New team, who dis?
Check out my teammate Greg Forsberg’s blog that he wrote about my incredible, new team that I have the honor to do life with these next few months.
For those of you who did not know, we recently had TEAM CHANGES *gasp*. This is a normal part of the World Race and happens a couple times throughout the year. We loved being a part of Team Love Storm the first part of this year, but we cannot wait to live in community with Team Wailua and see what God will do through us!
Our group came up with the team name Wailúa after Caley had told us that she had the image of a waterfall while she was praying for our team. She mentioned that waterfalls are strong yet peaceful, and that is what she see for our team. A fierce group of people working together to bring Peace. Alyssa O. thought of the waterfall in Hawaii named Wailúa, which is actually two waterfalls coming together as one. We loved the imagery of us all coming together to form one, solid team, and with that, the name Team Wailua was born!
As we finish up our time here in Vietnam, I thought it would be nice to introduce you to the people we have been living and serving with for the past month. So without further ado, I give you team Wailúa!
Age?
Mia – 30
Katie – 23
Alyssa O. – 23
Caley – 22
Lucas – 23
Alyssa F. – 26
Greg – 27
Adam – 26
Where are you from?
Mia – Mason, OH
Katie – Baton Rouge, LA
Alyssa O. – Prince Frederick, MD
Caley – Nashville, NC
Lucas – Ft. Collins, CO
Alyssa F. – Richmond, VA
Greg – Richmond, VA
Adam – Beckley, WV
Tell us a fun fact!
Mia – I was bitten by an alligator in Cambodia (a baby alligator).
Katie – I love my cat Tigger (follow him on IG @tiggman_), I’ve almost died 8 times, and I’ve had 5 surgeries.
Alyssa O. – I have brachydactyly type D.
Caley – I still have a baby tooth.
Lucas – I keep my beard comb in my fanny pack at all times.
Alyssa F. – I helped deliver a baby during my most recent time in the Philippines.
Greg – I followed God’s calling to move to a new city with my new bride after quitting our jobs and not having anything lined up. But He provided!
Adam – When I was a little kid, I had a pointy tooth between my two front teeth.
What have you missed most about home this year, besides people?
Mia – My bed. I’m a really light sleeper and don’t sleep well so I miss being able to control my sleeping environment and sleeping alone. Plus all the pillows and a squishy mattress.
Katie – My regular routine of meal prepping and going to the gym. I miss my teddy bear and my bed. I miss driving around with my windows down singing at the top of my lungs.
Alyssa O. – Home-cooked meals by Granny.
Caley – Being able to hop in the car and drive.
Lucas – Burritos or beer.
Alyssa F. – Not having to bring my own personal toilet paper into public restrooms.
Greg – Being able to eat the food that I love whenever I want.
Adam – Being able to eat the food that I love whenever I want. Specifically anything buffalo chicken, it does not exist outside the US.
Coffee or tea? And how do you take it?
Mia – Usually black with a little bit of milk, but in Vietnam, always with coconut sorbet.
Katie – Roasted hazelnut coffee made from a coffee pot (not a K-cup girl) with one pack of Splenda and one tablespoon of almond milk.
Alyssa O. – Coconut coffee.
Caley – Tea if I had to choose, whatever way they serve it.
Lucas – Coffee. Vietnamese.
Alyssa F. – Tea. Favorite is vanilla rooibos, with honey.
Greg – Tea. Strong matcha tea (not a latte) in warm (not hot) water.
Adam – Definitely coffee. Black (if it’s really good), otherwise, a little milk & sugar.
What has been the most challenging part of the WR so far?
Mia – The amount of change, how quickly we go from place to place and quick goodbyes after building relationships.
Katie – Leaving as soon as you establish a routine. And ditto what Mia said.
Alyssa O. – Trusting that the Lord will take care of my family and friends at home.
Caley – The language barrier. Not always knowing what people are saying.
Lucas – The lack of challenge.
Alyssa F. – The goodbyes. And also being intentional about resting when our weeks fill up very quickly with ministry and other obligations.
Greg – Not being able to understand people, which can make communication a challenge sometimes.
Adam – Finding the balance between building relationships/being people’s friend and being a squad leader.
What trait do you admire most in other people?
Mia – Authentic boldness & confidence.
Katie – Discipline.
Alyssa O – Compassion.
Caley – Kindness.
Lucas – Common sense.
Alyssa – Selflessness.
Greg – Openness & willingness to change.
Adam – Kindness.
Weirdest thing you’ve eaten since starting the race?
Mia – A plate of internal organs served in a pig jaw. Ant egg & larva soup.
Katie – Whole fish eggs.
Alyssa O – Snake soup, water monitor lizard, tarantula, cobra blood.
Caley – Fertilized duck egg, tarantula, snake blood.
Lucas – Durian.
Alyssa – Snails in Vietnam.
Greg – Roadside chicken heart in Bali.
Adam – Continuously having to eat rice because it’s so out of the ordinary for me.
If you were famous, what would you be famous for?
Mia – “Education famous”. Creating some type of resource probably.
Katie – Being on the Ellen Degeneres show (for something embarrassing).
Alyssa O – Volleyball, the next Misty May-Treanor with my best friend stork being Kerri Walsh-Jennings.
Caley – Dancing! Modern/hip hop.
Lucas – Best food truck in America.
Alyssa – Starring in a Broadway Musical.
Greg – Being in the NHL.
Adam – I would be a famous author.
What is your favorite thing you’ve spent money on this year?
Mia – Going to hundred islands in The Philippines.
Katie – Kebab wraps and local public transportation in each country.
Alyssa O – My ukulele.
Caley – An adventure day to Kawah Putih.
Lucas – Stick deodorant.
Alyssa – Our trip to Phi Phi Islands for Greg’s birthday.
Greg – The $2.99 entrance fee for Twin Waterfalls in Bali.
Adam – My trip to Cebu in The Philippines. My tattoo being a close second.
Have you ever been told you look like someone famous, who was it?
Mia – Erika Christiansen from Swim Fan.
Katie – Rose Leslie from Game of Thrones.
Alyssa O – Miley Cyrus.
Caley – Emily Osment.
Lucas – Seth Rogan.
Alyssa – Ruth from The Longest Ride (actress: Oona Chaplin).
Greg – Diplo.
Adam – Adam Levine.
Thanks for reading and getting to know our new teammates! We’ll be posting a blog soon explaining what we’ve been up to in Vietnam along with a recap video!
