A few days ago we found out that for this coming month, in Zambia, the men and women will be split up to allow for a “manistry” month. This means an end to my sweet team, Aliento de Vida (translated to “Breath of life” from Spanish). Since I haven’t written a blog about them yet, I decided that maybe I should considering this is our last week together (better late than never, right?).
Dear Emily,
Thank you for letting me vent (daily, I might add), helping me understand what it’s like to be comfortable in your own skin, and for empowering me to be a true daughter of the Lord. You make me belly laugh at least once an hour with your practice to become a yo — yo master, facial expressions, or “small” side comments, like yelling “YEET” off of a mountaintop. Thank you for showing me the truth of God’s love — that it is truly patient and kind, that it is not irritable or resentful. You are so genuinely good, you are so deeply loved.
Dear Bo,
As I’m writing this I’m genuinely trying to think of something super intentional to say but all I can think of is the “Break Every Chain” by Tasha Cobbs imitation you do and it’s making me laugh so hard. Even though we’re opposites according to Meyers-Briggs, we’ve been a team from the beginning and I’ve been so incredibly blessed by that. Thank you for striving for the Lord every single day and bringing the team with you. You don’t complain, you do nothing out of haste but rather understanding, you do what the Lord has asked of you and I truly believe that you always will. Your lack of need for worldly gratification and validation is something very few people have, and it inspires me to be the same. Thank you for being you.
Dear Lindsay,
What would I do without you? Lindsay, you are like a perpetual vacuum behind me, picking up my slack, shooting back out things that aren’t meant to be there, that I still need. You truly keep me on the straight and narrow every single day. You’ve taught me what graceful patience with the Lord looks like every single day. You’ve taught me that to know Christ, you must know His written word first. You’ve taught me that there’s always a way to better a meal, whether it’s with bananas or peanut butter or a side of oatmeal or baked beans. You are a source of strength for me and there are no words to describe how grateful I am.
Dear Jackson,
I would just like to thank you for being unapologetically who you are, but more importantly for not only defending me from spiders, but also screaming with me while running as far as possible away when one is on the loose. Never have I met someone who is quite as terrified as me of them. You’ve taught me that the world’s box, made to change you for what it wants you to be, isn’t actually what the Lord has for you. You’ve taught me to never let the people around you change you. I love the way you laugh in times of utter chaos and get unnecessarily mad about “dabbing.” You’ve saved me from getting hit by a car or two, stepping in cow poop on multiple occasions, nearly falling down a mountain in a rain storm in pitch black, a rat, and of course, as I said before, the spiders. You’re caring, you’re strong, you’re seen.
Dear Rodrigo,
I remember even from the beginning of training camp to actually being on The Race and now living so closely, you’ve made me laugh ridiculously hard every step of the way. You are slow to anger but quick to provide love and joy. I’ll miss dancing on the way home from ministry to “I’m the one,” hearing about one of three hundred life plans, doing Bill Cosby impressions a little too often, listening to your Lubbock stories, and – more seriously – seeing you grow daily. I think I speak for the entire team when I say that your growth has been inspirational and pushed us to actually dig into the Word and spiritual gifts more than we ever would individually.
Dear Aliento de Vida,
Who would’ve thought at the very beginning of training camp 5 months ago that a random group of 18 year olds, beautifully in over our heads, would end up singing “My Father’s House” in front of 300 Indians at a wedding for people we didn’t know. Who would’ve thought at training camp during the hike, that we’d actually end up hiking the Himalayas, watching the immaculate sunrise side by side. Who would’ve thought at the beginning of training camp, when we barely had two words to say to each other, that we’d be sitting around a table in Zim, silent not because of awkwardness but rather because we’re all laughing so hard no one can speak. I definitely did not think at training camp that I would ever get separation anxiety because I haven’t seen half of my team in barely a day.
Although the girls and guys will still be grouped together, it will never be the same. You guys taught me what joy in the Lord truly is, how to be less serious but more steadfast. Thank you for accepting me at every stage I’ve been at during these last three months, ring worm and all.
The Lord had such a large hand in creating this team and putting all 6 of us exactly where we needed to be, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Love,
Stella
P.S. enjoy some pics from the last 3 months 🙂
