this girl
allows the love of Christ to absolutely pour through her. She has a
goofy personality that makes her so fun to be around. The joy she has
is absolutely contagious and I cannot wait to see the memories we
create in this coming year.
