Tori,
Thanks for sharing your love for sun and for showing me how easy it can be to connect with any human being. Thank you also for seeing everyone as they wish to be seen, never imposing anybody to be anything the world may think they should to be. Your genuine love and care for people at their core has brought out so many laughs and smiles.
You are also someone who is able to see things as they are and you also have the bold voice to say it. Your honesty is always needed, so please don’t ever be afraid to speak it. From you I learned how to be a voice to the voiceless. You have so much life to give and so much more to say, so keep being you! I’m excited to see how you will continue to grow in your relationship with the Lord and where else in the world He will take you. Keep trusting in Him!
P.S. Keep on WINE-ing (maybe after Ethiopia though)
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Jaclyn,
Ohhh miss Jaclyn, where do I even begin…?
Huh, I guess I’ll start by saying, thanks for being a friend. It has been so cool to do life with you (I’m going to use all the WR/Christianese terms here, just for you :)), especially since we started this thing as acquaintances/friends but not really friends. Your friendship is something I don’t take lightly! Thanks for choosing friendship even when it was difficult for you to- I know I’ve definitely appreciated it. You’re growing so much in the relationships you choose to invest in, so keep going! Keep trusting in people even when it seems tough. You’re a fighter, remember that.
Also, thanks for teaching me how easy it can actually be to go to God, especially in the messiness of my emotions and imperfections. I’ve learned so much on how to simply be honest with Him. Even in your prayers, you talk to Him like a friend, which says something about you knowing how relationships work. Even when people or even God may not be the most responsive in the moment, you don’t ever give up. Thanks for showing me what it means to fight for people, especially our team and most of all for God.
P.S You’re not a cow or a dog, so please try to remember that you’re a human being. Maybe you should read out an identity statement because I know you love them.
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Carolyn,
Wow what a long/fun/crazy 8 months it has been for the both of us, haha.
Thanks for teaching me how impactful it can be to know the bible by heart, front to back. Thank you for trying even when you wanted to give up. Thanks for extending grace even to me when I don’t think you wanted to. While we had our many moments, we still somehow chose each other trusting God was with us through it all. Thanks for continually trusting Him and me
Your words carry so much power, so keep on saying them, especially when it comes to sharing your struggles/your raw self. But as you already know, be careful/mindful of your audience because your words do have power. That doesn’t mean don’t be yourself though (please don’t take it the wrong way)! Thanks for everything!
P.S Where are we going to find Asian food in Africa?!
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Jenny,
The All-Star chef of our team- thanks for all the delicious meals you made so lovingly and willingly for our team! Your new team will definitely enjoy your beautiful gift as much as we did. Heck, I can’t wait to line up at the restaurant you’ll own one day!
Oh dearest twin, the joy you exclude is contagious so don’t ever stop sharing it. But don’t let that be the only thing you show. You are worth getting to know, so keep sharing all of it- your sadness, what you may be angry about and your struggles. There is so much freedom in laying it all out, as I have been learning too.
Thanks for all the laughs, kisses (learning to be thankful for that, though I scream as you do it) and walks. I can’t wait to see where God will take you next, miss missionary!
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Cristina,
My Mary-Poppins-mom for life. I’m so lucky and grateful to have been on a team with you twice! Though on our first team we were not very close, I’m so grateful to have had another chance to be on a team with you. Your wise words, sometimes-funny humor and loving joy have brought me so much lift and life to me. From you, I continually learned what it means to live, breathe and love as a Christian woman. You truly are a Proverbs 31 woman, and your actions and words testify to the woman God has created us to be.
Beyond what my words can say, THANK YOU! Thank you for being a shoulder to cry on, as you kindly walked with me along the streets of Romania and Bulgaria during my very trying/difficult moments. Thank you for running off to be with me, even when you had to run out in your house slippers that gave you a blister. Your actions and the ways you loved on me went hand in hand with the words of hope and love you also poured out into the team and I.
Above all else, it has been such an honor and pleasure to see you come to life in your home country of Romania and to see how God has worked out your purpose in the community of Draganesti-Olt/Craiova.
P.S Here’s to many fun stories and adventures with Jamie 😉
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And just like that our time as a team has come to a close.
Thanks Groovy Crew for letting me be your captain. Thanks for following my lead even when it wasn’t easy or even when I was unsure of how to lead. Even though we went through some choppy waters, thanks for fighting for our crew, we were each worth the fight. As we leave this adventure as a crew, I hope we’re able to leave with growth, more love for others and a few memorable moments.
And it is now, with a pleasure I am able to say, “We have arrived at our destination. Thank you for riding along with Groovy Crew.”
