Community is an integral part of life on the Race. My first team, Flames to Fire, spent four months serving with each other, laughing with each other, crying with each other and sharpening each other. And after four months of growing as a church, we were told of a day we all knew was coming: team changes.
It was bittersweet. The past four months with Flames to Fire has shown me growth in a community I’ve never experienced – I learned how to be vulnerable with them, learned to cry with them and share with them, even if I didn’t have the answers figured out myself. Through these five women, God showed me what an intentional, Christ-centered community looks like.
After 120 days of waking up and going to bed with the same faces, that would suddenly change. I would no longer have tooth brushing parties with Monica every morning or make morning coffee for Hannah and Tessa anymore; I would no longer see Elyssa dancing in any inch of free space she could find or hear about Shea’s dreams from the night before. I would find new routines with new people; and that change in an already unfamiliar journey is daunting.
And more than that? These girls would never be together in the same way again. No matter how excited for or curious about team changes we were, this team created memories; it created a family that would be missed!
So to Flames to Fire, thank you. Thank you for leading me to a new intimacy with each of you and to a new intimacy with my Father. God, thank you for using these five daughters to show me Your Unconditional and Reckless Love. There is so much beauty in a Racer’s first team.
But I’m also finding the beauty in change. At our debrief in Durban, South Africa this past week, we were placed on our new teams! For this blog, I want to share with you the new group of amazing, God-chasing women that are joining me on team SPADES:
Anna
Age: 22
Hometown: Moorhead, Minnesota
What She’ll Bring to the Team: As our team leader, Anna has already begun leading with humility and joy. SO MUCH JOY! Anna shares my love of musicals, beat boxing and Hamilton which has led to many sing-a-longs in a short amount of time. Our friendship reminds me of so many friendships from home and I am so excited to learn from and laugh with her. (Also, we are two of the four members of Jammin’ on the Rancho, a hit band currently on their debut world tour.)
Favorite Memory from the Race: Horseback riding down a mountain in Lesotho on the clumsiest horse I’ve personally ever met.
Random Fact: She is the paint mixing champion of the world. She can make any color out of primaries.
Kasie
Age: 29
Hometown: Hi Hat, Kentucky
What She’ll Bring to the Team: The first time I met Kasie back in August, I was flabbergasted because her accent is the first true Southern accent I’ve heard! And SHOOT is she funny! Her and I get each other laughing really hard and it’s already evident how much joy, how much laughter, she’ll bring to the team. Kasie is also so kind. On my birthday we were traveling from Guatemala into Nicaragua, spending 53 hours in a bus. At a gas stop in Honduras, despite having no more than a few conversations with one another, she bought me a birthday cupcake and sang to me.
Favorite Memory from the Race: “In Lesotho we visited our translator’s grandmother named Agnes. Getting to know her was so fun.”
Random Fact: She doesn’t like drinking anything with ice in it unless it has a straw
Rebekah (Becks)
Age: 32
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
What She’ll Bring to the Team: Becks is one of the members of our squad that I haven’t been able to spend much time with but soaked up every moment I did spend with her. She is filled with wisdom, insight, genuine care and SO MUCH HUMOR. She is embracing of everyone and everything around her and the care in her heart bursts through her. When I found out my grandma had cancer, she consistently checked on me, asked me about memories with Marney and listened to how I was doing – even though we had barely spoke before. Needless to say, this is a friendship I’m excited to pour into.
Favorite Memory from the Race: “In Guatemala we tried to go to the kite festival our ministry host and her sister but got lost instead, which led to quite the adventure in which we were driving for hours.”
Random Fact: She has two webbed toes! This was hidden for a bit, however, by the line she drew to continue the crack in her toes.
Shea
Age: 26
Hometown: New Jersey
What She’ll Bring to the Team: Shea has one of the greatest minds I know and I love seeing the world from her perspective. She was on my last team and I am stronger, more sharpened because of it. She is bold; SO bold and loves to ask questions – loves to learn more about the world around her. I learn from Shea’s curiosity and passion every day and am so excited to continue to laugh with her (and the most contagious laugh you’ll ever experience), learn from her and grow alongside her.
Favorite Memory from the Race: “When we did battle chants and dances in Nicaragua as a victorious way to pray over our ministry.”
Random Fact: She taught her dogs to wink through long loving stares and a great relationship.
Elyssa
Age: 24
Hometown: Weyers Cave, Virginia
What She’ll Bring to the Team: Elyssa was also on my last team and watching her grow so much in just four short months blew my mind – God is HARD at work in her life! Especially in this last month, she has burst forth with a joy and life that takes over any room. Every morning, she wakes up wearing a smile that can only be explained by the presence of God in her life. On top of her joy, which can be seen through her beautiful dancing, Elyssa is a human Encyclopedia. She literally knows everything about everything. I’m smarter and wiser simply by being in Elyssa’s presence and can’t wait to see how my knowledge grows by being on her team again.
Favorite Memory from the Race: “Hiking Acatenango in Guatemala.”
Random Fact: She is the oldest of EIGHT siblings!
Well, there you have it – team SPADES! In the past week, we’ve laughed and dug deep with each other; this team is off to an incredible start and I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses this group of six fierce women on the Race.
