Hey Everyone,
Welcome to Katy’s blog…… My name is Tiffany Stewart. I am one of Katy’s squad mates on the World Race. Most people on the squad call me “Tiff”, “Tiffster”, “Stew”, “Stewface”, or most commonly “Stewie” because I am one of three Tiffany’s on this squad of 32 people. I am from the little town of Pickens, South Carolina. I have been Vlogging the race (shameless plug for my YouTube Channel) where you can see Katy, myself and other squad mates in serval videos that I have posted while on the race! Anyways, now that you know a little more about who I am, let me restart this blog how I would normally start a blog!
Hey Y’all, (Welcome to the South for those in Michigan or other northern states)
It’s Tiffany, welcome back to the blog….. well welcome to Katy’s blog….. in which I have hijacked for the day! You may be wondering why this is not Katy writing the blog or why on earth someone else has written a blog on Katy’s page. Well I am here to answer that question! The reason I am taking over Katy’s blog for the day is because I really just want to let everyone Katy loves back home know how much I have come to love Katy while on the race!
Looking back on eight months of having been on the race, I don’t really know what this race would look like without the blessing of the friendship that I now have with Katy! I can honestly say I do not remember exactly how our friendship started…. All I know is I am glad it did!!! If you have the chance to ask Katy what she thought of me before the race started this is probably close to what she would say. “I did not really look up many people before going into training camp. I was very busy packing, getting things together, working, spending time with family and friends, and honestly, I am not super big on social media. Although, I did look at just a few people’s introduction videos (get to know you videos) and Tiff’s video was one of them. I watched this video of this really….. Really…..REALLY……southern girl, wearing a sorority t-shirt, who had extremely long hair, and honestly seemed like someone I would not necessarily become great friends with.”
Needless to say, God definitely had bigger and better plans than either of us could have imagined! Before training camp had even ended Katy and I started sharing a tent, hanging out more, sitting next to each other at worship, and just enjoyed getting to know each other. From that moment on I knew our friendship would be one that lasts!
Katy and I have been on separate teams the entire race. In the beginning she was on one team (Unknown Heights) and I was on another team (Stream Team). Now with it being later in the race and after team changes Katy is a squad leader floating from team to team each month and I am on another team (Team Lighthouse) while also being the squad storyteller. Needless to say the only times that Katy and I have gotten to really spend time together are during our two all squad months (Nicaragua and Ethiopia), during travel days to our next country, our week long debriefs (we have had four debriefs) that we get to have as a squad, and our four day trek we both got to be a part of in Nepal. With that being said Katy and I do not really get to spend a lot of time together, but when we do it is always a blessing! My heart is always full after spending much needed time with Katy!
Katy has been such a breath of fresh air in my life. Before coming on the race, I was afraid that leaving home would be the hardest part. I prayed that God would help make this transition much easier. Then, God blessed me with some amazing friendships that have allowed me to find a “home” on the race and Katy is definitely a huge part of that! Katy is such a gentle, sweet, and humble soul. She has been beside me to laugh with me, cry with me, encourage me, support me, pray for me, be a listening ear, and just be my friend. Watching Katy’s love for the Lord throughout this race has been such a blessing. She has such a heart for the people around her. She can see God in the eyes of children. She is amazed by God’s beauty in the creation He has painted before her. She speaks with the Lord so passionately through prayer as if He is sitting right beside her carrying on a conversation. She will so willingly volunteer to help those in need of help. She writes some of the most beautiful poetry I have ever read, as if the Lord is writing through her. She has such a huge heart for YoungLife and finding a way to visit the organization in every country we have been able to travel to. She is also such a loving friend, sister, and daughter.
I cannot say enough about how much Katy has truly blessed and impacted my life and walk with the Lord! So, first and foremost I want to say thank you to her friends and family back home for just standing along side her throughout this journey. Thank you for raising Katy to be such an amazing woman of God and wonderful friend. Lastly, thank you for welcoming me into your lives alongside Katy’s like I am one of your own!
Katy is impacting so many people and is changing so many lives to glorify His kingdom. She is truly living out John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
As I wrap this up, I just want to say this….. Katy is still fundraising to be out here on the field sharing the Gospel and glorifying the Lord. She is only $4,306 dollars from being fully funded. We have 3 months left before this amazing experience of living on the World Race comes to a close. Please not only keep Katy, myself and the rest of the squad in your prayers, but prayerfully consider giving to support Katy as she continues to spread Gods love to the far corners of the earth.
Lastly, thank you Katy for blessing me with such an amazing friendship! Thank you for loving me the way you do! Thank you for never leaving my side! Please don’t kill me for this post whenever you see it!
I love you more than you know!
Thank you to everyone who took time to read this blog. That’s all for now!
Until next time! God Bless,
Tiffany
