When I initially felt it on my heart to write this blog, I contemplated even trying because there are so many things to say about this guy. Trying to describe what he means to me and everyone who has the privilege of knowing him is a big task. A task that I do not feel I can accomplish, but I’m going to give it my best shot.
This man is truly an old soul. He is humble. He leads a very quite life. He has no desire for attention or recognition. He is the farthest thing from materialistic and has no regard for trends.
But more importantly, this man is essential. He is humble, but it’s infectious. He leads a quiet life, but it’s powerful. He is a critical puzzle piece to any and every community he is a part of. His love for Christ and his desire to live a life worthy of his calling is nothing like I’ve ever seen in a 23 year old man. He embodies the qualities of the man God calls us all to be.
This man’s name is Thomas Bennage…
I first knew of Thomas when we were in on group video chats before the race. I met him for the first time at training camp, and my first thought was “This guy may be too tall to fit in the port-a-potties this week.”
Training camp was only 10 days, and we all went home after that for six weeks. All I remember of Thomas at training camp was that he was significantly bigger than he looked on video chat. Then launch came around and it was four days of chaos, and I can’t even recall seeing him. So at this point, I didn’t really know Thomas or anybody on my squad for that matter besides my team.
My first real opportunity to get to know Thomas was Month 3 of the race when our teams were placed together in Bulgaria (which turned out to be an INCREDIBLE month). At the beginning, he was still very quite and kept to himself for the most part. One of the first things I learned about Thomas was his work ethic. The guys did manual labor that month, and that’s when I noticed he would not stop working until you told him to. It was borderline annoying. I would look at him and think, “Dude, take a break. We’re going to finish this job way too early because of you and we’ll have to start on something else.” I also learned of his love for the Cubs… (Gag). I am a Cardinals fan, and it’s only fitting that we be placed together during the month of October. For those of you who don’t know, October is postseason for the MLB. And my beloved Redbirds didn’t make the postseason to make matters worse.
By the end of the month, we had established a relationship. Looking back, that is one of the things that made Month 3 so great for me. Also, I would say one of my favorite things about that month was when he would come out of no where with these one liners, they were hilarious. And there is one I will never forget.
Then, month 4 was manistry. We got to continue building our friendship and learning more about each other. We had some good conversations about life, history, and college football. We served at a special needs home, and I got to watch him take the residents by storm. He loved them, and they loved him even more. He was incredibly patient and attentive. It was a joy getting to watch.
The end of month 5 comes around and it’s time for team changes. We had an LDW (leadership development weekend) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and that’s where we did the team changes. As you already know, Thomas became one of my new teammates.
This is where I have to conclude or I will not finish this blog. There are too many things that I could say, especially after spending every day with him for the past four months. So I’ll just say it the best way I know how: I am blessed to have Thomas to learn from and grow with on this race. You will not find another one like him. From his wisdom to his ability to work with children; He’s truly a diamond in the rough.
We have had the opportunity to serve alongside each other on three continents and we still have one more to go. I have learned an incredible amount from him and how he lives his life. I am excited that I get to finish this race with him, but I’m even more excited about the relationship that will continue state side.
Thomas. I love you, brother.
