Meet my new friend, Danielle. She is from New Zealand and is interning this year for the church we are working with this month. I ran into her in the copy room on my first day in the office and introduced myself, honestly just out of courtesy. I had no idea the impact this little Kiwi would have on my life.
Danielle is someone full of life. She carries around the true confidence and freedom of Jesus with her. She makes life brighter just be being herself. The world could use more people like her.
The craziest part about meeting Danielle [she doesn’t know this yet!] is that I prayed specifically for someone like her last month and here’s why:
To be completely honest in the months leading up to Ireland I just did not feel like I connected on a deep level with the people in the cities we were doing ministry in. I connected with my squad and team and enjoyed doing ministry but I haven’t felt a deep one on one connection with anyone specific. So last month in Transnistria I started praying for God to intentionally connect me with one person while I was in Ireland. I had no idea He had this bundle of joy for me this month.
Danielle and I instantly bonded and I have had the privileged of doing office work with her this month. She told me she is sometimes hesitant to form friendships because people always leave after a short amount of time, as it is with the nature of the Race. And while that is unfortunately true for our new friendship, I am so thankful she and I became friends. She keeps saying I need to come visit her in New Zealand after the Race but I think I have convinced her to visit Nashville instead;) People like her are rare gifts to stumble upon and I am so happy that Jesus crossed our paths, even though I am dreading saying goodbye in a few days.
Here is a picture from us at the Tacky Prom:
She gave me the most lovely going away present today. RANCH and chocolate. She knows me too well.
Thank you for your friendship, Danielle. You were truly an answered prayer for me this month. Xoxo.
