Introducing: Team CLO (Team blog)
You may have noticed that my team’s name on the left side of this page switched from “United TOTS” to “CLO”. Here’s why: back at debrief in January, my team had our meeting with all of leadership and it was very apparent that we needed a fresh start. My team has gone through all the highs and the lows, from losing teammates and sitting in conflict resolutions for hours to laughing hysterically as we burned letters to the guys who hurt us. From the past four months of rollercoasters, we were exhausted. There was always something and always some tension. So we decided to be done with it and leave that in the first half of the race. We left it in the United TOTS. We were praying about what the new name would be, to project what the next half of the race would be for us as a team. While we were back at La Montaña, we were discussing what the options were when my teammate, Sam, thought of the Spanish word “cielo”. Cielo means heavenly, skyward. We knew that this name would be a commitment to seeking the heavenly realm and fighting for kingdom here on earth. Immediately, we were all in agreement on the new name. We created a list for what we were bringing into the new team and what we were leaving in the old. So, it is my pleasure to introduce my new team:
Team Cielo (CLO).
Amy:
Favorite food on the race:
Pad zee ew from Pantip (the mall across the street in Thailand) or Gallo Pinto (rice and beans from Costa Rica
Favorite month and why:
Month 2 because we were at an orphanage that I fell in love. I got to work with kids all day and I found my passion in doing so. This month, however, we are also working with kids at a school and I can already tell that this month will be one of my favorites as well.
Hardest month and why:
Month 3 because Malaysia was just an all-around difficult country for me to press into unscheduled ministry, as well as team stuff going on. The spiritual atmosphere of the country is also a very dark one, so most of my squad was struggling emotionally and spiritually. The living situation had little privacy, so the base in Costa Rica was a welcomed space. Even though it was a hard month, it’s cool to look back and see how much He taught me to press into Him during trying times.
Ashlynn:
Favorite food on the race:
Pad Zee Ew, garlic naan, or gallo pinto (with natilla).
Favorite month and why:
I would say month two. We were in Thailand and that whole month was pure bliss. I really enjoyed our ministry during that month, as well as being able to be in Chiang Mai and spend time in the city.
Hardest month and why:
Month 5. My team was back and forth between La Montaña and the base all month. Please do not get me wrong, my time at La Montaña was very sweet, and I would never change it. However, not being with the squad during that month was difficult. Month 5 was also the month where I had the hardest time with feeling drained, homesick, and dealing with other personal issues.
Brittany:
Favorite food on the race:
Pizza during Costa Rica and ice cream at McDonald’s Thailand
Favorite month on the race:
Fav month 1 and 5 both dope ministry’s
Hardest month on the race:
Least fav right now cause I want to see my mom
Hannah:
Favorite food on the race:
Ice cream
Favorite month on the race and why:
Month one because I like Thailand.
Hardest month on the race and why:
Month five because I don’t see Johnson anymore.
Lilly:
Favorite food on the race:
My favorite food has been Gallo Pinto with a fried egg and Natilla.
Favorite month and why:
My favorite month was definitely month 1. It was a month full of adjustments and learning.
Hardest month and why:
The hardest month was month 5. It was a hard moment for my team as well as a time of us discovering that we were only halfway.
Sam:
Favorite food on the race:
DURIAN FRUIT! Not really, haha, though it wasn’t half bad. Me gusta the food in Lampong, Thailand at that little restaurant on the corner. Now THAT was Thai food (the other food in Thailand….not so much). I have to say the food in Malaysia was my most favorite, however, because of the variety and flavor. I especially liked Ryan’s and miss it terribly….
Favorite month and why: the month spent in Malaysia because I didn’t have a phone or WiFi—literally the best way to grow in intimacy with the Father!
Hardest month and why: hands down, the first month. Adjusting to life outside the states with strangers wasn’t easy! I felt extremely isolated, despite the fact that I was surrounded by people. As such, I continued to isolate myself instead of fixing the problem, and it only became worse. Ministry was hard, Thailand was hot, and homesickness was a real thing.
