[lana waites]
Lana is a deeply sarcastic yet passionately loving girl from Trussville, Alabama. I guarantee she’d kick your butt in a karaoke battle- the only stipulation being that she wasn’t fed any pine nuts beforehand ( she’s deathly allergic). She ends most sentences with the word “trust”. (For example: Been there done that. Trust.).On a normal day in America you could find her driving around Birmingham, windows down, music blaring & her beloved Avery (the girl she nanny’s)in tow. Her favorite people in the world are her two sisters, Haley & Jenn. Listening to the three of them interact is quite amusing. Lana has a beautiful story of a life redeemed & it is absolutely incredible to watch her earnest pursuit of the Lords will. Boldness, wisdom, & discernment are just a few of her strengths on a list of many. She has an uncanny ability to know what I am thinking. Lana was my first & is my best World Race friend. She is my tiny piece of home that makes my heart feel at ease. She is convinced Tupac is still alive & in her dreams, they are married.
Danny is… well let’s just say he is way cooler than you’d expect a kid from Kansas to be. Ha! OK, in all seriousness he is great. Daniel Nolan is a bright, energetic, econ- enthusiast with a magnetic personality. He brings life into a room. You just can’t help wanting to be around him. Some of his favorite topics for discussion include: economics, God, & his mom’s chocolate chip cookies. Combine all three into one conversation & this boy is in heaven- the trifecta to his heart. Danny once reprimanded me for not knowing the alphabet & subsequently corrected me by laying out the “proper” order of the letters: Q, U, R, S, T, U– he was wrong. Grammar isn’t his strong suit. DanDan is an all around quality guy. He is determined. He is driven. He is genuine & has a passion for the Lord that is to be revered. Danny has this particular way of pushing me past myself. His appreciation for Anchorman, dancing, & fake mustaches keep me sane. I wish I had a dollar for every time we said the same thing at the same time- I’d be drinking a lot more Starbucks.
‘Katie Marie Swan is a beautiful & adventurous nurse from Chicago, Illinois. She was born & raised in Minnesota so she says crazy things like BEEEG (bag), RUT (root), & HAM-MOCK (hammock). If you look up simplistic living in the dictionary, Katie’s picture will be there with the caption “perfect example.” Never in my life have I met someone who is so flexible, easy going & selfless. Katie’s ideal day would consist of reading her Bible, going on a crazy motorcycle adventure with her hubby, & cooking some incredibly obscure; yet surprisingly appetizing feast from scratch with her roommates Dan & Stacia- whom she ever so adores. At age 17, her heart was filled to its brim with a love for Christ & missions & she hasn’t rested since. She is the most constant & steady pursuer of the Lord that I have ever known. Katie is the epitome of a true servant & I admire her so much. She is also a vegetarian- we don’t share meals at restaurants.
Bill or Billsie is my fearless leader & our dear Katie’s male counterpart. He is probably the most impressive fusion of mature adult & irritating adolescent to have ever existed. One moment he is offering vital life counsel & the next, in true little brother fashion, he is tackling you to the ground. Bill, like his wife Katie, attended Moody Bible Institute & as result is a fountain of biblical wisdom. He has a deep love for motorcycle riding & spent his childhood days nearly escaping death on numerous occasions. If you are ever in need of some competition, Bill is your man. Competitiveness runs through his blood- he was a Bible Quizzing prodigy after all. Bill is a natural born leader. He possesses the unique ability to bring life out of people. Bill drives me crazy on a daily basis by disorganizing my things or drawing tiny marks on random pages in my journal. Bill also makes me a better person. He is the older brother I never had & I wouldn’t want to do the race under anyone’s leadership but his. Also I don’t think he has ever backed down from a dare- but for his wife’s sake, please don’t test him.
Emily is a compassionate & vivacious interior designer from Charlotte, North Carolina. An artist at heart-talent & creativity seep from her every seam. I’m always curious to hear Emily’s perspective on a situation, because it is sure to be 1,000 times more interesting than my own. She is most content surrounded by friends, design magazine in hand, & with some funky accessory on her arm. Emily has the astounding “ability” to “understand” & “communicate” in any language- or so she likes to believe. You can often find her in the midst of a seemingly normal & engaging conversation with a local. One problem- the local is speaking in foreign tongue & Emily is smiling, nodding, & carrying on in English as she deems fit. It is one of the most amusing sites to witness. Emily has a true gift of empathy & uses it beautifully to exemplify Christ’s love. She is a constant encouragement to me & never fails to brighten my day by accompanying me in silliness. Emily’s signature dance move is one resembling the Karate Kids “wax on wax off” routine- it’s quite entertaining.
