At the end of month 6 our whole squad met up for a week for debrief. A time to talk about how the Lord worked in our lives over the last 2 months and rest before moving on to the next country. This debrief however, was different from the others, at this debrief our team was told that we are being disbanned, not because we didn’t work well together as a team, but because of the shifts that were going on within our squad and the necessity to dissolve a team. This is a farewell to the team that I have lived with and grown with over the last 6 months…..
Over pillow talk the other morning Lauren and I were talking about how we felt about the change and the Lord gave me Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silent,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
Together over the past 6 months our team has done all of these things. There have been times of war but also peace, we have had things die in us and things birthed in us, we have spoken and kept silent, we have wept but most of all have had laughter, we have mourned and we have most definitely danced our butts off, we have gained and lost things, we have planted and we have harvested, we have had times of hate, but most importantly we have learned to love each other.
This team has been amazing, and such a huge part of my growth this past 6 months. We have called each other to higher places, learned more about patience and grace. Have been raw and real with each other, and have learned a lot through living together. We have become the definition of community. And so here is a farewell to the people that have become family to me.
To Michael: Thank you for being the leader that our team needed. Thank you for your patience, thank you for your strength. Thank you for your humour and for always making me laugh. Thank you for your unapologetic honesty, and for building me up and encouraging me. Thank you for pushing me into the hard places that were where I experienced the most growth. Thank you for always encouraging me to use my voice. Thank you for your songbird whistling and constant singing that always makes me feel so at home and reminds me of my younger brother. Thank you for your constant joy, and for always being yourself. Thank you for being my brother.
To Joey: Thank you for always making me feel loved. Thank you for speaking truth into me on a regular basis. Thank you for knowing who you are and always accepting me for who I am without judgement or condemnation. Thank you for your amazing sense of humour. Thank you for your daily hugs. Thank you for your wisdom, and for always sharing your perspective. Thank you for always knowing what I am feeling, sometimes even before I do. Thank you for your patience, and for being such a solid man of grace. Thank you for being down for adventure, and for always taking me to places that you know I will love. Thank you for always challenging me, and pushing me into growth. Thank you for being such a good listener. Thank you for being my brother.
To Heather: Thank you for being such a strong woman, and for sharing your passions with me. Thank you for loving me so well, and pushing me to be more each and every day. Thank you for your perspective, and for always standing up for what you believe in. Thank you for stepping out in faith each and every single day. Thank you for the deep conversations, and for always pushing into the vulnerable things that are so hard for you to bring up, but always bring growth. Thank you for being a sister to me.
To Kirsten: Thank you for loving me even when I was unlovable. Thank you for pursuing me when I wasn’t worth pursuing. Thank you for your vulnerability, and for always stepping out. Thank you for always pursuing the heart of Jesus before all else. Thank you for your sense of humour, which is a one of a kind. Thank you for always sharing your camera with me. Thank you for being willing to step into the awkward places that always bring the most growth. Thank you for your gentle heart, and for bringing a new perspective to the team. Thank you for being my sister.
To Lauren: Thank you for always being yourself. Thank you for the laughter that you bring to my life on a daily basis. Thank you for your attempts at teaching me how to dance. Thank you for using your voice, and speaking truth in those hard places when noone else wants to. Thank you for your generosity, and for always sharing your chocolate and treats with me. Thank you for always thinking about me, and encouraging me on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing your heart with me. Thank you for the hugs and cuddles. Thank you for the depth that we have, and also for the shallowness. Thank you for always laughing and giggling with me. Thank you for always being willing to talk about anything at any time. Thank you for being my sister.
I love each and every one of you. And I pray that God blesses you in this new season that He has set out for you.
Kylie Grace xx
