KATE.
What’s your full name?
Kate Ashley Paulson
What’s something that you really love about yourself?
I love my love for learning. I love that I can understand things and that I have a desire to study. I love that God has given us the ability to grow in knowledge and wisdom.
If you could be present for any story in the Bible, what would it be?
I wish I could be with Moses as God revealed His glory to him. I want to know how beautiful and powerful it is. I want to feel what Moses felt in that moment.
What’s something you want to grow in on the Race?
One word that I keep thinking about is decision. Making decisions and following through with them is something I’m not excellent at yet, but I hope that I become a person of strong conviction and steadfastness.
Catchphrase:
“What blows my mind is…”
I CANNOT accurately put into words how great of a human being Kate Paulson is. The effect she’s had on my life is beyond words. I mean that.
I have the privilege of calling Kate one of my best friends. When I think about all of the conversations we’ve had since knowing each other, I literally tear up. I have never walked away from a conversation with her without being totally encouraged, filled with wisdom, and pointed back to the Lord. I’m getting chills just thinking about it. I have never – IN MY LIFE – met anyone who cherishes the Word of God as much as she does. She embodies Deuteronomy 6:6-8 so flipping well. “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” But the coolest thing about that is she doesn’t just read. She obeys. She puts things into practice.
Her wisdom absolutely blows my mind. Honestly. I hang on to every word she says because it’s so dang WISE. Romans 15:18 says, “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me.” Kate is always contemplating things the Lord is teaching her; whether it’s through scripture, other people, or prayer. She meditates on who the Lord is day and night AND she’s bold enough to tell people about it. She realizes the weight of the words that she speaks, and never says something that’s meaningless. I don’t think she realizes how much the Lord speaks through her though… it’s crazy.
OH! And she makes me laugh. A lot. She has such a freedom and silliness about her that rocks. I love that she isn’t afraid to be wild and weird.
Every single part about Kate is so insanely humble, yet filled with boldness. She KNOWS who her Savior is, and therefore acts out of that security. Jesus didn’t do things for praise or glory or to be seen… neither does she. Kate is secretly incredible, and I strive to be more like that.
KARA.
What’s your full name?
Kara Nicole Murray
What’s something that you really love about yourself?
My desire to make people feel seen & known.
If you could be present for any story in the Bible, what would it be?
Noah’s ark because that’s freaking awesome.
What’s something you want to grow in on the Race?
I want to grow in my generosity and intentionality.
Catchphrase:
wow.
IGNORANCE IS BLISS
The other night – during our daily 9:00 cereal eating party – I asked Kara this question: “If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be? And if you could describe who you wanna be in one word what would it be???” Her answer: “Currently, a bowl of cereal. What I want to be…? A box of cereal.” Kara Murray is one of the funniest people I know. But aside from being a real-life comedian, Kara is understanding, steadfast, generous and hard-working. She is intentional – we eat cereal together almost every night at 9:00 just because. It makes me feel so seen and pursued; I genuinely appreciate and look up to the way that she pursues people.
You can trust her with anything, say anything, do anything – she won’t judge you or leave. She is constantly pouring into SOMETHING – whether it’s the family down the dusty African road, the people on our teams, or spending time with the Lord. She’s also never complacent. She seeks to serve other people a whole lot — by doing the dishes, cooking, cleaning, or just going out of her way to love on people. I strive for the way that she works her butt off all the time. “Do everything wholeheartedly, as working for the Lord and not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23)
ALINA.
What’s your full name?
Alina Elisabeth Stumbris
What’s something that you really love about yourself?
I really love the huge amount of joy the Lord has provided within me. I love that I am always laughing, that I can make myself laugh, and that I can share my joy and touch so many other people with it.
If you could be present for any story in the Bible, what would it be?
Definitely the story of Esther. (Girl Power)
What’s something you want to grow in on the Race?
I think my biggest goal for the race is to confidently find and put my worth into the Lord. I can proudly say I have made so so so much progress. And I can’t wait to grow more with that.
Catchphrase:
“What the heck”
“Ur mom” (oops!)
The two words that I would use to describe Alina are resilient and abundant. She bears through hard situations with grace and honesty. She isn’t afraid to feel how she feels and be bold about it. Alina is also resilient in the way of passion – when she feels strongly about something, she chases after it,
hard. She always strives to be positive and see how the Lord is working in every situation. All that she does is done in abundance.
During ministry, she works her hardest and gives in fullness. I admire the way that she strives to be more like Jesus. I also admire the way that she loves on kids. She nurtures them and makes them feel seen. OH YEAH, she’s also hilarious and makes me laugh a lot. Lastly, Alina always fills up only to pour back out. This verse in Psalm 1 just came to my mind while writing this. It says, “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Verse 3). She truly roots herself in Christ, and it shows.
JOSIE.
What’s your full name?
Josephine Rene Dehlin
What’s something that you really love about yourself?
I have a strong desire to learn and grow, whether it’s in scripture or walking in the spirit or doing something less meaningful like drawing. I like knowing that I have an understanding of things because of my own will.
If you could be present for any story in the Bible, what would it be?
Paul! I would love to experience his conversion and his missions. He was put through so much, beatings and jail and stoning, and yet he left every place that he was thrown out of with the same determination. I want to have that kind of strong conviction, to know that no matter what happens to me its not about ME, it’s about walking out my calling. Life’s about living for the Lord, no matter what that costs us. Paul is an unbelievable example of what that looks like.
What’s something you want to grow in on the Race?
I want to grow in confidence. I have more opportunities than I ever have to share about the gospel. I have more free time to simply spend with God. And I have more people around me who are holding me accountable to that. So I want to end the race saying I am bolder in my faith and more confident in my relationship with God.
Catchphrase:
Josie’s too original to have a catchphrase.
I told Josie the other day that she embodied what it meant to be gentle and quiet spirited; I don’t think there’s any better way to describe her. But she isn’t quiet in a way that’s timid, or gentle in a way that’s weak. She is quiet, yet radiant. She gives off an aura that welcomes people into her presence. She listens and doesn’t speak empty words to make people feel better. She’s gentle in a way that nurtures. I desire to be around her because she makes me feel at rest… I feel energized and encouraged after talking to her. Every time.
Secretly, Josie is an professional ARTIST. This woman is one of the most talented people that I know. I sneak peeks at her journal frequently because her sketches are seriously insane. She reflekcts the heart of the Lord in creativity.
Something Josie also does really well is creating a space where people feel comfortable and at peace. There’s this one pretty well known verse in the Bible that says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28). Josie embodies the heart of Jesus in this way. (We just got done drinking hot tea together and just talking… it was one of the most restful things that happened for me all day). Christ welcomed brokenness and honestly and replaced it with peace and rest; I think Josie has the gift of doing the same.
MATT.
Matt felt left out, so here’s some pictures that describe his personality PERFECTLY. Jokester, always making people laugh, always doing funny things. He’s also going to become the President one day. DONNY COLE, 2052!!
WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!! I spent a whole lot of time on this one, so really. Thank you! Sending lots of love from Botswana.
-Lyss
