The first two months I spent on the field I was living with so many different people from my squad of 42. The first month in the Dominican Republic, our whole squad was all together. It was crazy ALL the time. The second month in Haiti I was with 21 other people, half of the squad.
And the second we got to Botswana all of the sudden in was just me and eight other people.
My team– Kairos. The people I get the wonderful opportunity to call my family, the people I get to pursue deep relationships with. The people that the Lord called me to grow vulnerable with. The people that I get the blessing to call “my people.” The people that I will constantly be fighting for. Well this past week the nine of us decided to do blogging a little differently, we decided to do something we like to call “GUEST BLOGGING!” All of us wrote a short something about each other, so let me share what my teammates said about me. It’s pretty special, they all hold a pretty special place in my heart.
Matt Coleman:
“Alina is probably the most sassy person I have ever met, but that is not a bad thing. She is always quick with something to say, and it has led to a lot of laughter. She fears God a lot. Alina has taken it upon herself to be very vulnerable with this team, giving use insight on many of the hard things she went through that her to this moment. She very clearly cares about this wants us to know her as well as possible. She has such a strong faith foundations, and truly depends on the Lord for support.
Dakota Chance:
FUN FACT- She is good at baking, and she is on the dream team for going to the grocery store and she doesn’t like lunchables.
She is very excited about getting involved with the women of the community,( along with all the other girls on our team,) to empower them and let them know that even through culture tells them they don’t matter, they actually do matter especially to God.
Kara Murray:
Eats cereal on the kitchen floor. Killer dance moves. Does laundry with me at night in the bathroom as a Haitian girl named Symba yells at us. Tells children in the village that she has cows. (OK THIS IS ALINA TALKING NOW, THIS LITERALLY NEVER HAPPENED… resume to Kara.) Alina loves kids more than anyone I know, and it is evident anytime we are in the community. While on the race I have learned that Alina loves hard, and she loves well. Seeing her open up with our team and pushing herself each day during ministry has been so cool to watch. Alina makes me feel seen each day and I am oh so thankful for her.
Zack Thayer:
Alina is secretly very funny, just spend enough time with her and you’ll see. She is great with kids and has an excellent memory. I love to hear her talk about what God has done, and is doing, in her life, it’s really amazing!
Zach Yoder:
Alina frequently laughs uncontrollably, and she freegently makes me laugh with her sass. (Then Zach added the “sassy girl” emoji.) She once sabotaged me by passing a baby to me that immediately preceded to poop on me. Alina is super driven, and she is often the first to get her hands dirty when there is something that needs to be done. She loves to interact and play with kids and kids love to do the same with her.
Noah Larkin:
SASS MASTER! Leave it to Alina to hit you with some “bone crushing” sass and then walk off with a straight face. When we were at training camp and has to do a team dance she said, “Kick lines always win!” Well… we won that round. She loves to get excited over simples things, like get “goatistry” or cow kisses. Alina has the most genuine desire to grow and that effort and drive are not fruitless. She truly invests in the people she loves and she loves hard. She brings passion to everything she does and she never fails to use that fire to bless those around her. I am so very blessed to not only call her a teammate, but a close and beloved friend.
Kate Paulson:
FUN FACT! Alina and I laugh ’til we cry almost every time we have a conversation. Not only is her laugh contagious, but she has the best sense of humor and the ability to make anyone laugh. One time we both laughed for 10 minutes because one of our teammates got locked in a bathroom. These are the really little moments in life that become some of my favorites, because she’s there and because we’re laughing together.
One thing I have learned from Alina is the ability we have to chose. I have watched her chose joy, chose peace, and chose contentment on the World Race in thousands of ways and it inspires me to no end. Her faith that God rewards those who seek him shapes the way she lives and draws people to her. I love friendship with her because she radiants: in beauty, in joy, in laughter, and in life. She’s one of those people you want to be life-long, sister-like friends with.
Josie Dehlin:
Alina, 19, from Wisconsin.
So, it’s the first day of ministry, and course I’m expecting to do gardening or village outreach or some kind of manual labor, but instead Alina walked into the kitchen and says I can go with her to our hosts home to spend the day baking… how cool is that ministry? Our host April owns a coffeeshop cafe, and Alina and I got to spend the entire morning making muffins, cakes, hamburger buns, and pie crusts. We turned on music and visited with April and got food for the cafe ready!
Alina is a blessing to have on my team, she’s someone who I think I could bring anything to and she would still be receptive. Asking for help with how to handle situations, being able to bring important thoughts to, or just wanting someone there for a serious conversations easy when you have someone around who’s willing to listen. Also, she laughs more than anybody I know and it lights up my day!
So everyone, these were just short blurbs of what my teammates have noticed about me.
They are some of the best people I have had the ability to get to know.
Hello all! Sorry I have been a little absent on blogging and social media lately. I am currently in Botswana, Africa, and Wifi is hard to come by! I get it once a week… at most!
This is making updates come a little less frequently, and things like fundraising a little more challenging! With that said, please continue to help me raise funds! The holiday season is all about giving, so I hope you have it on your heart to give!
With Love, Blessings, and Thanks always,
Alina
