Over the past few weeks, I have been blessed to spend time with some of my favorite people in some of my favorite places. I’ve long contemplated things to write, share, make jokes about, but I felt the need to pause all of that and write a blog about a dear friend. I have many awesome and influential people in my life, and I’m sure that I will write about them at some point, but for today I need to write about my dear friend Jayce.
Jayce Renee (Apsley) Winters, or as most know her, Jayce Jane, was the intern I was assigned to serve alongside in Uganda. We had no clue who the other was, but we did have one mutual Facebook friend in common: Josh Smith. You know, just one of the closest friends I have. No big deal.
Crazy story after crazy story, it didn’t take long for Jayce and I to realize we would do just fine together. It also didn’t take us long to realize that we would share a bond that would put us into each other’s weddings. Jayce was the strong one when we needed someone to be strong, the brave one when we needed someone to be brave, and the one that wanted to work hard and get her hands blistered. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind working, but if given the choice to hold a baby or build something, I’d probably choose the baby. Unless we were building something pretty cool.
Throughout our internship, Jayce never failed to show grace, mercy, dedication, and love. She embodies the things I want to become. She radiates Jesus & the best part? She will never admit to it. Jayce is probably also one of the smartest people I’ve ever come into contact with, and she blows me away with her work ethic. I think I could be president if I just took half of her work ethic, shoot. She is generous, she is kind, and in all honesty, I wouldn’t be doing the world race if it weren’t for her.
Jayce is courageous, even if she wouldn’t say she is. I’ve been blessed to spend time with Jayce Jane and her family twice this year, and each time I am immensely blessed. Her grandparents, parents, brother, and extended family all share the traits that Jayce never fails to show me. From the sweet kindness and hospitality of Grannie Annie, to the work ethic of her Dad, Jayce inspires me to be a better person, dedicated to making other’s lives better.
This past weekend, as we were getting ready for her wedding, we realized that at some point, we had traded dreams. She wanted to do missions, focusing on agriculture, and I wanted to get married young and start life with my best friend. As the story goes, she found her best friend, and I’m doing missions. Its funny how those things work, isn’t it? That’s why I say I wouldn’t be doing the race if it weren’t for Jayce. If it weren’t for her & her dream, I don’t know if I would have chosen to push myself to do this. Not that I’m taking her dream, but because she showed me the positives of it all. She reminds me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Romans 8:28).
It never dawned on me how much a sweet cowgirl could change my life, and the sweet friendships that grow out of sharing a bed and a mosquito net. So, here’s to the girl that mailed me Ugandan tea when my heart was hurting because she couldn’t be there, to the girl that was determined to get her hands dirty, to the girl that believes in her dreams, and to the girl that shines with the love of Christ.
Jayce Jane Renee Apsley Winters, thank you for the impact you’ve had on my life, and for the friendship you provide. Thank you for journeying with me, for seeing my faults & fears and loving me anyway. Thanks for holding the outhouse door open a little so I could breathe, and thank you for being fearless. Oh, and thank you for introducing me to that Canadian bacon pizza when I was in Canyon last week. My heart still dreams of it. 🙂
This, sweet friend, is for you. Congratulations on your new marriage- I’m so excited for your new adventure. Thank you for allowing me to stand up there with you; I can’t wait to have you do the same one day. Jayce, my hope is to be more like you some day; Fearless, courageous, hard working, and so much more. Thanks for being who you are.
