Almost 8 months ago (woah) I wrote a blog sharing with you the people I’d be spending the next 9 months with. Well turns out after sharing a room, and just about everything else with a person for a 6 months you know them a whole lot better and so I wanted to do a little of a, well maybe we’ll call it a reintroduction.
***Sidenote: if you’re super observant you may have noticed something a little different about our team. If I’m being straight up with you we had picked the name “Avodah” off a whim in about 3 minutes on one of the last days of training camp because well we had to. We walked together as “Avodah” for 3 months but after a fun and silly and life giving night together as a team we had a sort of revelation. We were discussing each of the teams on our squad and trying to come up with one word to describe each of them. We rounded off on our team and my sweet teammate Grace quickly said “Rooted”. I told you in my first blog about my team that we had meshed together so well and so naturally and nothing about that had changed. Grace explained that because we were “rooted” in the Lord and not in things of this earth that hardship or conflict or disagreement did not shake us as a team. We didn’t waiver in things that were good, bad, ugly, or anywhere in between because we were ROOTED in the Lord. And hence the seemingly perfect name change that we all have so lovingly embraced.***
The last time I did this I put my teammates in alphabetical order because as I told you, if I put them by favorites they’d all gave to go first. I thought I might mix it up this time, and the only World Race appropriate way I could think to do so was by putting them in order of their enneagram, if you know you know.
Julia
(Enneagram type 1)
Juju is something else let me tell ya. She is so eager to show the people around her the love of Christ and she is a women who does not let the things of this earth define her. She has a way of making every person feel seen, loved, and heard and she puts 100% into everything she does. She sees the highest potential in every person she meets and extends herself to others in every way she can. She is a natural leader and a true fisher of men. She models Christ to people in a way that is tangible and relatable. She’s a little crazy about details, a lot crazy about peanut m&m’s, and just crazy enough about having a good time. She doesn’t shy from “hard love” and she delivers truth with such immense grace. Julia reminds me of what an honor it is to get to be a servant of the Lord, and she pushes me to be on fire for His Kingdom and ALL his children.
Shelby
(Enneagram type 2)
Our squad recently decided to start a squad yearbook and what’s a yearbook without superlatives right? Shelby won biggest heart (by a landslide) and I don’t think there’s a title in the world that suits her better. This girl loves harder than anyone I’ve ever met and she’s not afraid of loving people BIG and with her ENTIRE heart. She has never met a stranger and is so quick to give a smile and hug to anyone she meets. The Lord has given her such beautiful eyes for His children and not a day goes by that she doesn’t use that gift for His kingdom. She serves the people she loves devotedly and she’s quick to lend any extra hands, feet, or whatever she has. She LOVES babies (and babies love her), is always down for wine (pink tea) nights, and is the goofiest goober. Shelb consistently gives me a glimpse into the love the Father has for me and has been a constant reminder to me of how sweet it is to be loved by and to love the Father.
Karson
(Enneagram type 7)
If I’ve ever met someone who is the epitome of strength and who literally radiates the joy of the Lord it’s Karson Calaway. Karson is just a really special human, to me and to the Kingdom. She walks in things that are hard with grace and grit, she pursues the Lord with her whole being and continually seeks ways she can be a light to her friends and family. She so evidently operates out of an overflow of His goodness and she seeks and trusts His purpose in every season. She has grown into a women of boldness and bravery while still somehow carrying her gentle and playful spirit. She’s a lover of avocado toast, Grace and Frankie, and any and every spontaneous adventure. She won’t always admit it but she loves kids, and kids light up with joy spending time with her. She is funny all the way to her bones and is always down to break some rules (when appropriate and safe, trust me I really appreciate this about her.) Karson has taught me to always see the good, in people, in situations, in seasons, this girls cup is always half full and I couldn’t be more thankful for her perspective.
Sarah
(Enneagram type 8)
Sarah is kinda like a Canoli. Confident, brave, and bold on the outside and just as sweet and soft as can be in the middle. Sarah steps into every season and opportunity that the Lord gives her with passion and dedication and her spirit is contagious. She never has to laugh by herself because her laugh alone brings joy to the people around her. She is so intentional in the way she loves us and remembers all the little details that are so easy to forget. When things are important to you they are important to Sarah and she isn’t afraid to get uncomfortable. Sarah is bold in all the ways “bold” people are too afraid to be. She walks in vulnerability, she asks hard questions, and she always strives for unity. She is patient and gracious with me when I don’t deserve it even a little bit. She is always down to break out in dancing, she takes her (good) shot at Spanish every chance she gets, and she is not afraid to ask someone if they’re American. Sarah reminds me to never take life too seriously and that everything is more fun when you’re laughing with your girls.
Grace
(Enneagram type 9)
How does one describe such a sweet soul as Grace. Grace inspires me with her steadiness, on the hardest days and on the very best days, Grace carries herself with the same spirit, a posture of gratitude and of kindness. She is gentle and bold all in the same breath, and her willingness and eagerness to serve sparks curiosity in everyone who meets her. Grace is so so wise and always has the best perspective to offer. She presents the gospel in a way that people are eager to grasp and is a natural teacher. She is goofy, like seriously so so funny, and once she starts laughing there’s no stopping. Grace constantly encourages us and calls us to walk into the women we were created to be. She LOVES picante plantain chips, is the most talented artist, and is always down to walk to ChicBerry for a donut. Grace has taught me the beauty of gentleness, and what a true gift that is in the Kingdom.
These are my girls, and I feel just as lucky today as I did 9 months ago that I get to do life with each of them. As we like to say, this is the longest sleepover we’ve ever had and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it for the world. Rootie Tooties forever <3
