Hi there!
Thanks for stopping by! Truly, your interest in me, what life currently looks like, and what I’m gearing up for means a lot to me. I couldn’t do this alone; your prayers and emotional and financial support are allowing me to embark on this next venture. For today, it’s things like finally writing my About Me blog post.
My name is Hannah Reynolds and my World Race journey starts back in the summer of 2014. I was a camp counselor at the beautiful Clydehurst Christian Ranch where I had grown up attending as a family camper. Growing up a sick teen, working a summer away from my parents, doctors, and comfort zone never seemed possible. Saying YES to a summer away was a big step for me to not only apply, but to also to say YES when I was accepted.
That summer was life changing, and I don’t say that lightly. That summer I really started to see the Hannah God created; a confident leader who strives for whole and healthy individuals encountering community. The discipleship available to me through fellow staffers and leaders was the perfect recipe for me to really let go of my insecurities and press into the curiosity of who I am created to be in God and His Kingdom. My summer at Clydehurst was my “jumping off” point.
This perfect storm for growth created space for a passion and desire I had always had of “GO & SERVE” to be lived out and encouraged. With my health, I wasn’t ever given the chance to respond to the tugging on my heart except for one time. I was a part of DeSoto Youth Ministry when we had the opportunity to go and serve in Haiti. I talked apprehensively with my parents and not only were they on board but my mom was going to be joining us. YES. My mom and I raised the funds and God provided so quickly and effortlessly. We were so excited and at peace to have the funds raised and to know that this was next. I will never forget waking up and heading to the gym in mid January of 2010. I was flipping through the channels on the treadmill and saw the first reports of the devastating earthquake coming in. My heart was broken. My heart was broken for the people of Haiti but selfishly I was so confused as to why it all seemed so perfect for me to go and finally act on my GO & SERVE but the door would be closed this time. It was a frustrating season for me that left me putting that deep desire of GO & SERVE on the backburner.
Fast forward to my summer at Clydehurst in 2014. I am out of my comfort zone having listened to my desire of GO & SERVE. I’m seeing all of these characteristics come out in me confidently. I’m being stretched and poured into and I hear about World Race. I had known that a staffer had just returned from World Race and one beautiful Sunday morning we had the privilege of hearing her talk about her experiences. I will never forget that Sunday morning watching her slideshow and being completely captivated. I wasn’t in awe of her ‘trip’ or the crazy adventure that World Race is. I was so comforted to hear someone speaking my language of having a deep desire to GO & SERVE and see her act on it. To watch and hear her YES. After hearing her heart and having a few conversations with her about WR specifically over the summer I started playing the “what if” game and a few years later, here I am saying YES to the unknown of these 11 months abroad in new and foreign lands.
Ultimately, saying YES to the deep desire of GO & SERVE that has never left my side.
11 things about a girl who is going to 11 countries in 11 months!
- My close friends call me Han, or HB (Bethany is my middle name). I love these names as growing up always hearing “Hannah Banana” was very old!
- I live in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri, the BEST kept secret of the Midwest. I truly love it here. GO ROYALS!!
- Like I mentioned in my previous story, I was a crazy camp counselor and loved every second of it! Here I am with my fearless high school gals getting ready to dominate at field riots, our team won incase you had any doubts.
- I nanny full time! I consider it an honor to be accepted and trusted into the families that I have had the honor of working with. In the summer time I teach private swimming lessons. I am SO excited to have the opportunity to teach this summer before I leave in August. If you know of anyone in the area who might be interested, let me know! I would love to have another full summer of teaching kiddos how to confidently swim!
- I’m terrified of balloons. Globophobia, it’s a thing, ask Oprah a fellow sufferer.
- I’m kind of a Hippie! I brew my own kombucha, brush my teeth with activated charcoal, and am currently obsessed with hemp hearts and chia seeds. I’m excited to see how I can uphold my hippie label while abroad! I am however REALLY going to miss my daily kombucha.
- Chronic hand talker. I’ve been notified by my roommates that this trait is contagious too as they have started talking with their hands. Sorry in advance to my squad as I’m sure I’ll have you all acting like flight attendants in no time!
- The book, Kisses From Katie really reawakened my GO & SERVE desire after leaving camp. It was one of those books for me that I knew after reading it I would be restless until I finally said YES.
- I drive a standard! We aren’t going to talk about how long it took me to drive it though. His name is Jean-Ralphio, if you’re a fan of the late yet wonderful Parks and Rec, you can understand my car COMPLETELY. No AC and a finicky 2nd gear, he’s quite the charmer. Here he is having a ‘moment’.
- ESFJ – This was one of the first times I took a personality test! I have to say after reading up on this topic I can agree with my scoring!
- Enough about me! Will you tell me about you?! It took me almost 7 months to complete this About Me post. I would MUCH RATHER sit and talk with you over a coffee or on the phone if it’s long distance. Truly I would love to be real friends with you! Add me on Facebook or Instagram (hbreynolds) and let’s talk!!
“I don’t always know where life is going. I can’t see the end of the road, but here is the great part: Courage is not about knowing the path. It’s about taking the first step It’s about Peter getting out of the boat, stepping out onto the water with complete faith that Jesus will not let him drown.” – Katie J Davis
