Dear Team Surrendered - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

Where do I even begin? As saying goodbye is not that easy for me to do, and this is def one of the hardest goodbyes that I have had to say while on the race.

As from training camp til now, it has been such an awesome journey with you 5 gals, and it makes me sad to think about our time together as Team Surrendered is coming to an end.

I remember really meeting each one of you at training camp during final team building exercise, working together and thinking to myself that this was the team that I wanted to be on for I felt right away a connection with the 5 of you. I remember praying afterwards that if it was the Lord’s will that you 5 were going to be my teammates, and later that afternoon when that piece of paper with all of our names on it was handed to me, all I could do was raise my fist in the air, and pumped it for I knew that our team was meant to be a team.

Living life with you gals these last 4 months have been some of the best months that I have had in a long time. We have laughed, we have cried, we have had our disagreements, but have always made up afterwards, we have encouraged one another, we protected each other, we have pushed one another, we have supported one another, we took care of each other whenever either of us were feeling down or sick, we were there for each other like sisters.

As you know, being a only child I have never had the experience of being a sister, and I have always wondered what that would be like to live like that. You gals gave me that opportunity to be able to experience that feeling, and what a feeling it was for it meant the world to me.

I will be forever grateful for you guys. Thank you for putting up with me during this time as I know I am not the easiest person to live with, and the fact that I have such a strong/independent nature as well as the fact that I have some crazy habits like being a night owl.

You gals taught me so much about myself, helped me to gain my self confidence back that I had lost, taught me to once again believe in myself, and kicked my butt when I needed to be kicked, but did so in a loving way. Thank you for showing me that it is ok to show emotions and to express those emotions when needed. I understand that you gals wanted the best for me, and you wanted to see me called higher, and to grow as both a person and as a Christian. I have learned so much from each one of you too, and I hope you have learned from me as well. Thank you for teaching me how to live life again, and to gain a new perspective on life, to be free.

Thank you for all the feedback that every one of you gave me every team time. I know all the feedback that I received from each one of you, both positive & constructive was given for a reason, and that your intentions were for good, and the heart behind it all was pure, and not out of spite. I know I should taken it more graciously in the beginning, but in the end I realized that the reasons you gals gave me feedback was out of love, and I’m sorry it took me so long to accept that. I have the highest respect for each one of you (which was why giving you gals feedback was hard for me at first), and know that I want the best for each one of you as well.

I love you gals like sisters, and it is amazing that we became a family in such a short amount of time. Spending Christmas day with each of you is honestly the best Christmas that I have had in a long time, and that is by far going to be one of my favorite memories from the World Race when our time is finished. Another one of my favorite memories is going to the Mayan Ruins in Belize, and that was quite the bonding time for us, and I got to share one of my many passions with all of you. These are just some of the many memories that I will cherish from our time together.

I will forever remember our time together as teammates. I will always be a fan of all of your respective schools (UC/FSU/PSU/A&M and even UK).

All of you have such powerful testimonies, and backstories, don’t be afraid to share your story with others because others might need to hear them too, and it will have an impact on others. Be bold. I have loved hearing each one of your stories, and trusting me by telling me your story.

No matter where the seasons may take each of us, I will always remember you all. Know that I will always keep you gals in my prayers, and know that I will always be open to talk if you ever need someone to talk to about whatever life may bring for I will never be too busy to stay in touch no matter where God may take me in my own life.

In the words of one of my favorite musicals:

I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return

But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you..But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I’ve done you blame me for

Who can say if I’ve been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

:
And because I knew you…

:
Because I knew you…

:
Because I knew you…
I have been changed for good…

I hope and pray that our friendship with one another will be lifelong.

Once again Thank you for the last 4 months.

I LOVE YOU GALS SO MUCH!!!! TEAM SURRENDERED FOREVER!!!!! I WILL MISS YOU!!!!!!

Your fellow Sister in Christ,

Bon Bons

P.S. I might have cried while writing this blog

P.S.S Shoutout to Kaitlin for making the awesome tribute video!

Official Team Photo from Training Camp