For the first three months of the race I have been on a Co-Ed team. Aslan’s Army consisted of Katie, Nick, Luke, Elijah, Tam, and I. Wouldn’t trade the memories we made in those last three months for anything. We laughed, we cried (some more than others… me mostly), we celebrated, and we mourned. We struggled through India together, hiked most all of Nepal together, and we had mad dance parties and laughed till we couldn’t breathe together in Zim. We grew together, but we also grew individually. We constantly pushed each other towards the Lord and got to witness the fruit of what that became together. Aslan’s Army will forever have a place in my heart.
This month when we found out it was “manistry” month and that I would be on an all girls team I, along with the two other girls on my team where kind of nervous. Scratch that, we were scared. We didn’t know how an all girls team worked, or functioned. Katie, Tam, and I all have brothers so we have lived with guys our entire lives. This next month was sure going to be an adventure.
When I left Aslan’s Army and joined Team Formation, I had to totally restructure how I lived on the race. For one, girls teams talk more about how they feel and how words affected them, which is something we never had to worry about on a Co-Ed team. But better than all that, the all girls team allows for a different type of vulnerability I hadn’t yet experienced on the race. Someone in the house said it our first week but it was like living in a sorority house. We would do our make up together and borrow everyone’s clothes, we dieted together and spoiled ourselves together. 🙂 We celebrated Christmas, cheered in the New Year, and walked though everything. We sat up late together when two of our teammates had parasites, and binge watched/had intense discussions about the Twighlight Saga together. Every morning we had a Bible study and pushed each other towards the Lord, together and one on one. I have formed such close relationships with these girls, just as I have come to know in my best friends, Grace, Hannah, Erynn, Rachel, and Leah, back in the states.
Just as I have come to know and love these girls I wanted to share who my team is and what their hearts are like with all of y’all!
Emily Rae Turner is a ball’n point person. We have bonded over Spaghettios, movies, cool wip, and Boomerang. She has such a way with words and I have seen her use that to honor the Lord in SO many ways. She has a heart for making everyone she comes in contact with feel the love of God and makes sure they know they are loved.
Courtney Rae Jackson is one of the happiest people I know and has a child like joy and faith that I have never seen matched in any other human. She kills it as our treasurer. She’s been such a good friend to me on the race. She has such a heart for children and showing them the love that Jesus has shown her.
Tamara Kristine Mahoney is one of the most energetic people I have ever met. She is constantly pushing me out of my comfort zone and furthering my relationship with the Lord and with the people around me. She has been such a safe place for me these last few months and given me such a sweet friendship. She is so strong and brave. She has such a heart for bringing the good news and teaching people about Jesus.
Katie Elise Parsons has a voice like no other. Her ability to lead worship and her love for worshiping the king and bowing down at his thrown is unlike anything I have ever seen. She has such a heart for getting to know people one on one and such a heart for prayer.
Samantha Ellen Clark is one of the boldest and sweetest people I know. She has such a heart for encouraging the people she cares about and getting them to see themselves the same way God sees them. It’s a trait I admire so much in her.
Madeline Avery Hunt is one of the funniest and kind hearted people I have ever met. She has been such a great friend to me. She has such a heart for children and the elderly, making sure that they know that they are loved by the creator.
Keia Dawn Blair is one of the smartest people and has an amazing since of humor. She is my roommate this month and I can always find her in our room reading her bible, journaling, or writing in her prayer journal. She has such a heart for knowledge and understanding what is truth.
Brooke Aspin VanEyk is one of the most savage people you will ever meet. She never fails to make me laugh or have an amazing and deep conversation. She has a great heart for Jesus and her team.
Kendal Faith Covington is a dork, just like me, in all the best possible ways. We have bonded over or love of books and musicals like Hamilton, Les Mis, and Phantom. She has such a heart for truth and knowledge of the world and the Lord.
I have enjoyed both of my teams so much and with team changes approaching in a few days I know that I will be ready for whatever God has inshore for me and my future team.
