Bittersweet goodbyes. To my Wildflower team, to Eastern Europe, to “comfort”. Excited hellos. To a new team (“The Fun Bunch”), to Africa, and to the unknown.
As our last week as wildflowers came to a close, we decided to write bios for every flower to help their new teams fully understand the amazing, whimsical, weird, and FAITHFUL sisters we have had the privilege of walking alongside these last four months.
Words cannot accurately express how much I adore my GIRLS! We are open/ wild/ accepting/ WEIRD/ encouraging/ truthful/ thought-provoking/ prayerful/ undignified in the Lord. We are chasers of LIGHT, pursuers of FREEDOM, emptiers for MORE. The Wildflower team will forever hold a special place in my heart. And without further ado, here you go:
Cassie AKA Cass AKA Cassandra
“Alright Balek! Plum soda for me.”
There is none like our Cassie. She is enthusiastic yet grounded, adventurous yet appreciates the simplest of things. She is a woman of her word and is determined to find joy in all circumstances. Cassie is the first to speak truth over herself and others. She sees all of God’s creation with the glory he intended. Cassie will be the first to discover and rejoice over the cherry tree, turmeric plant, or not-yet-identified yet somehow-still-edible plant growing at your ministry site. If the locals eat it, so will she. She throws herself into the culture of any new place and will become your resident translator as she seamlessly picks up helpful phrases. She adores all living things but golden retrievers hold a special place in her heart (if you see one, show her). Cassie cares for us in all places but it’s when she’s in the kitchen that we are especially blessed by her ingenuity. You’ll never want for a meal while Cassie is on your team, even if you’ve accidentally taken advantage of her serving heart and humble obedience. Her strength could only come from the Lord, and we’ve seen that in her consistency to get up with the sun or to carry both hers and a teammate’s pack up a mountain in Bolivia. She is a youth-ministry rock star and will not withhold loving on kids no matter the cost. She is passionate about the awareness of developmental health in children so that others can love them the way Jesus does. Cassie embodies Christ in giving grace upon grace to everyone she encounters. Her heart is calmed when she can forage and explore, listen to an informative pod cast, or find a hoppy cold craft beer. Her love language is acts of service but that could mean just tagging along on one of her adventures to the local market. Honestly, making Cassie smile isn’t difficult. Pick a wildflower, attend a drum circle, or bring her home a bag of onions. Team culture is important to her, she desires unity and being rooted in the Lord above all else. That means prioritizing prayer, scripture, and emotional check-in’s. Cassie is joyous, faithful, and tender-hearted. She is weird, we are weird.
Rashelle AKA Shelley
“Don’t run away from an alligator in a zig-zag. Just run.”
Rashelle is obviously gentle, peaceful and a #Proverbs31 woman. If you have the honor to know her the way we do you would come to discover a sister who boldy speaks truth and loves sacrificially through service. Rashelle is the master of doing small things with great love, and will be over the sink washing your plate before you realized she took it out from under your nose. She sees what no one else sees. She sees the teammate who needs an encouraging note, the child who needs a hug, and the host who needs a babysitter. Rashelle has pure intentions and is willing to go the distance to fight for her loved ones. She illustrates the Father’s love in how she pursues her own family members from 4,000 miles away. Rashelle can easily be described as an advocate for children and a prayer warrior. Anywhoozers (as Rashelle would say), most World Racers would say they love “quality time” with people. Rashelle relishes quality time. A good night of quality time with her team could include playing Phase 10, eating dark chocolate and letting you borrow her nail polish remover. Fun fact: Rashelle wants to go to the moon, bonus points if you can help her get there. She is so humble and loving that she will eat the peas mixed with carrots you put in front of her even though she highly disapproves of the combination, although she will happily consume any book recommended to her. She recharges like an artist. Her deep love and talent for creating beautiful things is evident in her watercolor paintings and passion for dance. Remind her to dance. How can you love her well? Talk to her, make her feel heard, ask her to teach you to dance (see above note on quality time). Rashelle has a beautiful smile, we get to see it constantly when she’s around kids, but also in the littlest moments of everyday life. She finds joy in seeing others find joy. Rashelle is steadfast, merciful, and selfless. She is weird, we are weird.
Britt AKA B(dot)Schlatt
“I’m so scared of Jesus coming back and me being in the shower. I don’t want to be the only one naked”
Britt is full of surprises. While she may look like a reserved, ginger Audrey Hepburn, underneath her graceful exterior lies a dinosaur-loving, recent ukulele master who desires the Lord even more than her stash of sour skittles. With Britt you don’t have to choose between art and science, she embodies a unique blend of both. She can explain the importance of an effective handwashing procedure while also recommending the perfect filter to complement your Instagram’s aesthetic. Britt is who you want to have around in case of an emergency (especially in AFRICA!) and while she did get her surgical clamps confiscated by TSA that doesn’t stop her from using her spiritual gift of mercy. Britt is radically obedient to the Lord’s voice and will help you hear him too. She’s always willing to be challenged in ways that will make her look more like Jesus, don’t be surprised when her confessions lead to your convictions. She doesn’t always sleep well but you know that if she wakes up in the middle of the night that she’s praying for you. She is brave and willing to grow in the most uncomfortable ways. To love her well give her a safe space and a hug. Try to go a day being gluten free with Britt, both to protect her stomach and show you how hard it can be. She recharges by reading a novel a day but still craves connection with her team. If you want a guaranteed smile just ask her about Roo, Roo is a good girl. Britt is creative, passionate, and determined. She is weird, we are weird.
