When I write my blogs, I want you guys to feel like you are where I am at. Please live vicariously through me. I want my blogs to be raw and vulnerable. I want to share the good, the bad, and the ugly with you guys. So right now, you are in Africa… Welcome….PSA you probably have dirt all over you. (the red Swazi clay is no joke. )
We have been living in the Kingdom of eSwatini for exactly six days. However you won’t get this until I have wifi. Thank the Lord for being unplugged. It is such a blessing wow. Anyways, it feels like we have been here for yearrrrrr, but really it has been less than a week. I have already fallen in love with this country, and the smiling people here. Ahh They are so so great. AND ITS SO PRETTY HERE! THERE ARE MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING US 360!!
I want you guys to know me inside and out, but also my new family…..Team Auxano…. Auxano means growth in Greek. We chose this name because we all wanted this year to be a year of growth in many aspects. We wanted growth in our selves, our relationship with the Lord, our knowledge of Him, and we want to grow the kingdom of God. We are currently living at an Adventures In Missions base with our whole squad (which is around 45 people), but we go out and do ministry with our teams. My team is made up of six people plus our team leader. I want you guys to know the people God placed me with, because they are having such a huge impact on me and the ministry we are doin
Grace DiGioia
Grace is our team leader. She is 19 years old. She did the race last year; going to Ethiopia, Cambodia, Nicaragua, and …. She is crazy enough to come back and take on the task of leading us. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina where she lives on a lake, and is always on the water. She also is super in to surfing. She will be attending Liberty in the spring after spending the three months with us. She likes la Croix, which is so gross, but we love her anyway. She also doesn’t like pie, which is sad, but we will give her another break I guess . She is kinda amazing in every way possible. It is definitely a God thing that she is our team lead. I could not imagine a better team lead. She is really good at creating a safe space for everyone on the team to be themselves. She’s such a blessing. I don’t know what we are going to do when she leaves after our three months in Swaziland.
Brooke Libby
Brooke is 18 years old, and is from Georgia. Imagine Olaf and that is what Brooke is like. Her smile lights up a room like no other. The Lord has gifted her with such a happy carefree charisma about her. Ive never meant anyone who smiles as much as her. She love’s soup ahaha. She talks about her love for soup all the time. Ive never met any one so passionate about soup in my life. She is also very passionate about older people, and is really good at making everyone she meets feel loved. She has such a big heart, and wants everyone to feel welcomed. She is just a very bubbly, spirited person. Brooke’s key says powerful, and we do not know what it personally means for her just yet. I am PUMPED for we He does reveal the meaning!
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brookelibby.worldrace.org
Anni Burgdorf
Anni is 20 years old. She is taking a break from college in her sophomore year at the university of Texas A&M. She is a very picky eater, and I am so proud of her branching out and trying new foods. She has a heart for special needs kids. That is something she is most passionate about. She has a very gentle, loving spirit that reflects the Lord’s gentleness in more ways than one. She is also a very flowery person. She has flowers on everything. its great ahaha. Her key says confident, and since launch we have seen her wild self come out of her shell!! The Lord is producing confidence in her before our very eyes, and it has been crazy to see how spunky she really is.
Kate Mullis
Kate is 17 years old now, but when I post this she will be 18. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!!! ( September 21) Besides the fact we have almost the same last name, we share the same love for singing. This girl can SING. She is also very passionate about dance, and the theater. I know she will some how use that to share the gospel is some way shape or form. She is allergic to gluten, and we eat peanut butter sandwiches EVERYDAY. She has been such a trooper, and has never complained about eating a hardboiled egg for lunch instead. She is always ready to put other needs before her own. She has such a peaceful presence, and is kinda the mom of the group. Her laugh is also the WaCKieSt laugh I have heard. Her key says reach, and we also do not know what that means at this time. The Lord will open her eyes to it throughout the race.
katemullis.theworldrace.org
Emily Turoff
Emily is 18 years old. She is from Navarre, Florida. She lives and breathes the ocean. She’s honestly kinda like the ocean… very powerful but very calming at the same time. Which is crazy, because her key is calm. She LOVES birds. She brought a whole big book on African birds to Swaziland, and she knows all these different types of bird calls. She does not like kids, but she has already opened her heart more to them in just a week. She is surprisingly very good with them, and I am so exited to see the Lord continue to grow her love for them throughout our time here is Swazi. Emily is super outgoing, and is always coming up with new crazy ideas. She is an adrenaline junky to the max from sky diving, constantly scuba diving, and surfing, she’s alway up to something. She is also going to save the world one day, because she is so in to saving the environment. Last but not least, She wants you to know she’s been to Mexico.
Olivia Johnson
Olivia is 18 years old, and is from Dallas, Texas. She hates roaches with a passion. She has a song for just about everything. She’s always got a song stuck in her head. She is one of the most caring people I know. She is always very considerate of other peoples feelings, and is good at relating to other people. She goes out of her way to make sure everyone is pleased and comfortable. She has a heart of gold especially for the kids. She has a personality that draws people in. Her key says bold, and it has been so great to already see her step out and dive in to being bold in her faith.
oliviajohnson.theworldrace.org
These are my people. My new family. My church. My roommates. The people I do life with. I wish you were here to meet them, but this will do for now. 🙂
