To be completely honest, when I signed up for the World Race, I always had the wish in the back of my head that I would be placed on a co-ed team. I’ve always been good friends with guys, heck, some of my bestfriends all of my senior year was a group of guys. I really only connected with a handful of girls throughout highschool and they have been my bestfriends for basically my whole life. So you can probably understand why the thought of living with a group of six girls that I had just met for nine whole months intimidated me at first.
Following arrival at World Race Training Camp, I had recieved a card with the names of my teammates on it, and my immediete thought was, “an all girls team, just great. I didn’t even know that these people were on my squad”. I had planned and hoped on being on a co-ed team.
But the Lord had a different plan.
Throughout all of training camp, my team and I spent most of our time together. We did various team times throughout the ten days, we got to know eachother, and through this time, the Lord crushed all of my first impressions.
Training camp was hard. Probably one of the hardest things that I have ever done before I left for the World Race. I truly do not know what I would have done, or how I would have gotten through the ten days without my team. The Lord revealed to all of us that we were placed on a team together for a reason. He had placed each of us together for a reason.
It’s month two living in an enclosed space with five other girls, and each day that we spend together I grow more and more thankful for each of the girls on my team. We all have such different personalities that somehow compliment each other.
Lissie, oh Lissie. The oldest on our team, yet the youngest at heart. When I first met her, I thought that since she was the oldest on our squad, that she wouldn’t think my humor was funny. I assumed that she was going to be the type that hated fart jokes. But let me tell you, she is the complete opposite. She has taught me to love myself, and is constantly reminding our whole team that we are fully known and fully loved by the Lord, and because of this, the opinions of others do not matter.
Next is Katie, or “KT” if you want to make her real happy. Katie spent a semester at college before she decided to do the world race, so she is obviously amazing. She is one of the funniest girls that I have ever met. She is a lover of movies (star wars especially), sprite, lollipops, and the cello. Katie has taught me to not fear the future, that the Lord has it all planned out, and that I shouldn’t be worrying about what college I will attend in the fall because it will all work out in the end.
Makennah, the sweet southern girly. Makennah was the only one that I really knew before training camp. I knew her by her joyful Instagram posts, her fundraising t-shirt that was colorful tye-dye and read “Jesus, Peace, Love, & Happiness”. She is simply one of the most God-fearing, joyful, girls that I have ever met. She has taught me to find the good in everything. She has taught me that it is possible to be joyful and find happiness in all circumstances.
Can’t ever forget about Caitlyn. Caitlyn destroyed all stereotypes on homeschoolers that I have ever heard or set in my head. She is so much more hilarious than I could have ever imagined. I don’t know what I would do without her. If I ever have a question, I ask Caitlyn and she knows that answer. Me and my team like to call her “google”, or “siri”, and she just embraces it. Caitlyn has taught me to really care about others before myself, by her own selflessness. She has taught me how to feel at home in places that my family isn’t. Don’t know what I would do without ya, “Mom”.
Last, but certainly not least, Christy. Christy is the type of girl that always laughs at her own jokes, has to stop in the middle of a story that she is telling just to catch her breath from laughing so much, and goes to bed at eight every night because she wears herself out too much during the day. She has taught me to never look at my past as a burden, but to rejoice and be glad in it because the Lord can put us through obstacles in our lives because He knows that we can get through it and use it as testimony. My lil’ fart gal <3.
I cannot picture the race without being surrounded by my amazing teammates. They bring so much joy, laughter, and love into my life while on the field. A main reason that I believe I am not very homesick yet is because I have them with me. They are like family now.
Love you girlies.
Thanks for reading fam,
xo
Abigael
