As we prepared to leave Central America, and gathered in San Salvador, there was a lot of speculation and anxiety. Just days before the squad received an email informing us that there would be some team changes before heading to Europe. Not sure we were all fully prepared for what unfolded… I surely wasn’t…
Once all the teams arrived at the hostel we gathered at a nearby park. Our squad leaders made some opening remarks and reminded us that change was good. Change is an opportunity to grow. They first announced the changes in leadership. 3 team leaders stepped down and 3 new ones were appointed. We then prayed for the new team leaders and congratulated them in their new roles. Then, all the team leaders went forward to announce who would be on their team. My team leader, Jacob, was second to last in line. As the team leaders started to read off the names it was apparent there were some big changes. Some teams were completely dismantled and new ones were formed. My only prayer in that moment was “dear Lord, please let me keep my team”. 4 of the 6 team leaders read off their lists and I still hadn’t heard my name. As Jacob began to read his list, I was sure I was going to keep my team. As he started to read the names off, I noticed that even our team was different… not only that, but my name was not on his list. My heart sank… My team wasn’t really my team anymore and I wasn’t even on it. There was no more team All Out…The last team leader in line read off her list and certainly my name was one of them. I didn’t even hear who was on the team. All I knew was that it wasn’t my team.
I am a creature of habit. Change is not something I welcome. Not only was I taken off my team, whom I had spent the first 3 months of the race with and grew to see them as family, I was placed on an all girl team… just me and 5 other females. I was devastated. Everything in me did not welcome the idea of a new team… especially an all girl team. It was probably more of a dramatic reaction than it should of been, but I was just not a happy camper.
We then had to go make a memory with our new teams. As we sat for ice cream and I finally took in who was on my new team, I realized that I had not spent any time with these 5 ladies. If you made a list of all the ladies on the squad that I did not know, they would be on that list. I just had not taken the time to invest in them. I mean there’s 31 of us… I guess you can say that I had been operating under the false impression that I could have my team the whole race. HA! Where did I ever get that from lol.
This month will definitely be a challenge. New continent, new culture, new language, new team and a new leadership position (we’ll get to that in the next blog). For the first time on the race I will be completely out of my comfort zone in every way possible. These 5 ladies seem like a great bunch. I am sure we will have a great month.
Ever feel like junk just doesn’t go your way? Or you think things are great and then a curveball is thrown your way? I challenge you to embrace that change. Accept that thing you don’t really want. God works in mysterious ways. We just have to trust and believe even when we do not understand.
(Team SHOW. Beth, me, Alyson, Miranda, Kelly and Shannon)
Stay Blessed
Kim 🙂
