If I’m being honest, the thought of writing this blog actually makes me extremely sad because that means the time has already come when we have to say “see ya later” to our amazing alumni team leader: Steffy Peltier. It seems like just yesterday I was having my first phone call with Steffy to introduce myself, ask questions, and vocalize my fears about leaving home for 11 months. Fast forward three months and we are in Mendoza, Argentina. Now I recognize Steffy as one of my greatest friends, most trustworthy mentors, and basically my twin sister.
I could talk for days about the depth and dimensions of Steffy’s character, but I will just highlight a few of the things I adore most about her:
- She is unapologetically herself. For as long as I have known Steffy, she has maintained a perfect balance of leveraging her strengths while still acknowledging her shortcomings. This creates an atmosphere within our team that allows us to walk in both confidence and vulnerability. Steffy also has an extremely goofy side and her contagious laugh can be heard wherever we go!
- She openly identifies the people and things that she is passionate about and pursues them with her whole heart. Steffy has a huge heart for justice and fights to maintain this justice both within her inner circle and the larger community in which we do ministry. With our team, she is quick to come to our defense in order to ensure a physically and emotionally safe environment. In ministry, Steffy never shies away from brokenness and empowers everyone she comes in contact with to seek the hope found in Jesus.
- She is a visionary and sees past the things that most people see on the surface to go deeper to places that most people would not go. With a degree in criminal justice and a background in ministry, Steffy wants to be a cop someday. Let me tell you, she will definitely be a cop you want on your side (unless you are breaking the speed limit, then you might want to run in the opposite direction lol)! She protects with confidence and nurtures with grace, and I know she will make such an impact for the Kingdom of God in the area of criminal justice!
- She is available and approachable. She leans into the tough conversations and shares meaningful personal experiences to make herself more relatable. Nothing she speaks holds empty words. Everything she has spoken over me has been intentional and either encouraging, empowering, or calling me higher. She knows when to speak and when to listen. She knows when to step out in faith and when to step back and intercede for us. Steffy willingly bypasses experiences that could be used for her own personal gain in order to pass them off to our team, allowing us to grow in leadership and boldness.
With that being said, there is one final announcement that I want to make. Since Steffy and the other alumni team leaders will be leaving this week, new team leaders are being raised up from within our original squad. Steffy informed me earlier this week that I would be the new team leader for Team AMAZEd by You! I feel so honored and excited for what is to come, and I know that I will take everything I learned from Steffy and apply it to my new role. Although saying another goodbye feels difficult and a new leadership position feels overwhelming at times, I know Steffy will always be just a phone call away, like she has been since the first day I met her!