Katie AKA Katya
“I feel like a snowman in a casket.”
Katie is a bold, bi-lingual, and confident woman of God, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You might not know she’s the fiercest prayer warrior, a gentle pursuer of a sister’s heart, with a healthy appreciation for Sponge bob. With Katie you can experience a personal stand-up comedy routine or discuss the latest social justice issue in our world. She desires true connection and authentic goofy friendship with each of her teammates. This girl is stretchy! But seriously, she is always stretching, dancing, or cartwheeling her way through life and will always make time for a Nike workout. Katie pioneers a team culture of vulnerability, confession, and brings everything back to scripture. She might wear glasses, but she has 20/20 vision when it comes to seeing God in other people. A vessel of encouragement uniquely attuned to the Holy Spirit. She has a heart for discipleship and utilizing her creativity to minister and empower youth. Katie is a worshipper of her father, a fighter of the people she loves, and an initiator of total acceptance. A perfect evening for Katie would be consuming a dense plant-based meal and leading the team in an improv game. Ask her about dolphin training. Katie brings the secret weirdo out in everyone and makes it feel like the most normal thing. She recharges by alone time on a long walk with an Austin Stone podcast. To love Katie well is ask good questions, follow the rules or guidelines given, and show her you honor her time. She values follow up, quality time, and physical touch. If you want a guaranteed smile show her a Kermit meme or join a Hamilton jam session. Sleeping necessities include her silk eye mask, the web, retainer, and her SpongeBob pillow. She is an avid sleep talker, so make sure to take good notes. Katie is inclusive, joyful, and courageous. She is weird, we are weird.
Calli AKA Calli Cat the Ferocious
“Did everyone get a friendship shell?”
How do we even begin to describe Kelly? Beyond her big smile, bright patterns, and obsession with southern comfort foods there is a ferociously obedient daughter of the Lord. Sally is not led by time, she’s led by the Spirit. She’ll never pass up a five minute massage, a trip to the beach, or a deep biblical discussion. You may be surprised when she asks you if you want coffee at 10:30 at night, but don’t worry, she has a two-hour pre-bedtime routine to burn through the caffeine. Kaylee has never met a stranger. She is burdened by souls and compelled by love to share Jesus with everyone she encounters (despite any language barriers). Get ready to evangelize with your waiters, bus drivers, flight attendants, and local coffeeshop owners. She’s always up for an adventure, whether that’s simply exploring an abandoned house or creating an elaborate initiation ceremony upon reception of a squad leader. She craves Jesus. She will settle for nothing less than saturating her mind in the word and wants you to push her towards the Lord. She knows what she wants, just remind her to tell you what it is. How to love her well: it’s pretty simple, just touch her. If you’re making coffee she wants a cup. Help her keep track of her blue hydroflask mug, and let her make you some corn bread. Also, ask her about mork. As extroverted as she is she recharges by being still. A good rest day doesn’t require her to leave her pajamas, and perhaps a FaceTime from Grandad. Calli’s whimsy and love of the Lord can be characterized in one musical genre: caribbean gospel (which coincidentally complements her singular dreadlock). We love Calli. She is clothed in humility and leads by example. Calli is vibrant, interruptible, and compassionate. She is weird, we are weird.
Jen AKA Niff AKA ME
“It was a bit of miscommunication between me and the hairstylist…”
Things about Jen you probably already know: she has mad photo skills, a stylish yet World-Race appropriate wardrobe, and a constantly full water bottle. Beyond these visible qualities, Nif has an eye for beauty that only the Lord could give her. She is a biblical student, profoundly rooted in the Lord, and a secret weirdo. Jen is an encourager and knows how to make you feel heard. Her joy and positivity are evident in her distinctly different styles of laughter, of which there are hundreds. Jen is not hard to please. She loves a good run, a good granola mix, and JUST a bite of your food. She’s a pack-a-day kind of girl (gum, that is). Be careful borrowing money from her because she will insist she owes YOU. You’ll also need to watch her on her rest days to make sure she isn’t spending hours editing videos for your ministry. Sister Jen is devoted to learning everything there is to know about scripture and will be the first to suggest a study on Hosea. She reads to learn and might struggle a bit without wifi for access to her many articles and biblical resource materials. Jen is a fighter for people and desires them to reach their God-given potential, so be prepared for her to help you fight for yours. So how do you love someone who always finds a way to love you first? To love Jen is to make more room in your food budget for fruits and veggies. It is to sing broadway show tunes with her (even though she secretly desires to star in her one-woman show). It is to accept her offer to take a professional portrait of you, and then offer to take one of her. Jen recharges by spending time outside and knocking some items off of her to-do lists. A square of dark chocolate, Hamilton-sing-along-sesh, or dried mango sighting are sure to put a smile on her face. Jen is teachable, selfless, and radiant. She is weird, we are weird.
I’m finishing this post up in Istanbul, where we have a lay-over on our way to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Lord has put an excitement in my heart as I walk with a new team into our last continent of the Race. We’ll be working with the Oromo Karayu People Group and asking and seeking the Lord about how best to love on these people. Prayers for lodging, men of peace to be put in our path, boldness, peace, and unity as a team as we walk in step with Holy Spirit would be greatly appreciated! Africa, here we come!!!
