To my first team on the World Race.
To the sisters who called me out and called me higher.
To the girls I shared rooms, spoons and clothes with.
To the women who saw say the messy, the broken and the imperfections and choose to love me anyways.
…
I love you.
I’ll miss you, I’ll miss us.
…
That’s right folks, it’s team change time. In a few days, at debrief between Month 4 Vietnam and Month 5 Cambodia I’ll team up with a whole new ragtag group.
Before we part ways, this last month I made a video for each of them.
Sharonne
Thank you for your questions that dig deeper and for your concern with my travel day eating habits. (I don’t really eat much on travel days but I can always count on Sharonne to notice and insist I eat a little more) Thank you for galloping in fields in Ukraine, for geeking out with me and for holding me accountable. I appreciate the ways you’ve grown in being authentically you around the Shalomies. (also thank you for getting your hair cut with me) (also also thank you for introducing us to Quirkle and “The Abigail”)
Europe Summary (Sharonne)
Kat
Your leadership and humility astound me. I admire you a lot. I appreciate the ways you love. I’m grateful for you waiting for like 2 hours with me for the Bom Bao guy in Vietnam. I see the ways you see people and it encourages me to keep my eyes more open to the humanity in the people around me. Thank you for being such an incredible integrity filled vulnerable Team Leader.
Top 5 Moments of the World Race (so far)
Summer
I remember forever ago at Training Camp sitting next to you in the van from the airport when it started scraping the roof of the parking garage. Wow that feels like forever ago. I so appreciate your realness about where your at and your vulnerability about where you’ve been. It’s no wonder they picked someone so beautiful, with also a beautiful heart, to be the Beauty from Ashes Coordinator. It has been an honor to get the front seat to the ways the Lord is growing you.
24 Hours with Summer
Betzaida
La cosa que yo aprecio más de ti es tu personalidad. Siempre eres autentica a ti misma. También tu humor es lo mejor. Recuerdo tu canción para los niños en Ukrainia y como a toda la gente les gustaron tu movimientos. Me desafías a comunicar en más maneras creativas y has intentado escuchar no solo las palabras de una persona pero el lenguaje corporal también. Gracias por su paciencia cuando no entiendo y su amistad. (Also thank you for checking my grammar and spelling ‘cause your girl is a lil’ rusty)
Operation: Surprise Betzaida
Nicole
You might be a Shalom Sister if… Nicole has encouraged you towards being more decisive. I appreciate you, your voice, your boldness to use what the Lord has given you for His Kingdom. My favorite times with you were when we hung out with Dani in Bulgarian. Some of my favorite conversations were riding the bus together and the conversations we would have about everything and anything. (And how we were both aware of similar things in our surroundings and had backup plans if things went awry… like the time we got locked out and jumped the 10 ft fence) I love the delight you find in the elderly, in bulldogs and golden retrievers and in a good cup of coffee.
20 Facts About Nicole
Taylor
My first roommate on the Race. You’re ability to find humor and fun in just about any moment astounds me. You draw others to you in a nearly magnetic way. I have learned a lot from the ways you love people well and give your attention so intentionally. Thanks for letting me use your footage (and sometimes even your camera) and for helping me see new ways to capture the story in the world around me. I loved rooming together in Ukraine and our antics with Hope and when we passed notes in Bulgaria when our schedule didn’t line up in the slightest. (Also if you wanna switch seats on our next flight so you can be by your home girl Caroline, I got you any day!)
Europe Summary (Taylor)
I’ve been incredibly blessed to have these women in my life these past four months. Thank you Jesus for such a top notch first team. ??
Love by Him and by them,
Caitlyn Buell
