For Da Uplift Peepol;
And in a second (or so it seems) 4 months have gone by and team changes is upon S Squad, probably the last one for the rest of the Race. It is time for me to say goodbye to 4 ladies who have become like sisters to me in their own ways! This is my farewell to them and a time to reflect on our crazy 4 months together!
May, Month 5, Thailand: our first month together as a team found us thrown into literally a different place every week. Our first week was spend with our hosts working in a school and just getting acclimated as a team. Our second week took us to a town that captured our hearts. We were welcomed and loved on by everyone we met and also seemed to have pictures of us taken wherever we were! We saw healings, people come to Jesus, and heard some incredibly moving stories of some of the believers in Nam Song! Our third week brought SQL’s Amanda and Jacob to us as we traveled to yet a different town. Every morning we were in a classroom teaching English and in the afternoons did many different things; cleaning temples, exploring a jungle, painting a wall at a school, etc. It was a very good week to end our time in Thailand.
June, Month 6, Albania: Europe had us STOKED! We left Asia ready to bring on whatever Europe had in store for us and Jacob too! He became a forever member of Team UPlift! It took us about 20 minutes to fall in love with our host, Donna. She had us pray over her community and hand out tracks since she lives in a heavily populated Muslim area. We met her neighbors and friends from church, and met some of the English classes that Donna teaches! We began to pour into the family that Donna has been pouring into for many, many years! We made some amazing relationships with that family! The second and third week of Albania was us running a “Summer English Camp,” (the quotations are because it was not the typical Summer Camp that we think of in America!) It was filled with lots of laughs, great kids, and some very frustrating times. We sadly said goodbye to Katie in the middle of week 2. It left a lot of turbulance that we had to come together as a group of 5 (and Jacob) to rally and unify even more. We left Albania with some tears, but knew Donna would be in our lives forever.
July, Month 7, Macedonia: Our second country in Europe brought our “littles,” Renata and Abby to us! “5 strong,” became 7 strong in Macedonia! I was fortunate enough to travel back to Albania to pick them up and another team’s “little,” Zach with Malia from my squad! They came in full of excitement and not fully sure what to expect! They brought us challenges and new energy! We also gained some amazing Macedonian brothers who brought much wisdom, laughter, and amazing testimonies that we were able to share with the world. We made some forever friends in Macedonia and loved every second of it! We met incredible church members who loved us as their own and were all able to share testimonies, sermons, and songs to the congregation! We had to fight for each other in Macedonia and came together to move to our final European country (well final country) as a team!
August, Month 8, Bulgaria: Bulgaria came at us with the wonderful opportunity to work with Team Warriors! We were excited to be around others, but a little sad we would never get the chance to be our team of”5 strong.” Little did we know, that the last week would be “5-strong,” an amazing way to end our time as a team! Our first 2 1/2 weeks had us work with some fabulous people at a gigantic property to cook and clean for a church camp, and then just making it look good after they left! We were in “Wife Training,” for sure and got to clean the town’s library, clean windows at a nursing home, and then perform 2 dances and a skit at the library and again at the nursing home! We had an adventure day to remember filled with sunflowers, a cave, and a “Ren Faire!” We were sad to leave Dobromerika; however, were pleasantly surprised with the work that Mission Possible had for us in Sofia! We packed and prayed over many baby and children’s boxes. We even got to deliver some of the boxes to 2 Roma Gypsy communities; a favorite day of the Race for ALL of us! We ended as a team very solid, strong, and united, which was awesome from all of the challenges that we faced!
Thank you to ALL of you for the impact you have all had on my life. I will forever cherish our time as Team Uplift!
Dear Mikayla,
Thank you for helping me find my inner child again. The joy you radiate is contagious and you can brighten anyone’s day with your youthfulness! Thank you for giving me challenges to help me improve! Thank you for being so excited about “my storm,” and being there for every step of it! Thank you for being a fellow great “big,” for our “littles,” and bestowing all of your wisdom into them! Thanks for all of our adventures in Tirana and always being willing to run errands with me. I enjoyed our little conversations wherever we seemed to be! Thank you for being a sister and helping me appreciate being outdoorsy more through your passion for anything to do with being outside. Thanks for letting me join your tent party in Albania and for setting up my hammock in Bulgaria! I loved meeting any stray (or pet) dog with you! Thank you for making so many memories with me that I will remember forever! Can’t wait to visit you in Montana when we get home! Love you lady!
Dear AnnaGrace (AG),
Words cannot describe how thankful I am that we got to live alongside of each other for 4 months. You always know exactly what to say in any situation, are an amazing listener, and bestow wisdom that God has blessed you with well beyond your years! Thank you for being vulnerable and always letting me know what was going on in your life. Thank you for challenging me, cheering me on, and praying for me all throughout the storm. You’ve been a prayer warrior on my side since the beginning and for that I am forever grateful! I loved every single one of our conversations! I wish we would have had more because each one was so uplifting and encouraging. I will miss your calligraphy notes and your laughter. You are going to be such a blessing to your next team with all you have to offer! Love you so much lady and can’t wait to hear what God is continuing to do in your life while in Africa and beyond the Race! Can’t wait to visit you again in Texas (or wherever you end up and meet MiMi!)
Dear Saraya,
I am so thankful that God placed me on your team! I would not have made it through that first week in Albania without you and your listening ears. You carry such influence into whatever community you are in. I pray that you continue to lean on God so that He can continue to use your influence for His glory and honor! You are an extremely loving, caring, servant-hearted person who is the greatest friend to anyone in need of one! Thank you for all of the laughs. Thank you for the depth you brought to our team! I pray that you continue to pursue the Lord with everything in you! Keep listening for His voice and praying for His wisdom; He’s going to continue to give it to you if you ask for it! I am excited to see everything that happens to you in Africa, everything that God walks you through! You are a blessing to everyone you meet! You have so much to give, it’s inspiring! Can’t wait to hang out in Dallas with you lady! Love you!
Dear Kaiti,
My heart lept a little bit when I first read your name back in Cambodia on that tiny slip of paper that said who was on our team. I have felt drawn to you since Training Camp, knowing an amazing friendship would flourish throughout the Race. I was excited to get to know you even more by living and serving alongside of you! I have absolutely loved watching you grow with everything that God has been walking you through! I am SO proud of you! Keep diving in deep with the hard things because you will bear SO much fruit in the end! You are such a safe person for everyone to come to. Your peaceful grace and wisdom has been such a comfort many times throughout the past 4 months. Thank you for always seeing me and making me feel loved! You are an incredible person to have in life and I cannot wait to see how much you give to your final team! I can’t wait to see what God does in your life in Africa and beyond the Race! I am already looking forward to visiting you in Vegas and then again over the summer at your cabin in Utah! I can’t wait to see where God takes you and know that you will ALWAYS have a friend in me! Love you so much!
DAS IT
