(Josh, Emily P, Chaney, Emily S, Jordynn, and I)
Emily Peterson
Emily is twenty-one and finishing up her last semester at the University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em). She is studying both Religious Studies and History and is looking forward to using her gifts on the race. Emily has one rocking dread in her hair, is known for speaking conversational Turkish, and as a child decided to baptize her dog. We both share the passion for the guitar, and I am looking forward to really jamming out with her in the next year.
Jordynn is hysterical and I’m constantly laughing and giggling when I’m with her. She’s twenty-four, from Florida, and has worked in the fashion industry for several years. She has pretty amazing fashion taste, and I’m so excited to see her unique skills be used for the Kingdom throughout next year.
Emily is twenty years old and hails from North Carolina. She’s currently in cosmetology school, and this girl has the heart and mind of an artist. She’s calm and reserved a lot of the time, but I can tell she’s got a wit that will keep us on our toes. I’m also excited to see how the Lord will use her specific artistic talents and skills this year. So often in a third world country, you are met with people that have never felt beautiful. I cannot wait for Emily to use her gifts to show people that no matter, what they are beautiful in Gods eyes.
Josh is twenty-four and recently worked as an assistant manager at Chase Bank. Naturally, he will be in charge of our team’s finances. Josh has the most incredible affection for the Lord’s people (especially those afflicted by poverty and oppression). His passion for the nation of Haiti comes directly from the Lord. I’m psyched about watching Josh experience more brokenness for the world throughout the year, and I’m hoping to learn a lot from him. Being the only other guy on the trip, I am super excited to bro out with him for sure.
Chaney is twenty-one (soon to be twenty-two) and is finishing up school at Appalachian State University. She’s a tri-athlete and I’m excited about trying to keep up with her workouts next year. Chaney also has a remarkable willingness to be vulnerable. She doesn’t restrict areas of her heart for only a few to see. Instead, she embraces a spirit of honesty and is willing to share her real, raw emotions. I am super excited to show her how to dominate the markets in Kenya.
I think my teammate Emily Peterson says it perfectly when she said,
“It’s extraordinary, really, how quickly I have come to love these five people. There’s no explanation for it other than the Lord took his love and compassion for them and injected it right into my heart. I genuinely feel safe – emotionally, spiritually, and physically – with each of these people. Their vulnerability, honesty, and enthusiasm is inspiring and exciting. I’m not naïve enough to believe that my time with them will always be happy and easy, but I’m confident enough to say that this team will bring me great joy and growth as we live in community together for a year. We will see and experience things that will cause great sorrow, hardship, and struggle in our minds and souls. But we will also experience triumph and victory, freedom, and joy.”
(Christmas Card Matierial)
The meaning of our team name derives from 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, which says:
“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” (NLT)
Our team vision is that we would claim this identity and calling as ambassadors of Christ who will participate in a ministry of reconciliation. Like rivers, we will flood into the nations and bring back life into dry, desolate places. We will overflow with Christ’s love and grace, and Christ will flow into us to restore the dehydrated and thirsty places of our own souls.
