This blog is about one of my racers whom I like to call McNatt (her last name)!
This month, we as a squad, are drawing one of our teammates name from a hat and writing a blog about them. Emilie is a part of the team that I’m with this month and I drew her name last week. I’m writing this to her supporters, friends, and family, but also to my supporters, friends, and family, so that each of you can read how stunning of a person she really is!
I was with Emilie’s team month three of the Race, so it’s been six months since I’ve been with her last, and I have loved every minute of this month with her. Now of course I’ve seen her and had conversations with her during travel days and debriefs, but there’s nothing like spending time doing day to day life with someone for a month.
If you know Emilie, you know that she is bold, fierce, joyful, servant-hearted, obedient, and intentional, to only name a few. I’ve gotten the privilege of watching her step into a team leader position for the first time this month, and from the words I used to describe her in the previous sentence, I’m sure you can imagine what an incredible leader she is. This girl is a natural leader and she carries a lot of influence. She is full of grace, kindness, and patience towards others. She is also hilarious and brings so much fun and laughter to the room. She is go with the flow, in the very best way, but not afraid to be assertive and take initiative.
I have enjoyed walking alongside of her and getting a front row seat at watching the Lord change and transform her to look more like Jesus. And He has done just that! This woman is forever changed! She knows WHO she is and WHOSE she is! She is FREE. She makes time to seek and sit with her Father. That’s how she starts her day, Bible open, reading the Word of God, with a cup of coffee of course. A few of the things Emilie and I have in common: non-negotiable time with Father every morning and coffee… A LOT of coffee! : ) I can always count on her to be willing to make a pot of coffee at literally any time of day, which I’m eternally grateful for. But that’s why she’s coming home different and changed then when she left the USA ten months ago, because she has made spending time with the Father a priority in her everyday life. Ask her about her Jesus times when she gets home in a month! The Lord has spoken, shown, revealed, and taught her SO many incredibly powerful revelations during this season of being on the Race.
I’ve been inspired and encouraged by the way she lives her life so many times this month. From the way she lives selflessly, to the way she willingly serves those around her even when she’s tired or doesn’t feel like it, to the way she intentionally seeks people out to get to know their heart, to the way she loves people really hard and well, to the way she releases the things she can’t control to the Father, to the way she seeks the Lord in situations and circumstances, to the way she yields to Holy Spirit’s voice, to the way she prefers others above herself, to the way she chooses joy and a positive attitude even when it would be easier not to, to the way she does things that scare her with confidence and faith in her Father, to the way she chose me and invited me, as her squad leader, into her team and into her life.
I am so thankful to have been able to meet and get to know Emilie over the course of this last year. She is truly an amazing and stunning human being. I have sat back many times, just this month alone, and said to myself, “Wow, I really love Emilie and who God has created her to be so much.” It makes my heart swell with true joy having had the opportunity to do life with her. She is a bundle of all things encouraging, fun, easy going, gentle, and lovely.
So yeah, McNatt, if you’re reading this blog, just know that I LOVE YOU SO BIG!
– Mads
