In Korea the first 100 days are a big deal.
Sometimes that’s when the relationship goes public, and often that’s when couple rings and other gifts are exchanged.
Suffice it to say that when i saw other team members from my squad posting “100 day this”, and “100 day that”, i got 100 day fever jealousy.
I don’t know if you can relate, but it feels somewhat like when your friend drives up with a new car. Or you find out two of your good friends hung out without telling you.
WHAT?! I’m the one from Korea! I shoulda thought of that….
Ok, so here is my 100 days anniversary with my 5 teammates post.
My loves and fears of all the years…
…
Dear Agua Viva,
you were not what i expected to get. I didn’t put a lot of time into thinking about who i’d be stuck with this year or how it would be to be stuck with them.
I did know that i would grow if i got stuck with people and it’s one of the reasons i wanted to do this world race.
I wanted to get feedback from people who got a chance to know me as a stranger and from those who lived long enough with me to tell the difference between their impression and their knowledge.
I wanted to learn better conflict resolution, and i wanted to learn how to become a better lover of people, and become a person who is easier to live and work with.
Dear Jaivie,
i was so happy you were made our team leader because from the moment i met you i admired you, saw leadership potential, felt seen by you, and wanted to learn from your undivided devotion to the Lord.
you were the person who was the easiest for me.
and you surprised me when you told me i was the hardest for you.
when you challenge me in different areas i feel your sincere descipleship desire. Its powerful.
so far, one of the many things you have taught me is that sometimes the person that is the easiest for me is the person i have to care for the most.
sometimes i didn’t see your needs because you were so busy making sure your need didn’t burden me.
i see you boo.
thanks for continuing to see me even when you don’t feel seen.
You are a challenger.
Dear Cristina,
you always include me in your life.
from the very first you invited me to share your life in very personal ways. I have enjoyed your friendship because you invited me. You were the first to invite me into a real friendship. You have taught me more about letting people be themselves. You have a great desire to help and be involved and yet somehow you know how to allow people to be themselves. I admire the way you forgive people, the way you share your story in an attempt to bring people closer to the Lord, how you listen and encourage people towards healing, and how you let me just be myself.
I feel so comfortable around you.
You are a resolver.
Dear Wendy,
you were my Korean connection. You have a brave sassy side like glitter in the dark; flashing in and out.
i look forward to seeing you in the sunlight.
…
you know how to serve when it’s needed and you see the needs even when no one else does.
youve been teaching me how to persevere in the small and mundane.
you have a deep inner driving stubborn self discipline.
you remind me to be a child. youre teaching me that silence has power. youre teaching me that beauty is an inner quality. youre teaching me that if i want my words to have impact i have to choose when and where to speak.
you are the voice.
Dear Rhi,
you were the first person my heart went out to. i remember at training camp, you shared something and cried, and my heart cried with you.
then somehow, it became very difficult with you. when i prayed God told me you were His gift to me. I laughed.
but i forgot that when you laugh at God He usually does something crazy.
you have invited me into your story more than anyone else.
i love to sit and listen to your story. I am a story lover and i love that you are willing to share yours with me even though i am not always an easy person to get along with.
i cant ever forget our time together Christmas eve…it was so special.
when i think of our time together so far i think of this quote from one of my favorite books, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…”
you are an enthusiastic person! i remember at training camp when you declared your desire to be friends. I’m glad that we became friends.
its always a journey with us, but i am glad to have you with me on this journey.
because of you, i am learning more about Gods heart for people.
you are the treasure.
Dear Grace,
you are so special! I dont know how fully because we actually haven’t had many one on ones together.
but that doesnt mean i dont notice the way you love on us. the way your heart moves to bring peace wherever you can. the way you listen to us all and treat us all like we are important and matter.
sometimes i catch your eye and you smile at me and that is the only time that day someones smiled at me.
i wrote in my journal about how sometimes im not the nicest person and how i know that you out of everyone really know that. how i know you catch all those things no one else sees. but there were several times last month that you went out of your way to be nice to me. like, really nice.
i hope you know the power you carry with your smile.
you know how to care for people.
what have you taught me so far? you have taught me more about what worship looks like and about waiting on the Lord.
its so beautiful. you, dear one, are so beautiful.
i want you to remove all the images you think you see when you look in the mirror, and i want you to hear what im saying.
you are enough. not because youre tall enough, or quiet enough, or peaceful enough.
you make things no one thinks are special, special.
thats how God made you to be.
you are the magnifier.
…
Dear team,
i thank God for you and look forward to continuing to grow with you!
Love me,
the whisper
