This blog is solely to recognize 3 women who have had an incredible impact on my life for the first 5 months of the Race!
Lo, Amanda, and Tammy!
Here are just some memories and why I love you ladies so much and miss y’all like crazy!
Lo(Lola)
(Not sure why this picture is so big, but here is beautiful Lo(la))
Lo is one of the strongest prayer warriors I know. Her love for the Lord is evident in everything she does. I admire her openess in her relationship with the Lord. She is caring, compassionate, and pushes you to be better; to be who God created you to be. I have never felt more seen, chosen, or loved than when Lo volunteered to come with me to the hospital in Cambodia, not once, but twice. She genuinely wanted to get to know me and hear all about my life outside of the Race. She encourages you to set goals for your life and asks how you will accomplish them. She desires to see you serve the Kingdom in whatever capacity God is calling you to do! She’s a former volleyball player, so obviously we were going to connect haha! She is an amazing woman of God and I love her so much! Prayers for Lo as she begins the fundraising process AGAIN to squad lead a Gap Year Squad (9 months).
Amanda (Manders)
What is there to say about Amanda other than she is so great? She lived in PA for a while, maybe that means something, I don’t know; but seriously, she has been SO influential in my life while on the Race! She has allowed me to view things in different perspectives. She has challenged me, helped me be a better person, who God intended me to be. Amanda has watched me grow and thrive! Amanda got to see “Nepal Meg” kind of struggle and then “Thailand Meg,” who was at rest and in a season of rest and expectation/anticipation for a storm. She is also great at reading people when something is wrong! She is always down to play soccer and is a BEAST! Amanda literally has THE BEST laugh of anyone I have EVER met! I seriously miss her/her laugh SO MUCH. Our team had the privilege of having Amanda with us in our last week of ministry in Thailand; our last week in Asia! It was so great, so much laughter! She is so wise and is such an advocate for inner healing! I cannot wait to see how God moves in her life! Prayers as she figures out what to do now that she is most likely retired from The Race and Squad Leading!
Tammy (Cham Cham, Chammy)
Cham Cham was the first squad leader I got to be with; first week in INDIA! What a serious blessing she was to not just the team, but to me! I feel that Tammy knows me the best, she literally has watched me transform and become a completely different person; not just spiritually, but emotionally AND physically (I’ve lost like 20-30 pounds and she comments everytime she sees me that I’m smaller than the last time she saw me.) Cham understands my life, the struggles I’ve been through, and everything that came up each month of ministry. We have a 1:1 every LDW or Debrief (which will continue in Bulgaria and finally in South Africa, Cham!) She has an awesome personality and is super fun to be around. She makes you feel like you can tell her anything and she still accepts you and doesn’t judge you. She brings different perspective (like Amanda) which allows you to go deeper and process things more. She hated when I called her my Squad Leader and so NOW I can officially call her a FRIEND! Cannot wait to see how Squad Leading ROUND 2 goes for her; yes she is heading out into the field again with a new squad! Prayers for her as she fundraises again!
It has not been the same since these 3 amazing women left us; however,
Eric
Krystal
Michelle
and Jacob
have been amazing. The torch is passed and S Squad is STILL in good hands!
