Fullness of One

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into
him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held
together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working
properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians
4:15-16

I would like to introduce my blogging community to my new
family! Keturah Weathers, from my old L.P.P. team, and I were able to stay
together, but now we are surrounded by five new strong and beautiful women of
God. Leisa Schlichting is our team leader. And our other teammates are: Jeanne
Bensch, Hannah Vitkus, Lauren Outcalt, and Casondra Radford.

Keet. As the youngest on the team, our relationship
resembles that of closely bonded sisters. (I have always wanted a younger
sister!) We love to share with one another what God speaks to each of us and
where he is taking us- often times it is down the same path. We have so much to
learn from one another. Her fresh perspective on Christianity and genuine love
for God’s Word inspires and refreshes me every single day. She has this raw and
vulnerable way of just opening her heart up to God in prayer. God has given her
and is training her in the spiritual gifts of prophecy and discernment. Keet
also has one of those great senses of humor where she doesn’t mean to be funny
but funny things just fall out of her mouth all the time! So needless to say we
laugh a lot!

Leisa. I respect her so highly as a leader. Her heart is
truly for her team first and foremost. She is a Shepherdess. Her heart is selfless,
bold, genuine, and uncompromising when it comes to her faith. She is very easy
going and down to earth, but at the same time has this uncanny way of knowing
what’s going on under the surface, and in a very firm but gentle way, calling
it out and then imparting Godly wisdom. Leisa is a friend of God. You don’t
have to spend much time around her to know this. Her relationship with him is
as natural and organic as all her other relationships. He speaks to her so
clearly and when she shares what he says, it edifies all who hear. She has been
gifted by God in leadership, wisdom, exhortation, and prophecy.

Jeanne. I probably knew Jeanne the least of anyone on our
squad at that time when I opened my envelope in the Philippines which revealed who my
new team would be. Ironically, the previous day, I had just stated: I really
need to get to know Jeanne better! Now she is my roommate here in Cambodia
and the more I get to know her, the more I love, cherish, and appreciate her.
She is authentic and vulnerable. She is a selfless servant and a generous
heart. She cares for the needs of others before her own. She loves, loves,
loves to laugh and her laugh is infectious and contagious; it immediately
lightens and brings joy to everyone around her. As her roommate, to me, she has
been an open book, willing to share and not hold back. She is trusting of
others and trustworthy. Jeanne is one of those that will be a loyal friend for
life.

Lauren. When I opened my envelope and saw Lauren’s name, all
I could do was smile. We had connected early during our time in the Philippines
when God brought us together to share a conversation and encourage each other,
but in the craziness of the month, I didn’t have much of a chance to reconnect
with her, which made me a little sad. She is someone I have always admired from
a distance and hoped we would become good friends. She is loyal and decisive.
To the friends she has she is a dependable, strong, pillar of steadfast love.
She is a quiet, gentle leader who leads by serving. She is crowned with wisdom
and knowledge. I also see the gifts of mercy and healing being developed in
her. God is going to use her to bring miraculous healing to people and I am
excited to be on her team to witness it firsthand!!

Casondra. She is lively. Wherever she goes, life and
laughter break out. She is goofy and rambunctious. She is always trying to put
a smile on your face and sometimes all it takes is to get her laughing because
her laugh is also extremely infectious. While she does offer comic relief, she
has one of the most caring hearts I know. She is the first to ask you how
you’re doing, especially when you’re down. She reads people well and she
genuinely wants to know what is on your heart. She is the first to scratch your
back when you’re not feeling well, be an ear when you’re frustrated, a shoulder
when you’re sad. She is most definitely gifted in mercy and hospitality.

Hannah. She is the quiet, administrative body in our group.
She serves behind the scenes much of the time, even in “real life” outside of
the Race she is the “middle man”. She loves networking and making sure that
those around her are cared for and reach their full potential. And because she
serves in this way, I want to take time to say, “You are not over looked, but dearly
loved and appreciated, Hannah”. She is a strong, independent woman but it is
beautiful to see the work that God is doing in her to trust and depend on the
body of Christ. She has been gifted with wisdom, knowledge, and administration.