As we say goodbye…
 
here’s a small taste of my beautiful friend & Squad Leader, Stephanie Fisk, who says goodbye to us through her blog,
as well as a community of friends & now family who will never forget…

 

 
My second journey with the World Race finished a few nights ago when I was crowned with a pink Ukrainian butterfly tiara at our squad banquet. It matches beautifully with my coconut shell butterfly necklace. About three weeks ago, I started a three point blog: A Wine Challis, Butterfly and Silver Key. The first two rolled off my tongue while I was in Romanian. But then I disappeared into the “black hole” called Moldova. It appeared as though I had disappeared off the face of the earth, which, unfortunately, paints an all too accurate portrait of what happens to many Moldovan children and women. (Blogs about my time in Moldova are coming soon – so please stay tuned!)
 

For the moment, I want to return to the butterfly. Transformation. I want to tell you about the beautiful transformation that took place in the lives of 32 individuals over the past 11 months. While countries flew by – Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, England, Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa, Malawi, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine – one thing stayed the same: our Father. One jealous Father whose love changes lives. 

It’s still very difficult for me to find words to explain how I feel. My heart is imploding and exploding all at the same time. Joy in watching them (my squad) soar, yet a sense of loss in seeing them leave the nest. Pride in their victory, yet pain that naturally accompanies a runner at the end of a race. Love cuts deep into one’s spirit; yet entwines lives eternally. 

I am so proud of each one of you: not for what you have done, but for WHO YOU ARE. And if you only remember one thing, let it be this – “You are still the same person right now (in America), that you were in Nicaragua or Cambodia or Mozambique or Romania. God did not transform you throughout the past 11 months for you to just forget WHO HE IS or WHO HE HAS CREATED YOU TO BE. You are a Hebrew’s 11 saint. Read it…everyday if you need to. Your faith in God’s character changed the lives of prostitutes in Pattaya and Hi Chi Minh City. Your faith in God’s name restored the lives of once hopeless and voiceless women in Swaziland. Your faith in the truth that God is the one and only God challenged the belief system of Muslims in London and Malawi. Your faith in the idea that God is the Father to the fatherless comforted orphans in Mozambique and youth in Moldova. Your faith in the notion that God can do what He says He can do raised people from the dead and brought them into the Kingdom in 26 countries across the world!”

I love each one of you and Thank God for you. Each of you has impacted my life more than you will ever know. My butterfly crown off to you! This video is dedicated to YOU and your transformation! 

Thank you supporters and prayer warriors for believing in my squad and me. I hope that as you watch the video, you will see the impact that you had on the lives of 32 racers. Because of you, I had the opportunity to serve them and love them along their journey.