1 team. 4 months. 5 people. 8 countries. 4 ministries.
If you’ve been following my race in any fashion, you know how grateful I have been for this team. Team Abundance has been my family these past 5 months on the field. We have gone through the highest of highs, and some pretty deep lows together. Today, unfortunately, was my last day as a team with these people.
Five months with a team creates comfortability. It creates a feeling of family, and it creates an a bond that you will never be able to equate anything else to. They have become my support system and my sense of belonging in a lot of ways. With that being said, I just want to reminisce. Reminisce on the good times, and the times that were not so easy. Here are a list of things that happened to one, a few, or all of our team members at some point or another.
The time that we were asked at training camp, “Do you guys think you could have fun together?” We all laughed then, and we all still laugh today.
When Alexis got lice in Romania, still had it in Greece, and got it again in Thailand.
When our month in Serbia was just hanging out with high school kids.
When Erica and I got to pour into and disciple one of those high school kids.
The time when Mac and I got to stay the night at that high schoolers house.
When we got to travel as a team all around the country of Romania.
The time when Annalea got excited over a playground… Who am I kidding, its EVERYTIME she sees a playground.
When Alexis and I spent hours at a time watching survivor.
The time we worked at a refugee camp.
The time that the saying “misplaced” became something we will always bring up.
When we split up for the month of Malaysia and something felt off all month.
The fact that Mac and I have spent 145 of the last 146 days together.
When we spent team time swing dancing, and that soon became something that our whole team loved to do.
The fact that 3 months out of our race has had to do with evangelism and discipleship.
Erica’s monkey noises.
Macaroni and Kenny in the morning. (Watch Annalea’s blog to find out what that is)
Stealing Annalea’s camera to help out with her vlog.
The soccer that we played all throughout Europe.
Camp Betel… Our first few days of ministry.
Eating a home cooked Serbian dinner together.
Being each other’s place of strength when things get hard at the refugee camp.
The countless amount of times we spent reading each others minds, and knowing exactly what they need in that moment.
The joy that we find in just being together.
The confidence we find after confiding in each other.
The countless amount of times that we called each other higher.
The many times that Alexis and I ate all the food.
When we went to Croatia together on an adventure day with Bera.
When we explored Athens together.
When we grew from being a group of random people at training camp, to being some of my closest friends 6 months later.
These thoughts are all over the place, and some may not even make sense to you, but these are the memories I will cherish for a long time with this team of mine. I can’t say how truly grateful I am to be apart of ABundDance. Even though we won’t be a team anymore, you guys will have a huge place in my heart.
Love you guys always, and I can’t wait for the reunions and road trips we will have after the race.
