LESLIE.
There is a term on the race called “squad bestie”. Squad is what our large group is called and “bestie” is derived from the term best friend. Put together creates the term “squad bestie”.
There was a time many months ago when a bunch of people from all over the United States flew into Atlanta, Georgia. We awkwardly stood around one another and took a bus to Gainesville. Thus began training camp.
I set up my tent and got settled in, and right next to me a tent is also constructed. I looked at it…curious whom I would be sleeping next to.
Leslie.
We traded clothing, sat in our tents and ended up near one another fairly frequently. As team building started, we were always on a team together and when the sessions started we usually ended up near one another.
It wasn’t something that happened on purpose, but due to circumstance. Though I’m sure God had a hand in there somewhere.
Eventually, after we brought up the fact that we were always together, we were separated and ended up being on separate teams… but the bond was already formed.
Leslie.
Enter Cambodia, weekend one, in Phnom Penh. There was an opportunity to go into the city and meet up with another team. There was some himming and hawing, but I was rearing to go. The team was Leslie’s. Even though we hadn’t had many hard conversations, there was something that continued to kinder.
We rolled up to the river walk in down town and I kept my eye out. Finally I heard
“Josh, where is Hannah” The rest of my team had arrived just before me and found her pacing the river walk. I jumped out, and ran, and hugged.
Then we walked. We walked and we spoke. We shared the first week of this crazy journey we had just embarked on. We laughed and we cried and we explored.
Leslie.
We were roommates at the first debrief, we were roommates at launch, we are currently roommates. Literally she is telling me about some Facebook article as we speak.
Sometimes these things seem insignificant, but as the last 9 months have come and gone we have always sought one another out. We have shared one another’s burdens and pushed them toward Jesus. We have shared our fears, struggles, hurts, joys, praises, and successes. We have cried to one another and spoken into one another.
We have learned how to love one another.
Leslie.
You are an incredible woman of Christ. You are his daughter, a garden of holly. You are so filled with his joy and to see the transformation of Christ walking along side of you. I am honored to have you in my life and I know this is not a friendship that ends.
Thank you for everything you have done, said, and seen me through.
Leslie, you the bestie
<3 Hannah
