Our second all-squad debrief, hosted at the end of our sixth month of service, brought us to the beautiful city of Budapest, Hungary. :0) It was an incredible blessing to spend time exploring the area, reconnecting as a squad, and celebrating all that the LORD has done throughout the first half of our route with The World Race!
Thank you, everyone, for your continued prayers and positivity, love and support. It is a joy and honor to share this journey with you!
TWR 6.10: debrief in hungary | exploring budapest
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our second squad debrief was held in hungary, which provided an exciting opportunity to explore another country outside of our route! this episode is a collage of mini adventures to soak up what budapest has to offer!
*this episode is dedicated to the wright family, with whom my mom and i traveled in an organized tour group through ireland and the UK. tom and jill, along with their daughter, kelly, were a delight to get to know throughout our adventures in england, scottland, whales, and ireland. all three of them have joyful hearts and warm, friendly personalities that added so much color and vibrancy to our travel.
while we were abroad, i was trying to manage my support raising from across the globe, so all of our fellow travel-mates were aware of my work and call to serve through the world race. to have tom and jill so generously contribute toward my upcoming year of ministry and service is so meaningful, especially as they had just met me. so thank you, wright family, for your kindness and generosity and support for making an impact across the globe through the world race.
TWR 6.11: euro 2016 | hungary vs. portugal
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part of the excitement of being in hungary in june was that we were able to be a part of watching the euro2016 matches on the sports garden projector screens with the local community in budapest park. the energy and color of the crowd was pulsating with vibrancy for the hungary vs. portugal game [final score: 3-3].
*this episode is dedicated to my former supervisor, forever friend- lisa hurley, as well as her family. i was blessed in learning so much through my time working for lisa as a graduate assistant at illinois state university. we share a similar career ethic [and love for grammar!]- and though we were always dedicated to producing the best work, we were able to infuse our professional dedication with plenty of personal life discussions and playful banter and adventures.
lisa’s family became an extension of my own and, as i greatly respected lisa as my professional supervisor and mentor, i treasured the friendship we had developed, rooted in our values, common sense of humor and personal preferences, and our commitment to JESUS.
i really don’t know that i have the words to express how meaningful it is for me to have lisa as a sister in CHRiST, a personal and professional role-model, and a friend.
…but i can attempt to share my gratitude and let you know, lisa, how special you are to me and how much appreciation i have for you and your family in all of the ways you have supported me- through my time in graduate school, in starting my career, in my personal development, and in my role with the world race. thank you for partnering with GOD, and with me, to share HiS love and light across the globe! lots of love to you, lisa, and your husband, matt, and to your two beautiful girls, small fry and mini fry.
TWR 6.12: fusion fitness 5K
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my teammate, gabi, is responsible for encouraging fitness for our squad throughout the year and coordinated a 5K run for us throughout a budapest park one of our morning of debrief!
*this episode is dedicated to one of my former orientation leader lovies- kaitlin ballard! as an area hall director at north central college, i was assigned a summer collateral role to work with and support the new student orientation programs. kaitlin was an orientation coordinator, taking on immense responsibility as an undergraduate student and navigating the position gracefully and greatly contributing to the success of the program. and i was so grateful to work with such a talented, vivacious, and dedicated student! after kaitlin graduated, she went on to pursue her master’s degree in college student personnel administration through the same graduate program as i did at illinois state university [cardinal to redbird!]. and now she is working in higher education and continuing to make an incredible impact on students and campuses.
i am so proud of you, kaitlin, in the work you are doing and the way you so brightly share your spirit and joy. and it is an honor to have you as a friend, a student affairs colleague, and as an encourager and supporter in being a part of the world race. :0)
TWR 6.13: fusion squad olympics
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debrief is a time for a squad from the world race to come together to recharge, refresh, and reconnect.
…and, also, engage in a little friendly team competition. ;0)
*this episode is dedicated to the entire gudauskas family- jeremy, michelle, and their four sons. i originally met jeremy, a fellow north central college alum, during my undergraduate years when he was hired as the director of our campus ministry and service department. jeremey’s heart for the LORD, whimsical creativity, and desire to mentor and pour into young adults made him a staff person who was approachable, caring, trustworthy, and encouraging to students. i was then able to work with jeremy in a different context when i returned to north central as a professional in residence life and collaborated with him frequently, now in his role as associate dean of students, on campus and at church.
jeremy’s wife, michelle [also a north central cardinal!], has a sweet, gentle heart and tender spirit fully focused on glorifying GOD, establishing meaningful relationships, and bringing joy into all moments. together, jeremy and michelle are raising a family with four sons who carry vibrant energy and charming characteristics that are also directed in the light of JESUS.
the entire gudauskas family sets a strong example of building values and their family unit on the values of CHRiST. and they have been a blessing to me- in friendship, in mentorship, and in supporting the way the LORD is moving in lives and across nations.
guduaskas family, thank you so, so much for your support and partnership in the world race!
TWR 6.14: behind-the-scenes of debrief gatherings
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when our squad comes together for debrief, we have opportunities to encourage one another through prayer, worship, and friendship. our schedule allows for plenty of free-time to explore our host city and connect with one another, as well as sessions of worship, praise, and sharing with one another. this episode showcases some of the goofy energy, meaningful friendship, and powerful encounters with CHRiST that we experience during debrief. this segment also includes a brief overview of the way we celebrated and sent-off our alumni squad leaders [stephanie and emily rae!] at the conclusion of their time serving with us.
TWR 6.15: alumni squad leader appreciation
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in every gesture, in every language, in every way, the world race fusion squad is grateful for our two incredible alumni squad leaders, emily rae and stephanie, for caring for us and serving us so well throughout our journey.
thank you for dedicating six months to being on the field with us, and for the time before and ever-after our route in which you have invested into us through prayer, encouragement, friendship, and love.
*co-created by salvaldor gallegos and dani, featuring the world race fusion squad 2.0.
