This story is a story that starts back at the beginning of it all…
I honestly don’t remember how I first met her, but I know it was during the long week of World Race Training Camp–May 18-25, 2013. I think she showed up late and I know there was something about a sinus surgery involved, but other than that I didn’t take notice of this small, quiet girl that easily hid in the cracks of the big personalities that surrounded her during this adrenaline filled week.
Next thing I knew of her was 5 days later. We were at the end of our days of team building activities and I found myself sitting at the other side of the same bench as her, huddled up over the same piece of paper that explained our final test’s task. At the end of it our squad mobilizer, Jessica, looked at us all and asked, “who would you want to be lead by on this team of 7.”
I honestly don’t remember how I first met her, but I know it was during the long week of World Race Training Camp–May 18-25, 2013. I think she showed up late and I know there was something about a sinus surgery involved, but other than that I didn’t take notice of this small, quiet girl that easily hid in the cracks of the big personalities that surrounded her during this adrenaline filled week.
Next thing I knew of her was 5 days later. We were at the end of our days of team building activities and I found myself sitting at the other side of the same bench as her, huddled up over the same piece of paper that explained our final test’s task. At the end of it our squad mobilizer, Jessica, looked at us all and asked, “who would you want to be lead by on this team of 7.”
“Jordyn!” I said, probably all too quickly, while pointing across the picnic table at the 20 year old rock star. She smiled and then said, she’d pick Jordan too. The other one. Quietly sitting down at the other end of the bench from me.
I think this is where the adventure really began for us.
I think this is where the adventure really began for us.
The next morning came quickly and she was awkwardly told to stay back for a meeting. There, she was asked to be team leader and was given 6 minutes to pray about her answer. She irritatedly walked outside and sat down saying, “really God?? You think THIS is what I should be doing? I can’t deal with my own life right now, I shouldn’t be going on this race, and I most certainly should NOT be team leading on it. You tell me why I’m sitting here right now being asked to step up as team leader and I’ll do it. Otherwise I’m going home.”
………
Flashback to 2 days prior to this. Before final teams were being made and team leaders were being called up. She stood in a circle with 4 other squad mates, everyone’s eyes closed as they waited, prayed, and listened to what God had for the one who’s shoulder had been tapped. Who’s shoulder was tapped? No one knew. But that’s what made the discipline so purely The Lord. Our own thoughts and ideas of the person tapped couldn’t get in the way of what God wanted to say to them, because only He knew who was tapped to begin with. Prayer time came to an end and everyone who got a word from God spoke it out, the tapped victim still left unrevealed. The two prophetic words from her circle? 1) “Speak loud. Be bold. Speak loud. Be bold.” 2) A picture of a bird perched on its branch. Able to fly, but incapable of believing in its own ability to do just that. Then the words, “be free & fly.”
“Who was tapped?” They asked after the words were given. And they all turned to look as she raised her hand.
………
She sat and looked up at the sky as she questioned the God they so often called good. The top of the tree line meeting the sky caught her eye as a big, beautiful bird flew up over it. It came up high above her and she stared at it as the bird circled over top the spot where she sat. One circle, then another. She waited for it to fly by. But it didn’t. Instead it continued to circle as one after another, 6 other full winged bird beauties, came in line behind the first to circle above the tree line. “Jordan, this is you.” God whispered to her. “And the birds behind you are your teammates. I want you to lead them & I want you to let them be your family. Be free & fly.”
Later that day our final teams were called name by name and we wept with excitement and awe of our Creator as our warrior team leader told the story of how she came to be.
………
Flash forward to month 7, going on 8. I’ve now spent all but one month of the race with my sister, Jordan. She led me for the first 3 months, got taken from me during team changes going into month 4, and was returned to me as one of my treasured team Jacob teammates month 5. We entered month 5, Thailand, as Kate & Jordan. But left, and have continued as, Tang-Mo (watermelon-Kate) & Bi-Furn (fragrant leaf-Jordan). These are the Thai names we were given during our month 5 stay.
Flashback to 2 days prior to this. Before final teams were being made and team leaders were being called up. She stood in a circle with 4 other squad mates, everyone’s eyes closed as they waited, prayed, and listened to what God had for the one who’s shoulder had been tapped. Who’s shoulder was tapped? No one knew. But that’s what made the discipline so purely The Lord. Our own thoughts and ideas of the person tapped couldn’t get in the way of what God wanted to say to them, because only He knew who was tapped to begin with. Prayer time came to an end and everyone who got a word from God spoke it out, the tapped victim still left unrevealed. The two prophetic words from her circle? 1) “Speak loud. Be bold. Speak loud. Be bold.” 2) A picture of a bird perched on its branch. Able to fly, but incapable of believing in its own ability to do just that. Then the words, “be free & fly.”
“Who was tapped?” They asked after the words were given. And they all turned to look as she raised her hand.
………
She sat and looked up at the sky as she questioned the God they so often called good. The top of the tree line meeting the sky caught her eye as a big, beautiful bird flew up over it. It came up high above her and she stared at it as the bird circled over top the spot where she sat. One circle, then another. She waited for it to fly by. But it didn’t. Instead it continued to circle as one after another, 6 other full winged bird beauties, came in line behind the first to circle above the tree line. “Jordan, this is you.” God whispered to her. “And the birds behind you are your teammates. I want you to lead them & I want you to let them be your family. Be free & fly.”
Later that day our final teams were called name by name and we wept with excitement and awe of our Creator as our warrior team leader told the story of how she came to be.
………
Flash forward to month 7, going on 8. I’ve now spent all but one month of the race with my sister, Jordan. She led me for the first 3 months, got taken from me during team changes going into month 4, and was returned to me as one of my treasured team Jacob teammates month 5. We entered month 5, Thailand, as Kate & Jordan. But left, and have continued as, Tang-Mo (watermelon-Kate) & Bi-Furn (fragrant leaf-Jordan). These are the Thai names we were given during our month 5 stay.
We’ve had more laughs than we can count, more tears than we’re willing to admit, more tough conversations than we hoped to ever have to have, more chocolate milk dates than the race would approve of, but mostly, more adventures than we’d ever have the time to tell.
So here’s an “at a glance” chance to see our picture book friendship. Scroll through the adventure and read the thousand words within each captured shot:
Oh, and her birthday is January 30th. So wish the girl a happy birthday week!!
So here’s an “at a glance” chance to see our picture book friendship. Scroll through the adventure and read the thousand words within each captured shot:
Oh, and her birthday is January 30th. So wish the girl a happy birthday week!!
