Please be kind with my teammates. Take the time to love on them and to get to know them as they are. Remember that even when you may have a difficult time (there will undoubtedly be some) with them to go to them with love and love them as they feel loved.
Jaivie is our fearless, boisterous leader who carries so much of who she is in what she does. And yet she finds herself unsure of who she is, even with all the confidence she exudes. So be sure to give her words of affirmation often and hug her whenever she reaches out her arms. She will guide you fearlessly and challenge you in loving new ways of how you can be more intimate with the Lord. Also pay attention when she says literally–it’s really cute how she says it or when she starts talking like a New Yorker from the Bronx–that is her true self.
Cristina, our dear Mary Poppins and Mother [Lee] (play on mother-ly). Simply give–give her a hug, daily, especially in the mornings with a cup of coffee in hand, if possible, with cream and sugar of course. And in return, even without doing these things, she will give you so much in return: her possessions will become yours, as she gives you freedom to use them; you will also learn so many words of wisdom through her experiences and knowledge; and be ready for the funniest jokes you will ever hear, she believes she can be a comedian. Also keep an ear out for her use of slang words and phrases (like ‘bogee’, ‘on point’ or ‘extra’) she has been learning with great difficulty (from Grace and Jaivie) and practicing their uses.
And there’s Rhi, who has a sweet and kind exuberance for getting to know anybody, literally. She has the ability to talk to strangers for hours (I personally witnessed it on our bus ride from Phnom Phen to Siem Reap) and get to know them and their stories, while excitedly wanting to share hers’. Give her the space and time to simply tell her stories, she has many and just needs a set of listening ears. While we both had the most difficult time as teammates, we learned from each other and gave each other the space to grow and be loved by each other in our own ways. She has grown so much since the beginning and what a pleasure it was to journey with her thus far.
Then there is sweet, amazing Grace, who is the quiet, gentle, peaceful youngster on our team. And yet when she speaks, it’s usually the most thoughtful and powerful words our team has heard. She also gets louder and louder and more passionate when she tells a story, they’re all usually really funny and priceless. Invite her to share these stories, or to go out to coffee (she has opened up to coffee after loving only tea for so long) or to simply go water paint together; in other words simply invite her into your space.
Last but not least there is Carolyn. She is quite literally the voice on our team. While she may use it often, it is so she can know you better and to be able to take your relationship to a deeper level. I ask that you simply listen to her when she talks, because when she does it’s usually after she’s given hours of thought and has spent genuine time with the Lord to deliver it. And learn to trust her in her craziness, from her pensive stares to her animated laughs there is a reason for all of it.
Now I don’t know where God will lead each one of us in this next season on the race, but I pray for grace and for love. That we continue to spur each other on to be more like Christ and be challenged to step out in boldness in whichever way God needs us to.
Praying for guidance and peace as we all go through this new season together. Remember that our God is constant, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!
With love and blessings,
Wendy
[Context for those not on the World Race: Team change is coming and inevitable on the World Race. Our squad is about to go through it in just a few sort days and are unsure who or if there will be a change to each team. I ask that you guys pray for peace in our hearts and minds and that transition into a new season goes smoothly. Thanks guys!]
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On that note… I AM PRACTICALLY FULLY FUNDED (just need $12 more). THANK YOU ALL to those who contributed through prayer and/or financially. It is no joke when I say I could not have done it without your support. THANK YOU!
