As i promised in my last blog I am going to tell you about my new team!!
So at the end of month 5 some things happened that made it so that we needed to have another team change already. Months 4 and 5 were rough on me, I'm not going to lie. Not that my time on Majestic Summit wasn't worth it and necessary for my process, but my time with them needed to come to a close. I needed more from my race than what I was getting from my time of Majestic Summit. It was hardly challenging and it was forcing me to tuck away many of the truths that I learned about myself in the first three months on the race. I bought in to Majestic Summit just about as much as everyone else on the team, which left us in a place where there was safety but not trust that it was safe. It was hard to do ministry and pour out when we were not pouring into each other as family with the amount of love and grace for each other that is necessary when living in community and doing ministry together.
By stating those things I am not trying to say that we didn't get along or even enjoy our time together. By sharing these things I am not trying to dishonor the women who were on Majestic Summit. Some of the most fun moments I have had on the race happened during my time with team Majestic Summit. I don't know of another time where I have laughed so hard, cried so hard, and felt more exposed than with those girls. I rekindled a love for dance that I forgot I had. I cuddled a lot. I loved and was loved on by 6 women who I was convinced I could not love and could not love me. We had to really try hard to make it work, some days it didn't, but a lot of the time it did. I really did learn so much from them and I am glad that the two months I spent with them was stretching and difficult. It was real life. I did enjoy special moments with them, but it was rough sometimes.
So, like I said, some things happened in our squad so some people had to change teams. I was one of the people affected by the team change and so was one of my teammates from Majestic Summit. We moved to the team formerly known as Heart Refinery. This team change is the best thing that could have happened to Julie and I. When we found out about the change, we both were at peace with it instantly and God began showing us what was going to be in store for our new team. Among those things were the words "intimacy" and "grace." After some discussion with our new teammates, we decided that our team name would be Intimate Grace because we long to be a team who strives for intimacy through vulnerability and honesty and who gives grace in all situations. So without further ado… Team Intimate Grace!
Missy Hollinger is my team leader and is one of my best friends on the race, I am one of her biggest fans and she knows how to push me and call me out in ways that so many people don't. I love her to death and I am so excited and honored to be under her authority and leadership for this season of the race.
Nathan Hatton is a super awesome man of God who is learning to walk in his authority as a man of God. He leads worship with passion and fire. Nathan's first team was with my first team in month one in Antigua and it is wonderful to see how he has grown just in the last 5 months.
Dan Loghry is our outdoorsy, sporty man. Dan is quick to serve and lend a hand to any need in any moment. Dan and I shared a fit of hysterical laughter and giggles for about an hour on our 18 hour bus ride in Tanzania. Everyone around us wanted to punch us in the face [they were trying to sleep] but we had a great time. Dan is always great for a laugh, but he also knows when it is time to get real.
Chase Glantz was one of my first friends on the squad. Chase can bust a rap out of nowhere and preach like there is no tomorrow. He is walking a a new confidence in the man God has created him to be and is not afraid to get real and honest when he is having a rough time. If anyone on the race reminded me of any of my friends from home, it is Chase… and he reminds me of Joe Guerra. They would be friends, I am convinced.
Julie Kolins came with me from Majestic Summit and I am so glad that she is here. Julie is starting to realize some of the things she is gifted in that she never knew she had before. Julie is being reshaped and renewed into a woman who listens for the Lord's voice and speaks it out in boldness. She is direct and strong. I am excited to see new passions arise in Julie as we continue in ministry side by side.
This team is already taking me to places that I never dreamed I would go on the race. Even when I was on what I thought was the "best team for me ever", I never dreamed of the places that I have gone with this team in just 6 days. I am excited for our time in Africa and I can't wait to share with you more of what we are doing and how ministry is going.
Much love,
-A
