While entering my third month on the race I just really wanted to share about my favorite part of the race so far … MY TEAM.
My team started out very rough and very rocky and I think everyone on my team would have agreed with me. We didn’t want to be on an all girls team and we all have such vibrant and loud and different personalities.
I remember sitting at training camp with my team and thinking “well crap… this will be an interesting race”.
And I wasn’t wrong… but in all the best ways.
My team has become my best friends, my roommates, my sisters, and my family. Living with and working with and traveling with and sleeping with and eating with and talking with and relaxing with and doing LITERALLY everything with the same people everyday seriously brings you together.
My team has become each others rocks when we miss home, each other’s shoulder when we feel down, each other’s laughter when we need a laugh, each other’s help when we need something, and each others everything.
Living in community is hard but also the best thing I have ever had to do and it’s all because my team has chosen each other and have chosen to love each other with our whole hearts.
Sami, Samerson, Samantha, Sam, Samantha Ellen:
She is a radiant ball of laugher and joy. That girl can walk into any room and simply breath and the whole room would laugh. She has a presence of joy and love and it radiates to everyone around her. She is funny, witty, caring and compassionate. She is the one person on my team who has changed me the most in the best ways possible. Me and her are so different in many ways and so similar in just as many ways. Our friendship quickly has turned into a sisterhood that only God can ordain. Sam is bold and brave and one of the most courageous and strong people I have ever met. I love Samerson.
Brooke:
Oh my word. Brooke. I don’t know why but seriously me and Brooke have telepathy. I always know what she is thinking and she always knows what I am thinking. We have gotten an awkward massage together, directed a White Water raft together, showered together, cliff jumped together, and been in way more awkward and unintentional situations while being in the race so far. Brooke is someone i can always count on to make me laugh and I love her for that. She is bold and has so much wisdom to spew. She can make a whole room laugh one minute and the next minute be completely serious and spew Jesus knowledge. She is a rad chica.
Keia:
I love keia. Keia is me and I is Keia. We both didn’t bring a tent. We both didn’t bring a lot of things on the race. We both have such similar desires in life. And we are like the same person. Keia is always trying to make other people feel loved and cherished and I love that about her. She is intentional, caring, loving, and passionate about this race and life in general. I love how we work so well together and how I can always know she has my back in any situation I may walk into. Keia is amazing. Keia makes me feel happy. I love Keia.
Emma:
Emma is honest. Emma has an amazing gift of always being honest. She tells the truth no matter if it is super great or not so great and I love that about her. Emma is so outgoing and so loving. She does everything with her whole heart and nothing less. She has been someone who has challenged me to start being more honest about how I feel and I love her for that. She has encouraged me in more ways than one and I am so happy that I get to know her and live with her. She also loves food and making food more than anyone I have ever met and so I am pumped she will get to cook for us this month. Emma is a hoot.
Kendal:
Kendal is a quiet but mighty soul. She is the introvert on our team but her presence is not lost. She is passionate about so many things and she loves to share what she loves with the world. She is a beautiful writer and a passionate worshiper. She is a deep thinker and a giving spirit. I have never met someone so giving and selfless than Kendal. She cares so deeply about our team and I care so deeply about her too.
My team has stretched me and grown me and made me feel so loved.
Yes there has been moments I don’t feel loved and I hit a rough spot with my team… but we also do EVERYTHING together so those moments are bound to happen. When these moments happen it’s all about how you rise and grow from it and I have seen my team continually rise above those rough spots and become even stronger.
My team are my people. My team is my family. My team is my whole heart. I love my team.
I also love my squad of 42. I love the moments I get to travel with and live with my whole squad as a unit. I truly believe God has surrounded me with the best group of people for this season of my life and I am so grateful for that. My squad is rowdy and Jesus loving bunch. I love them all so much.
WOW
****Prayer Requests****
-it is currently a travel day heading to AFRICA so be praying for continued safe travels.
-pray for the ministry I will be doing this month!!
-pray for those on my squad who still aren’t completely funded
-pray for those on my swuad who are feeling homesick and sick in general
-pray for Storyteller Emily as she travels back to America (IM SO SAD)
-pray that I can continue to be fruitful and humble in serving my team as treasurer
-and pray that God will continue to work in and through me and my squad!
FLove you all! Thanks for reading my blog! Stay tuned for a few videos coming out soon and a few blogs soon as well!
P.s I don’t know the wifi situation in Zimbabwe SOOOOOOO I may be MIA for a month potentially. I will keep y’all updated on my journey as best as I can as I enter and transition into life in Africa!
