Wrote this blog three days ago. Now I’m back in Cambodia and my girls are on a plane heading back to America.
LADIES OF THE S.E.A. (South East Asia)
We have three days left as a team, three more days to be intentional as a unique community that God put together, the community where we had no idea who these people were three months ago, the community where we now know these people more than some of our friends back home. In five days I will be saying see you later to five amazing young women of God and it is going to be hard. Hard to say see you later to the hard conversations, the push back, the tears, the laughter, the inside jokes; hard to say see you later to the sound of their voices throughout the houses and rooms we have lived.
Donna
I have watched you grow and tapped into areas in your heart that you wanted to hide and run away from. I’ve watch you fight for truth even when it hurt, I’ve watched you cry your eyes out as you process the fact that there is so much more healing to be had with you and God. I’ve watch you learn to step back and allow others to take the front seat. I have enjoyed watching you build friendships from the beginning at training camp and how you continued to fight for those friendships throughout our time here. I have watched you learn to put your own needs aside and place Gods needs first. I have watched you learn to humble yourself in order for God to use you and for others to trust you. I have watched you start the process of becoming the woman that God created for more.
Katherine
My girl!! We both have a similar sense of humor, which usually got us in trouble. Thank you for always being upfront and honest with me during our time together. For calling me out and holding me accountable in areas that I needed and also asked for. Thank you for allowing me into parts of your story and hurt that you are still walking through. Thank you for allowing me to speak truth and life into areas where the enemy places lies. Thank you for allowing growth between you and the Trinity. Thank you for stepping out in boldness and sharing not just your passions but also the things that bring fear. Thank you for leading with vulnerability and always willing to take steps back in order to process the truth. Thank you for being who you are and knowing there is always rooms for growth and love.
Alyse
You starting running and fighting from the time we hit the ground, your openness and vulnerability was something to be admired. I enjoyed walking with you this season as you learned about your worth, your value and as you continue to learn to love the spaces in between that God created in you. Watching you maneuver through the valley of lows trying to figure out the whys and how comes to life and watching you climb the mountains in order to see the views of Gods grace has been such a journey to be a part of. This season for you is just the beginning of healing, believing, trusting and forgiveness. I am excited to see where you and the Trinity go from here and all God has for you and your life.
Elizabeth
You carry such a beautiful and peaceful spirit. Watching you learn that life gets hard and in the hard and uncomfortable moments are where we grow the most, those are the areas where we learn our true character and the areas we have grown and need to grow. Watching you find your voice but also learning how to use it and not need anyone to approve what God is calling you to do or say, has been such a sweet season for me to be a part of. Thank you for allowing me in those spaces where you wanted to give up but you still fought until you saw the fruit and the goodness of the lows. Thank you for stepping out of your comfort zones and doing the things that did not necessarily bring you joy but you know they brought God joy and He called you to this season to do them. Thank you for allowing the team to pour truth and encouragement into who you are and the calling God has on your life.
Stephanie
What a journey it has been to watch you discovery your identity in Jesus. To see you walk into this new light of truth, of love, of acceptance, of self-discovery and hold on to it. I watched as you fought to understand truth and quickly realized that truth is that Jesus loves you and you were created to be loved by God. Truth is that He is pursuing you in every moment of every day, truth is that He loves you even when you are unsure. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this journey, for allowing me to be myself, for holding me accountable in the moment and giving me grace on grace. Thank you for a sweet new perspective on friendship and a new heart for the way I love others and teaching me that it is okay to step back but also knowing when to step in. Thank you for pushing me towards courage and away from comfort. Thank you for the sass and the laughs.
Ladies of the S.E.A. thank you for sticking it out with me, through the ups, downs and hard conversations. Thank you for fighting for me and this team, thank you for fighting for true harmony, true friendship and a true relationship with the Trinity (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit). Thank you for including me and making more than a leader but also a friend. Thank you for the inside jokes, the save space to be vulnerable, the space to word vomit, to cry, to laugh, to be sassy and the space to be myself. Thank you for loving me even when it was hard.
Thank you for being a milestone in my journey with the Lord, for the growth you have helped me through. Each of you have left an impact on my heart and my life and for that I will always be thankful for.
Now go and continue to let your overflow impact your family, friends and everyone you come into contact with!!
