Hey, long time no see. You look good. New haircut? Nice. New kicks? Love them!
May and June were crazy months, to say the least. July and August included a new team and new adventures… And whole new depths to this journey. Let’s catch up, yeah?
May: I absolutely fell in love with Nelspruit, South Africa and our friends Claire, Squire, Luke, Sean, and Jamie. We had the greatest adventures, felt the MOST free, and having to leave them was one of the hardest things…all nine of us were wrecked! Getting our phones stolen at debrief, various conflicts, and turning down a leadership position made for a pretty tense month for me personally.
In June, the whole squad headed down together to Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa, where we lived on campus at Global Leadership Academy (a Christian school). We were staying in a cabin (The Mission House) built in the memory of Austin and Rebecca Wesson, a young couple who met on the Race and tragically died in a car accident the day after their wedding. Austin’s parents Wendy and Roger were our hosts and coordinated our activities in JBay. While we were there, Rebecca’s parents were visiting from the States to have a memorial service, burying Austin and Rebecca’s ashes between two palm trees in front of the Mission House.
It was a divinely timed event for all of us and for Austin and Rebecca’s parents.
We definitely needed to be together during this time and process not just what we walked into, but also was was happening within our squad. Grief has been something we have dealt with since the very first day of the Race, and upon the death of Travis’ dad and Travis going home, we all needed each other. Just by being there are doing what we do, Wendy and Roger were also provided some respite and they were met in incredible ways as we served alongside them.
Pastor Chris of Father’s House JBay spoke to us one morning, in one of the most beautifully relatable, kind, truly understanding ways. He said “grief is the price of love. When you love someone, losing them is always a risk. Grief means what you had was worth something.”
We had some beautiful conversations between each other, healing and vulnerable. We got close, and real. Emotional, straining, but beautiful nonetheless.
It was here that I truly realized that relationships are truly the most important thing. You are the most important thing. Regardless of mannerisms, theology, habits, past mistakes… Regardless of what differentiates you and me, its you, the person, that matters. Can I set all of myself aside to love you the way you need to be loved? Can I fully realize your value as a human, no matter what you’ve been through, and meet you here, where we are? Not hope you are something other than you are but see and accept you truly and fully? I imagine that’s how God loves us.
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Some of us had the opportunity to go to Port Elizabeth and help Father’s House set up their winter kids festival. The first day we had the opportunity to sit in on a staff meeting, and the character, heart, and values discussed during the short meeting was unlike any I had witnessed before. I was floored by the bold leadership, outspoken in love but also in health. It absolutely rekindled the fire I have for the corporate church, knowing that yes, healthy, biblical leadership exists, without apology, without compromise. As much as I wished I was called to stay or return ‘permanently’ to PE Father’s House… I felt the Lord tell me that now I had seen it, I now carry the burden of responsibility to not just seek out healthy organizations and recognize that fruit, but also bring that culture to wherever I am. (Though I do hope to visit PE again, and often!)
Jenna, Kaelyn and I had a divine appointment in PE as well. Two of the interns we met were talking with J and K about tattoos, and knew a place we could get some. We were even excused from our duties for a couple of hours the next day. When we were in the tattoo shop, I was singing along to the music. It took me a second but I realized it was worship! Long story short (and not enough human words to describe how Holy Spirit orchestrated our conversations or how much we felt Him), Theo, the tattoo artist and his wife Sharon had been praying the day before, and our call for appointments was an answer to their prayers. They were both going through it; their faith was being tested. We listened to Theo explain his testimony with the tattoo needle buzzing in the background. He described God’s faithfulness with such emotion and conviction, and shared how he now uses his shop to minister to people while he tattoos them. As I listened I sat on a tattoo bench, worshipping God while Washed Clean was playing and Theo sang along. It was truly one of the most beautiful moments. We prayed for Theo and Sharon and their shop before we left, holding hands family style, and all of us were simultaneously lit up, energized and empowered. Two random hours impacted us three girls, the two young interns, and them so much. How incredible to be available and have the grace and trust to be okay with going off the grid. How incredible to be an answer to someone’s prayer.
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After our time in Jeffrey’s Bay, we had a few days in Cape Town where we received our new teams! Jacob and Hannah became squad leaders while Reece and Kate ended their time with us. The rest of us were divided into three co-ed teams! My new team is Chimichanga: Kaelyn, Ana, Josh, Daniel and Hunter. After South Africa our team flew to Bulgaria, and Jacob joined us shortly after! Due to how far apart the teams have traveled, we have been blessed to have Jacob with us the entire time in Europe. We also have had the freedom to travel anywhere in Europe, as long as we get to Spain to walk the Camino by mid August.
Going from a team of just 4 girls to now traveling with 7 (where girls are outnumbered!) was definitely a change! However it was an adjustment we all handled very well, despite the challenge of not only a bigger team but also a SUPER strict budget. Europe is expensive y’all!! But our team takes a lot of time to pray into where the Lord wanted us to go, and we have always had His provision, divine encounters and favor. We also get to cook a lot and have family dinners together, which not only saved money but in the same move brought us closer.
With tight quarters and tight budgets, we have definitely learned to choose one another over ourselves. It’s a choice… And our team just vibes so beautifully!!
We started off in Bulgaria with the word TRUST as our banner. We have trusted, initially having to actively choose to do so. We have seen some incredible things happen, starting everyone hearing the same initial country, which is awesome considering all of our options! We have been on the same page about a lot of things, and sometimes we haven’t been, but our whole team is in a place of wanting to honor how God speaks to one another and that means…trusting. It means submitting. It means listening and going with the flow of grace.
It’s been an incredible experience and I love my team so much. Each person brings so much to the table, and each person is a powerhouse full of love, each in their own way. I feel incredibly privileged to get to live with these guys and girls and learn from them.
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The best part of Europe hasn’t been the scenery, the history, or the architecture (all of which are amazing!!!), but it has been the incredible people we have met along the way.
We have celebrated birthdays together, joined a gang, became promoters, walked with people. Each relationship we make is so special and it gets so hard to leave… Each time.
A while back it was prophesied that my heart would grow even larger. I didn’t think it was possible but it happened! Hahaha I cry all the time now, and I literally feel so much love for each person we meet. Pray for me because I think it only gets more intense from here!
In Bulgaria we really took the time and grew together as a team, establishing a routine of working out, Bible Study, then listening prayer to see what the Lord has for us that day, then logistic planning as needed.
Then, we met:
Felice and Lubchech in Ohrid, Macedonia. We also celebrated Daniel and his birthday!
Sofija and Milos in Bar, Montenegro, where we celebrated Sofija’s birthday and we cooked for each other… And formed our super secret night swimming gang.
Lena in Split, Croatia. We endured a really draining “job” together.
Fernanda in Torino, Italy. She needed some family time, and we brought the fam!
Words don’t and can’t express the depth here…so a summary has to suffice.
(Side note: Spain and the Camino has been on a whole other level and I’ll write on that later.)
Our team and Jacob are finishing our free time in Spain in Madrid before we head to debrief in Mijas, on the southern coast of Spain. Parent Vision Trip is also in Mijas and my mom is coming to visit! All the CAKE+Jake moms are hanging out after PVT together in Madrid and gonna do some Unscripted Mom time. I am so stoked for them!!
Our last three months will be in South America, and we fly into Peru the second week of September.
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Three short months to go.
I love this family so much, I can’t imagine life any differently and right now I don’t want to! Pray our time in South America is fruitful, but also that the Lord starts to reveal where each of us will land (not literally) back home.
As always, love you, thanks for reading.
XOXO
