We may be a small squad but we are still pretty awesome and we won squad wars so we are obviously the best (duh). Anyway, I’m going to start with the boys- all 4 of them- or, as they like to be called, the Brosciples.
They are wonderful men of God and they put up with all of us ladies very well. They are great leaders and teachers and constantly strive to better one another- but they always find time to goof around, “roast” one another as Zachery says and “make gains.” We love our WHY squad men. Let’s meet them:
Chase is King of the fidget spinner. He is the youngest member of our squad and he has an infectious spirit of child-like faith. He pushes us to not take ourselves too seriously all the time. He has a heart for missions and you just can’t look at Chase and not smile.
David is full of biblical knowledge and is always interested in learning more. He is naturally inclined to serve and care for others and always puts them before himself. He isn’t intimidated by all the girls (he was even initiated into the sister stars at the WHY squad campout) and he can do handstand push-ups so he’s pretty cool.
Reece is passionate about walking with Jesus and is always ready to have a theological conversation. He has a boldness that allows him to share his faith fearlessly and crack a few jokes along the way. He’s a southern gentlemen with a big heart.
Zachery is a natural leader and is especially gifted in his ability to lead others in prayer. He is also a good teacher and has a strong protective instinct (except when “roasting” people- he has quite the sense of humor).
Now on to the lovely ladies of WHY squad.
We are definitely the majority on our squad and it has been amazing getting to know the 15 other women I will be serving alongside. Shine on sister stars! Here they are:
Paxtyn is a country girl with a heart for serving women who’ve had tough experiences. She is a cosmetologist by trade but she is also a great listener and friend (and a good dancer). She is hard-working but humble in all that she does.
Allina is a problem solver and has a unique ability to take charge of a task or situation and diffuse conflict before it even happens. She is incredibly self-sufficient and helps to ensure that we get from point A to point B on time- without losing Chase or forgetting to cover our bags.
Monica is one of the most tender-hearted people I’ve ever met and she truly wants to know everyone’s story. She desires to know people on a deeper level and loves them so well. She is so kind and encouraging but she’s a jersey girl at heart and will fight for our squad and every person on it any day.
Mack is someone that you meet and automatically want to be cool like her. She exudes a confidence that comes from her faith in the Lord and it draws people to her. She trusts in the lord even when He sends her challenges that seem impossible. She is one of the strongest women I know.
Please note that both of these mouthpieces broke within 30 minutes of this picture being taken.
Leah (yellow mouthpiece) is a Colorado girl who yearns so deeply for the Lord. She exemplifies the role of a servant leader and wants to improve and grow in every success and failure. She asks difficult questions when needed and doesn’t shy away from anything. She is the team yoga instructor and masseuse as well as captain of the not too successful WHY squad dance troop.
Lyndsee (orange mouthpiece) is one of the funniest members of our squad (Seriously, ask her to tell you about the Mongolian restaurant or the shoe story and you’ll laugh for hours.). But she is also incredibly caring and willing to help anyone through anything. She is obedient to God even when she doesn’t want to be and her courage to follow His boldest promptings testifies to her desire to serve Him above all.
Kat is the unofficial WHY squad hype man and welcoming committee. She is undoubtedly the first person any of us connected with on Facebook after joining this squad and she continues to be a source of energy and excitement. She is gentle and kind but don’t mess with our squad- she will not take it lightly (don’t play her in real-life Mario Kart). She has an incredible heart to serve the Lord and to love people.
Erika is full of life and a helping spirit. She loves working with kids and teaching them how much they are loved by Jesus. She has an inspiring story of faith and perseverance that have made her into the woman of God that I am lucky to work alongside. But don’t challenge her in pterodactyl. You will lose.
Susan is a resourceful, camping, packing, and creative thinking guru. She is incredibly faithful and is undaunted by even the most difficult challenges. She might’ve been the last addition to our squad but we wouldn’t be the same without her. And did I mention she’s a pilot?
Megan is an incredible fighter. We saw it in squad war Mario kart and we see it in the way she prays and fights for her mother’s health every single day. She has everyone’s back and will never abandon our squad. Her faith in the power of prayer is inspiring and she truly allows herself to be still and to listen to God. She truly is small but mighty.
Nichol is someone with an awesome story and a huge passion for Jesus. She always puts others first and I don’t even think she knows she’s so awesome. She’s courageous in her pursuit of the Lord and never does anything halfway.
Madison is that person that you’d never expect to be absolutely hilarious but she is so quick witted with the best one-liners! She is also the only person who can keep a straight face playing pterodactyl. She leads by example rather than words and demonstrates Christ’s love through all of her actions.
Carly is the squad dance champion and a fierce competitor in the game pterodactyl (check out that face). She is the person that you meet and instantly just want to become best friends with because of her positivity and genuine spirit. She is gentle and caring (except when playing pterodactyl) and is always a friendly face (except when she has her dance face on like in the picture) when you need to talk.
Kirsten is full of joy and has a contagious laugh that truly lights up a room. She is quick to act when it comes to helping people because she doesn’t even have to think about it- it is second nature for her. She is a quiet leader and strives to include everyone.
Kenna is full of great ideas (Raul for example) and brings her all to the squad. She took one for the team and basically inhaled flour during our squad wars victory and never complained. She is passionate about working with children and is quick to reassure anyone with a complement when they need reassurance.
And then there’s me (just ignore Paxtyn trying to lick my face- airport night at training camp brings out some pretty interesting shenanigans). I just want to be funny and love Jesus.
I don’t know what I did to deserve to call these people my family for the next 11 months but I have come to love each and every one of them. They have blessed me in so many ways in the last 10 days and if God can form the relationships we have made in just 10 days, I cannot begin to fathom what He can do in 11 months.
Expect big things from WHY squad because winning squad wars is nothing compared to bringing people into the Father’s Kingdom. Can’t wait for the family reunion in August that starts the greatest adventure of our lives!
