I recently got back from my 10 days of training camp in Georgia, and all I can say is man was it a lot. It was a lot of good times, a lot of hard times, and a lot of spiritual growth. I learned so much and was able to worship my heart out alongside over 200 of my fellow world-racers. We did a lot of crazy things during those 10 days including eating foods we could be eating in other countries (there was a lot of rice and beans involved), using bucket showers, hiking in 100 degree weather, and sitting through many sessions about how to bring the Kingdom to the nations. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it, and I must say it was absolutely incredible. God spoke to me and my squad of 35 people in so many crazy ways and I am so excited to see what else He has in store for us! Here’s a pic of my squad 🙂
Also during training camp, we were introduced to our individual teams of 6-7 people that we will be splitting off with to do ministry together when we go out on the field to each of the countries. Sometime in those 10 days we were asked to come up with a team name and Bible verse; at first my team couldn’t really think of anything that seemed to fit, but later in the week we decided to sit in a circle and simply open our hearts to let God tell us how He saw our team. Through this listening prayer, we were able to hear God tell us many things He saw in us. We heard things such as courageous, bold and limitless, but we also heard things like vulnerable and broken-hearted. One image that one of my teammates got during this experience that really stuck out to my team was that of a vase. This vase was one with many cracks and holes, and there was never-ending water that was being poured into it which then would flow out of the cracks and holes. We came to see this vase as representing us and the water as representing God. We are cracked and imperfect, but God fills us with His courage and boldness and we are made unstoppable in even our weaknesses. Then in searching for a verse we came across 2 Corinthians 12:10 which says,
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,
in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
This verse so perfectly fit what God was telling us. We may be broken and weak, but God takes these weaknesses and shines through them even more than any other part of us. He takes what we may see as being the worst parts of ourselves and uses these areas to glorify Himself and the redemption and power He can bring. We are vessels of His strength, and what better way for His unfathomable strength to show then through our weakest points? Thus our team name became Team Vessel.
Now I bet you want to meet this wonderful group of people I get to call family for the next year and beyond! Here’s a picture of all 7 of us!
(From left to right: Connor, Brooklyn, Me, Joel, Jenna, Lexi, and Zac)
In order to help you get to know them a little bit better I asked them each a series of questions:
1) Their hometown
2) 3 words they would use to describe themselves
3) What they’re most looking forward to on the race
4) What they’re going to miss the most while on the race
5) Their favorite hobby
6) Their favorite movie
7) Their favorite Bible verse
Here are their answers!
Connor
Home: Menasha, Wisconsin
3 words: Introvert, reliable, and hardworker
Most looking forward to: “Setting my life in the direction that leads me closer to God.”
Going to miss: His brothers, and… cheese
Favorite hobby: Camping and wrestling
Favorite movie: The Usual Suspect
Favorite Bible verse: 2 Corinthians 12:10 (our team verse) “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Brooklyn
Home: Champagne, Illinois
3 words: Authentic, caring, and sarcastic
Most looking forward to: “Going to Ukraine because it’s where I was born”
Going to miss: Family and comforts of home
Favorite hobby: Soccer
Favorite movie: The Lighthouse of the Orcas
Favorite Bible verse: Matthew 13:44 – “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
Joel
Home: Castle Rock, Colorado
3 words: Energetic, empathetic, and emotional
Most looking forward to: “Being able to live with abandon in new ways as well as receiving guidance for the next season of my life.”
Going to miss: Loved ones in Colorado
Favorite hobby: Writing
Favorite Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jenna
Home: Boone, Iowa
3 words: Adventurous, joyful, and compassionate
Most looking forward to: “Being able to serve God’s people and see His creation.”
Going to miss: Her nieces
Favorite hobby: Painting and playing ukelele
Favorite movie: The Proposal
Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 139: 13-14 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Lexi
Home: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
3 words: Creative, sassy, funny
Most looking forward to: “Being Jesus’ hands and feet and bringing His love everywhere.”
Going to miss: Friends, family, and cheese
Favorite hobby: Drawing
Favorite movie: The Pirates of the Caribbean movies
Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 118:6 – “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Zac
Home: Grew up in SW Chicago
3 words: Confident, eccentric, and emotional
Most looking forward to: “Being able to share the Gospel in Spanish in Chile and Peru.”
Going to miss: Working toilets
Favorite hobby: Basketball
Favorite movie: The Notebook
Favorite Bible verse: Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
So now you’ve met the team! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post and please subscribe if you want to see any future posts! I appreciate each and every one of you so much!
