Dear Gap J,
These past 9 months have a roller coaster of a time. We’ve cried together, laughed together, healed together, adventured together, grown together and experienced the love of God and His awesomeness together. This has been a very defining year for us all, especially for myself. And I want to thank each and every one of you for being with me through this adventure.
Bailea: Bailea Taner. It’s been a privilege living and doing life with you for the last 9 months. We’ve had our ups and downs and there have been times when we’ve both not wanted to be around each other… AT ALL. But through it all, you have always been loving and faithful and patient. I thank you for constantly showing the Fathers love to us and to those we ministered to. Thank you for always wanting to get into the mission and never backing down. You are a fierce and strong woman of God and I love you with all my heart.
Chloe: You are a sensational leader, a compassionate person and a great friend. You always have everyone’s best interest in mind, and I only learned that after being put on a team with you. I wish I had realized that sooner. You were always rooting for me, even when I thought you weren’t. Thank you for calling out my faults, and celebrating my triumphs with me. Thank you for being fearless and having our best interest in mind. I would not be where I am now without being with you and your crazy self. Thanks Chlo Chlo!
Alyssa H: First off, you are gnarly, bro! I’ve always had a deep respect for you but since being on a team with you, I’ve come to realize that you are closer to my heart than I would have ever thought. You inspire me every day to be free and creative and be unashamed of everything that I am. Thank you for the amount of wisdom you have given to me and our team. Thank you for opening up and sharing your life with us, and thank you for being joyful and loving with everyone we meet. You have taught me so much, and I am so thankful for you.
Robbie: Robbie… I have this vision for you… you are sitting in a hotel drinking a Pilsner with the monkey from Dunston Checks In… Lolz , not really! But really Robbie, you are one of my best friends and I love that we are able to talk about whatever and whenever. I’m so grateful that we were together for the first 4 months and for the solid foundations for our friendship. Thank you, Robbie, for being compassionate and sensitive in everything and for being able to say what you need to, even when it’s hard. Thank you for being a great team leader and always listening to the Lord and being obedient. Thank you for being a great friend.
Hanny: Hannah Jones, you are amazing. I am so glad we became (albeit, awkward) friends at training camp. You amaze me all the time. God has given you so much and you are only scratching the surface of everything he has in store for you. I love how crazy and random and funny and spiritual you are. I only wish we had more time together on this shindig. Thank you for being patient with me and being a great friend. (I can’t wait to come to your cottage with Taylor!) Love you!!
Uncle Pauly: First off, I hate you Paul. [ 
] But, really, thanks for being with me and being a great friend through and through. Thanks for being a great younger brother and for pushing me when I needed to be pushed. Thanks for bringing me into your family (well, at least accepting that I’m going to be there) and always encouraging me. Thanks for being an example of constantly pursuing God and everything about Him. Thank you so much Paul.
Alex: My Lititz buddy, who knew we would have someone from home with us traveling and strengthening in the Lord together on the same trip! I personally loved having you here. I love your joy and compassion and your laughter. Thanks for being a constant in this crazy time and thank you for always understanding me. I’m glad it was you (from home) on the squad.
HannahMarie: I know someone has already said it, but I’ll say it again. You deserve the most improved award. You have grown immensely and it’s benefited all of us. You have grown into who God has meant you to be. Thank you for showing that that can a beautiful thing.. Thank you for always being creative and open to new ideas and to creating scenarios. Thank you for all of the knowledge that you have imparted to us. I can’t wait to see how you change the world. I love you so much.
Gretta: Gretta , you have a never-ending amount of enthusiasm. You always have a song near-by, whether it’s on your lips or through a speaker. You have brought a lot of peace to the squad, especially through worship. (As I type this, I can hear you practicing for worship and it’s great) Thank you for bringing joy and love and peace.
Abby: Abby, you have an unspoken authority that surrounds you. God gave you the authority and you steward it well. You bring truth and you don’t back down or get intimidated by anyone. Thank you for bringing fun, honesty and confidence to all of us.
Joe: You have access to a different audience then most of us. That is such a cool opportunity to have and you are grabbing hold with a firm and steady grip. Thank you for being steady and unwavering in your walk with Christ. Thank you for being relatable and easy to converse with. You have so many God given gifts and talents and it has been a pleasure to be around you.
Isaac: You sir, are a daredevil. But not in the typical way. You have this reckless abandon which lets you operate with no boundaries. Even when you end up with something being bloodied. You have taught me to not think or worry about possibly messing up and just go for it! Thank you for being a wonderful person to be around and to do ministry with. And thank you for always bringing a smile to the table.
