Hello from Albania!!
This month began with a squad debreif. It was a few days of all 39 of us together in a hostel in Albania. Our awesome squad mentor and coaches flew in to be with us, share wisdom with us, and just help us in our growth on the Race. It was a great few days of rest and intentional time with my L squad family. At the end of our time together as a group, before we went into our EIGHTH month of the Race (!), we went into team changes.
This month is a month on the World Race that happens to every squad. This month is affectionately referred to as “MANistry” month. This month, all the men in the squad get the opportunity to form a team and do ministry as a group. This also means that all the women get to be together as well. While this concept itself is not new to Ashley- I’ve been with awesome women only the whole time- we switched up the women on the squad and which teams we get to be a part of.
TLC is no more.
These women.
I love these women so so much!!
As Asia would say, “how much?”
SO, So much!
We have laughed together, cried together, and been frustrated together- and at each other. We have grown together, experienced so many new things together, and learned together- and from each other. If you ever need to get along with somebody, just live 24/7 with them for 7 months. You will figure out how to get your crap together and get along- I promise. The love that I have for them is insane. Insane.
As six individual women, we have grown so much.
I have see so much growth in each one of us- it is soo awesome!!
The season of TLC has come to a close- which, that is a cool story in itself.
Our team started in month one (obviously :)) and we were together exactly seven months.
SEVEN!
God’s perfect number of completion.
*Also, creation is pretty cool in that God created everything in 6 days and then He rested on the 7th. Our team has been together for 7 months. The first six months were super packed with so much. If you’ve been following my blogs, you will know that last month was a month of rest for us. It was essentially a glimpse into month 12. 6 months of hard work and then 1 month of rest. The cycle of TLC- the 7 months- were completed.*
*Another sweet story is that one of the team’s name was Teleo- complete/finished. It is what Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished”. The last day that our first teams were together was Good Friday.
The day that Jesus said that on the cross!
AND
This year, Easter and Good Friday were on the days that scholars think were the actual days. Dude, I get chills every time I think of this!*
So, let me introduce you to my new team.
lovewell
We chose our name because we want to love every single person that we meet well. Our contacts, the people in the countries that we go to, and each other. We also want to be a well (like a water well) of love. So deep and full of love.
I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for us. Whether one month or more, it’s going to be AWESOME!
(left to right)
Alysse Feldman
Andrea Mast
Becky Houston
Vanessa Welsh
Anna Kuepfer
Ana Maria Matiz
Martha Kennedy
lovewell.
#ElleDubs #WifeyStatus #RiskyNotRisque
<3 Ash
