Dear Gap D,
Thank you. I love every single person on this squad so much, and each of you have impacted my life more than you know. So thank you. Thanks for the laughter, thanks for the tears. Thanks for the crackhead hours, all the times jumping in the pool fully clothed. Thanks for all the tarantulas we killed. Thanks for the ministry days, the adventure days, the bus rides, and everything in between. Thanks for being there for me during the hard times, and celebrating the good times with me. Thanks for showing me what a true community of believers looks like, and how much that community can change your life for the better. You guys resemble the body of Christ, and I am so grateful for that.
I’ve never felt like I had a strong church community at home. I don’t have a main church I can call home; I went to school in a different city than where I went to youth group, so I always felt left out from everyone I met there. I only had a few good friends who love the Lord as much as I do, and I didn’t realize how much that affected me until now. So thank you for helping me see how important community is, and demonstrating what that should look like.
To the women of Gap D, I love you all. Each and every one of you is a woman of God, and you reflect the Lord’s love in everything you do. You all inspire me, encourage me, and push me. If even one of you wasn’t on this squad, this experience would’ve been completely different. Thank you for showing me what true sisterhood looks like. Thank for you building each other up, for being a shoulder to cry on, for sharing experiences that so many of us felt alone in. Thank you for helping me see that there is no one way a woman should act or look. All of you are unique and special in your own ways, and all of you are daughters of the King. And thank you for helping me realize that I am too.
To the men of Gap D, you guys are incredible. Every single day you teach me what men of God look like. Thank you for showing me how valuable it is to have brothers in Christ. Thank you for treating us women the way we deserve to be treated, and for teaching us to never settle for anything less. Thank you for helping me realize I have a voice and I am allowed to use it. Thank you for being goofy and vulnerable and patient and kind. Thank you for persevering through the tough times – it has been such an honor to watch you come together as brothers. You all encourage me in so many ways, and I hope you know how special you are.
To the leadership of Gap D, wow. You crushed it. I know our squad has not been an easy one, so thank you for choosing in each and every day. Thank you for pushing us when we don’t want to go any further, but you know the Lord does. Thank you for helping us process and showing us that it does get better. Thank you for asking the hard questions and being so intentional. Thank you for dedicating this season of your lives to helping us grow. Thank you for being our friends as well as our leaders, and making all of us feel so loved and seen and known. Madie (and Derek!), Kendra, Matt, Carter, Nicole, and Jewel – you guys are so dang special and it has been such a blessing to walk through this season with you by my side.
Gap D, I am going to miss you guys. Wow am I going to miss you guys. At the beginning of these nine months, I refused to admit that I had feelings. I thought leaving you guys at the end of this time would be easy. I thought I’d be able to walk away and never look back. Thank you for proving me wrong. Thank you for choosing into me when I didn’t choose into you. Thank you for giving me 30 new brothers and sisters, and relationships that will last for life.
With my whole heart,
Brook