Jordan: The love and laughter you contain is contagious. Thank you for being so loving and accepting to everyone. Thank you for always imparting knowledge of the Father and operating in Him.
Anna: My girl AKP. I never anticipated being friends with you. When we were put on a team together I thought you were this peppy girl who loved everyone. Well, that wasn’t completely right. You are peppy and lively, but I’m glad we could help each other out when not liking people. You have amazing gifts and potential for the future and for reaching people who need it the most. Thank you for being an integral part in this experience for everyone.
Tucker: Tuck, you are awesome! Thank you so much for bringing awesome truth and perspective and thirst for Christ in everything you do. You are a great leader and a wonderful friend. You are going to bring so much Kingdom in your lifetime and it’s an honor to have walked with you for some of your journey. Thank you for allowing me to walk with you.
Hannah P.: Hannah, you are amazing. You are creative, funny, compassionate and a good influence. So many people around me have been influenced by you, and I can see it. You made an impact on them and I can only imagine the impact you’ve made on the people we’ve met along the way. Thank you for everything you impart to people and all the wisdom and creativity you emulate.
Emily M.: You are a gifted woman. God has blessed you so much and He wants to continue to do it. Every time I’m around you I’m amazed because there’s something new you’ve learned and you’re automatically giving it away. Thank you for always being open to sharing and being vulnerable. You have influenced so many people.
Jared: I never knew how weird of a dude you were. But, weird is good. You took on a huge responsibility this year, and you showed how phenomenal you were. But you’re not just logistics and responsibility. You’re fun and deep and you bring acceptance and joy with you. Thank you for bringing them to the table for everyone to see.
Sydney: The Ultimate American Ninja Warrior. To be the ANW you have to be athletic, no doubt. But you must also have the mental stamina and emotional strength. You have all of these, and not just for athletics, but for life. You never back down, you are firm in what you believe, and you love to have fun. Thank you for showing confidence and strength in everything you do. Thank you for being a wonderful example of both.
Alyssa N.: I first knew I would be friends with you during the 3 mile hike at training camp. Thank you for always being encouraging and excited. Thank you for always showing the Fathers love and joy to us. You are an encouragment for all of us. And thank you for never giving up on us.
Taite: I’m not going to lie Taite, there are times when I get slightly uncomfortable when you tell me how beautiful I am. But, please don’t stop telling people they’re beautiful. You always instill a confidence in me when you talk to me. Even in casual conversation. You have an incredible ability to inspire confidence, drive and passion when you speak.
Savannah P.: You are so amazing. You have grown so much this year and I’ve grown and changed because of you. Because you shared and let us in, lives changed. Thank you so much for that. I Thank you with my whole heart for letting us in and experiencing life with you. You are gentle and kind and we love you.
Jess: Jessie! I love you so much. You have been so great throughout the whole Race. I’m really glad we get the chance to live together for a bit, because it have me an insight into more of Jesus. Thank you for intently listening to His voice and what He’s telling you to do and obeying without hesitation. Thank you for believing in others and fervently praying for them. You are an inspiration for everyone and I can’t wait to see what you do in the future.
Brooke: God has put a calling on your life. That is so evident. You’re ready to embrace it with open arms. This past year you were working out your arms to prepare to embrace. You set a huge example in taking what the Lord gives you and running with it. Thank you for that example.
Alexis: When you are in communion with the Lord, everyone can tell because your face changes. It looks like He has just changed your life in the most profound way. You also live your life like God is the best thing since sliced bread. It is awesome. You always point things and situations back to Him. Thank you for always being so faithful and following God.
Kara: You are an example for all. In every aspect. You are strong, patient, wise, kind, loving and a great friend. Thank you for being a great friend. You have a gentle soul which inclines people to come to you. You receive these people with grace and understanding. Thank you for being a great example of what I needed to learn and live in.
Ximmy: Do you remember the time in India where I told you that I could see so much that God gave you in the way you buttered your bread? Yeah, it’s still weird, but! It’s still true. You are a powerful woman. Something you’ve taught me is intentionality. You put a lot of time and effort into being intentional, and I’ve learned from it. Thank you for embracing the power and intentionality.
Maya: Throughout the Race, you’ve said God has given you compassion and also passion. I wholeheartedly agree with that. You run after everything with a passion that could light up all of San Francisco at night. And with that passion is a compassion that is so evident that it makes you want to keep up and sprint with you. Thank you for showing what unwavering and Godly passion looks like.
