Change is good, and it is necessary for growth to continue. If you have a garden, it is important to plant different fruits and/or vegetables every few years, in order to keep the soil fertile and replenish nutrients. Neither plant is better or worse; they just provide different things.
Team changes are the same.
For the first four months of the Race, I was on Team SoulSpark, along with Taylor S., Amber, Jessica, Emma, and Jenna. We started with a lot of doubt and questions, but we finished well and strong. Our team grew so much, both as a team and individually, in that four months. We learned how to be vulnerable with one another, we learned the importance of being silly and just having fun together, and we learned that humility is always better than pride.
Taylor: She was our team leader. She is from Maryland, but is a die-hard Alabama fan. She used to work as a NICU nurse. She loves pretzels and cofffee. She asks super intentional questions, and during our time as a team, she was very invested in our growth.
Jenna: She was our health nut. She is a runner, and loves fruits and veggies. She also loves coffee. She was an E.D. nurse back in the states. She is from Michigan, but she hates being cold. She has a huge servant’s heart and was constantly serving each person on our team.
Jessica: She is from Oregan, which is perfect because she loves adventuring outdoors. She was a paramedic and always had a crazy work story to tell. She loves papaya. She is filled with the Holy Spirit, and her obedience to Him is evident every day.
Amber: She is from Ohio…therefore she is an Ohio State fan. She loves meat and carbs. She was probably our biggest prayer warrior. She was all about forming relationships, and she would talk to pretty much anyone anywhere.
Emma: ANIMAL. LOVER! She used to be a teacher in Iowa, but she is from Illinois. She has a chinchilla named Daisy (although they may spell it differently). She has grown so much over the last four months, and I have truly enjoyed seeing her become more like Christ each day.
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I now present to you: Team Ronel!!! (McKenzie, Lizzy, Courtney, Emma, and myself)
Ronel is a Hebrew word that means “joy of the Lord.” This is what we want to be as a team to each person we meet. We want to be compassionate, full of grace, gentle, and see those that others don’t.
Stay tuned for more info about our first country as a team, Cote d’Ivoire, Africa.
