This month is the first month that my team is on its own. We have usually been together with at least two other teams, so this is a little bit different. But it has been great. Our team has learned how to work together in the best of ways and we have had the opportunity to bond.
As we were sitting around the dinner table one night, we decided that we would try something new: Guest Blogging. We all wrote things about each other for everyone to post on our respective blogs. Below is what my team wrote about me, as well as their blog links so you can check them out as well! They are incredible people with incredible stories, and you will not be disappointed!
From Zack Thayer (zacharythayer.theworldrace.org): Matt is courageous, he lives with his hands open to God. I can’t wait to see all that God has for him in the remaining seven months. Matt brings a lot of joy to the team along with his humor.
From Kara Murray (karamurray.theworldrace.org): Matt has picked up a few nicknames over the last month, one of them being sweetheart. He’s not the biggest fan yet, but I think he’ll learn to like it. After meeting Matt at training camp I was blown away by his wisdom and his passion for the Lord. It’s been crazy cool to see him grow over these 2 months and become more eager and excited to learn.
Here is a haiku that I wrote for Matt:
Matt hates all the cats
Sometimes we call him sweetheart
One day president
From Zach Yoder (zacharyyoder.theworldrace.org): Matt is always enthusiastic and he’s very good at using his humor to lighten the mood. Two of his biggest fears are cats and spiders and he aspires to one day be the POTUS.
Matt is very genuine and his consistent positive attitude is always encouraging to me. He is very wise and it’s inspiring to see his desire to preach and share the Gospel.
From Alina Stumbris (alinastumbris.theworldrace.org): Matt, he is deathly afraid of cats and spiders. One of the first nights in Botswana he faced his fear and killed a massive spider with our kitchen broom… fun fact- the spider played dead and he broke the broom into several pieces. We also share the same sense of humor, and laugh extremely hard together. Also since he is an Eagle Scout he often times tells us that he bleeds gold and can stand in fire because it won’t burn him…
Since being on the race I have noticed so many fruits within Matt. He has strong wisdom within him, he has so much goodness to share. He is always working extremely hard. You can tell that whatever ministry is he is ready for a new challenge. It is so admirable to see him flourish in so many different ways. Matts hard work ethic encourages me to always work hard as well.
From Noah Larkin (noahlarkin.theworldrace.org): When Matt runs for President one day, I’ll tell you all the embarrassing stories during his campaign. He has such a dry wit that it can be hard to tell when he is being serious and when he is joking. Except about cats. He is always serious about cats… always.
Matt may come across as all sarcasm sometimes, but he has the mind of a man seeking God in the normal things of the world. He is incredibly smart and loves to prove it. He focusses that intellect into studying scripture and its always fun when he approaches me, Bible open, and says, “Ok, now what I found is…”
From Kate Paulson (katepaulson.theworldrace.org): FUN FACT! Matt LOVES to cook food. This month our team gets to shop for and prepare all of our meals on our own, which is super fun. Matt has definitely earned his spot on this team because of his insane chef-ing skills.
He is truthfully one of the most humble and service-minded people I have ever met. One of my very first impressions of him at Training Camp was that he was someone that would empower and encourage others no matter what, and would truly seek the Lord’s heart for them and decided to believe what God says about all people.
From Dakota Chance (dakotachance.theworldrace.org): Fun Fact- He is terribly afraid of cats and just like me he is also terrified of spiders, so I like to mess with him and prank him with that a lot. He is very passionate about cooking the team meals and I would say he does it well.
From Josie Dehlin (josiedehlin.theworldrace.org):
Random memories I have of Matt:
– Me walking into the kitchen one morning and watching him attempt to pour coffee into an upside down coffee mug.
– Us cutting down banana trees after the hurricane in the Dominican.
– Four hour conversations about anything and everything on a rooftop in Haiti.
– Laughing A LOT together.
– Talking about God and what He has been doing in our lives.
– Doing village ministry in Haiti and hearing him share the gospel (the second time I heard him share the story of Christ was to a lady who gave her life to Christ before we left her house)!