Dylan: People always say you’re such a ‘mom’, and I would agree. You are responsible, caring, loving and always ready to help. That shows a side of Jesus that not many get to experience. You understand a different side of Jesus and you display that. Thank you for being a ‘mom’.
Lindsey: Thank you so much for listening to the Lord’s voice. Because you did, so many people got to experience you and your connection with God. You’ve shown great perseverance and courage. Thank you for being strong and courageous.
Amber: sometimes I wonder how you operate. There always seems to be at least 6 thoughts and actions running through your head. And you always balance them so well. You are so selfless and humble. You listen to the Lord and you understand what He says. Thank you for taking care of us so well and for never compromising yourself in the process.
Taylor C.: You have a silent drive about you. You know what you want in life and you go after it without ceremony or fanfare. You are a powerful woman who carries a lot of influence. You are uniquely yourself. Thank you for being yourself and (indirectly) helping others be themselves.
Ryan: You are a phenomenal human being, Ryan. You are going to touch so many people’s lives. You are humble, kind and always ready to chat. Thank you for living an interuptable life and showing Jesus through it.
Kylee: Hey future neighbor! I love you. You are the epitome of the perfect neighbor (which is great for me, because you’ll be my neighbor!) You have amazing patience and grace. You extend it to everyone and you’ve showed me so much. And you’ve been a great friend. Thank you for being who God made you to be and extending it to everyone around you.
Josh: Josh, you are relentless. In everything you do you are untiring, and unfazed. You are honorable and you know what is Godly and what is not. Thank you for always being honorable and a Godly example.
Katlyn: (Ahahahah, you’re sitting next to me as I type this) We started this journey together and now we’re ending it together… quite literally. We always sit next to each on planes. And even though that’s not something we can control, it still says a lot about you. You are a constant. You always know that Katlyn will be there. Jesus shows in that. Thank you for it.
Savannah B.: You have joy. The joy of the Lord resides in you. You also have a unique ability to relate to everyone. And by everyone I mean, every single person on the planet. I have no idea how that’s possible, but you manage it. Thank you for using that gift to connect people and bridge gaps.
Rachel: People would be wrong to underestimate you because you are more quiet and gentle. You are like a tornado, except without the destruction. A tornado that brings life and constructs things. Thank you for looking out for others and being patient with people. Thank you for the impact that you’ve had on others.
Paul M.: You sir, are one of a kind. I think every person that knows you smiles when they hear your name. You create a space for creativity and vulnerability. You make it so people aren’t scared or annoyed. You bring light. Thank you so much for the creativity and laughs from this year.
Lisa: Holy moly girl. You blow me away. Like, all the time. You are so in tune with the Holy Spirit it’s insane. You demonstrate an immense amount of patience and joy. Thank you for being a wonderful example of being a mouthpiece for God. And for being a great friend.
Breanna: Your obedience amazes me. Not obedience to humans, but obedience to God. Your freedom is another amazing quality. Thank you for always walking in freedom and for showing others how to walk in freedom.
Mikayla: I think the way you walk accurately describes you. Taking long strides with confidence at the front of the pack. You are so talented and extremely confident in who God made you to be. Thank you for always leading with the authority God gave you.
Trey: You are a man of God, Trey. When I think of you, I think of Christ. You stand strong and you are a protecter. You care for others and you are patient. Thank you for being a wonderful example of a Godly man for everyone around you to see and take pointers from.
Torrey: Torrey, you are a talented woman. Sometimes I wish I had even a smidgen of the talent you have. Your heart seems to burst open with love and emotion. You are also so fun and willing to join others in their fun. Thank you for always bringing smiles to everyone and for being a humble example for others.
Lauren: You are a powerful woman. Incredibly powerful. You have the ability to change everything happening with just your presence. You know that, and you use it for good.Thank you for always being a good influence for the squad.
Nick L.: Nick! Ya know, you’re pretty cool. You easily get along with everyone and you are universally liked. I think part of the reason for that is you never get angry with others. Or if you do, you never act out. There’s a conversation and a resolution with no outbursts. You are wise and kind and gentle. Thank you for always being there and being a wonderful ally for people.
Nick S.: Nick Freakin’ Sandshafer. I really enjoyed being in the kitchen when you would walk in and start dancing and singing a song. You’ve brought a lot of joy to us all. Thank you for all the joy you’ve brought to the table.
Again, thank you Gap J. I love all of you with my whole heart. And always know you have a home in good ole PA.
