Back at the start of this crazy journey I had a month long dream with several, at the time strangers. Well throughout the last 10 months I have been able to tell the six people who I dreamt about prior to meeting them. This blog is to inform all of you, back in the states, who those people are.
Catherine Choquette was the first person I was able to tell. God had me tell Catherine in Nicaragua which was month one. Over the last 10 months together she has taught me many things. The main thing she has helped me learn is to open up and become comfortable with people. In other words she has helped me become more vulnerable. While we never spoke once during training camp, she has become one of my closest friends. Even though we are beyond sassy with each other, there is so much love and depth to our friendship that I will always cherish.
Gabby Cabrera was the second person I was able to tell. She, like Catherine, was on my original team Groot. God gave me the green light to tell Gabby while we were in Costa Rica during debrief. That was month two of my journey. What Gabby has taught me is patience and perseverance. At the beginning of the race I tried to get to know Gabby but she literally would run away from me. I knew that God had placed us together for a reason and at the beginning I was disheartened by how she reacted now I understand. God gave me patience to wait until Gabby was ready to start building a friendship and He also gave me the courage to pursue her friendship daily. Letting her know that I will be there for her even if she wasn’t ready.
Ana Bates was the fifth person I was able to tell in Myanmar month nine. When we were in month three in Panama my original team Groot was partnered with another team, Stream. Ana was on Stream. We had a one on one in Panama and I felt like God was telling me to share my testimony with her and how I came to be on the World Race, so I did. What I have learned from Ana is that being gentle is NOT a weakness. In fact, by allowing the gentleness that the Holy Spirit has placed in me to show through is in fact growing me into the woman He wants me to be.
Cassandra Holbrook was the fourth person I was able to tell when we were in Myanmar, month nine. Cassandra became part of my new team, Edge, during team changes at the end of Morocco, month four, as well as Ana and Shelby. I haven’t quiet figured out just yet what I’ve learned from her, however I am with her for the remaining time on the field. She has become a dear friend and is one of the first people I opened up to outside of my original team.
Shelby Gilbert was the third person I was allowed to tell in India, month six. She was also apart of Stream with Ana; who Groot partnered with in Panama and were in the same city in Morocco, Tanger. With our old teams being partnered together twice I was able to form a base friendship with her prior to being placed on a team with her. She is Edge’s team leader. What Shelby is currently teaching me is how to lead from the back. A strong leader DOES NOT need to be out front. She empowers us to voice our thoughts and desires. She also gives us the space to weigh in on decisions that she could make, unlike so many leaders I have had in the past prior to the Race.
Katy Lawson is the final person God showed me back in June 2018. I haven’t been with Katy much during the last 10 months but I get the honor and privilege to team with her in Indonesia, our final month. I told Katy I saw her in my dream when I was is Chiang Mai, Thailand, month ten. While, I have not had much time with her except during our all squad months, debriefs or when she came to India and stayed with Edge she was still able to impact my life. Katy has taught me what it means to truly be real and not allow what others say or think effect my walk with the Lord. To be real and walk boldly in who I have been called to be.
All of these godly women have helped mold me into a different person than when I left Georgia 10 months ago. Each of them have a special place in my heart. I am forever grateful that God showed me each one of these women prior to meeting them at launch. Yes, it was extremely difficult to wait on God’s timing and not tell each of them right when I first got to know them, even though I wanted to. I have formed lasting friendships and memories with each person.
