Family. This is a word that has always carried special meaning and importance in my life and something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. If you know me at all, then you know how incredibly close I am to my family, including my unconditionally supportive boyfriend & close friends whom I consider family, and how very much of an influence and impact they have each had on my life . . . including the querky ones that sometimes drive me a little crazy. Even with thousands of miles between us and communication limitations, they are still a consistent source of support and encouragement in my life.
Yes, their role is still vital and always will be, but it has changed, and I’ve been blessed to increase my “family circle” this year.
First of all, there are the missionary families that I have been able to connect with and some even physically live with during several months of the race. These experiences offered me a chance to connect with individuals and often times a culture in a way that I otherwise would not have. Several of these families welcomed me into their lives and made me a part of their family for a time and brought refreshment into my life by providing that connection that was missing given my physical distance from my family. I am so pleased to be enjoying this blessing again this month as I live with the Gurung family in Nepal . . . praying & worshipping together, cooking together (I am actually learning some cooking skills!), and sharing our lives through “family talks” with no shortness of laughter.
Then, there is my World Race family, which I define in 2 parts. There is a squad family and my team family and they each play an important role in my journey this year.
My squad family is like my extended family that I see on holidays and special events. Even though they aren’t always present in my daily life, I know that the care, concern, and prayers are always there for me and that when we do meet again it will be as if we just saw each other yesterday. They are also like my extended family in that I love to get to be together with all of them . . . but small doses are quite enough. 
My team family is like my immediate family. These are the people that I not only live with, but that share in and influence my spiritual & emotional growth on a daily basis. There is a level of trust and vulnerability in this group that would normally take a lifetime to build, yet we have achieved it (on Team REAL) in a few short months. Two new members have recently been added to my team, and I think of this like when people “marry in” to the family . . . our initial unit is just as strong as ever and the new additions have just brought added spice and potential for growth. Though my team unit has been altered a few times during this journey, the Lord has been faithful to provide who I needed, when I needed them, to create the “family” that I needed.
As I have been continually reminded throughout this journey, God is good and He knows what is best. As I reflect upon this, I am SO GRATEFUL for my family at home and for the supplemental family members that He has added to my “family circle” throughout this past year. Each of these people has played a role in my growth and my journey to achieve what He has purposed for my life. I am SO BLESSED!
