A guest blog one week before coming home??? Bet you didn’t expect that! Hi my name is Hannah Key, one of Michelles teammates and I am here to tell you about my friend. Ok intro over, we out.
Dear friends and family of THE Michelle Moxley,
I’m here to announce that the person coming back to Portland Oregon in 5 days, one of the most wonderful woman I know, will be the same woman that left you 9 months ago. She still loves coffee, CrossFit, the office, friends, hates cats, and have I mentioned she loves coffee. At the center of who she is she is the same. She loves the Lord with all her might and is loved by Him with the most unstoppable force in the universe. The truths of who Michelle is have always been inside her, and maybe you’ve been able to see them in her before she left. Coming home you will realize very soon that she has now found them and embraces and delights in them every single day. She has grown so much that she could be unrecognizable, but maybe that means you just didn’t pay enough attention to the real her before. So welcome to my letter about Michelle Moxley: who she is, the what she’s learned, and things to expect with her coming home.
Michelle is a woman of great discipline and wisdom. Her time she spends with the Lord each morning is sacred and comes before absolutely everything else (even crossfit). By prioritizing her relationship with the Lord she is constantly being filled up and pours out to the people around her without getting burnt out. She truly knows what’s best for herself and fights with everything inside of her to get what the Lord desires for her. She hears the Lords voice clearly and spends intentional time in prayer seeking confirmation. Please don’t ask her “what are you gonna do next year after Bodenseehof” or “yeah well after that what’s your next plan.” First of all do you have the next 10 years planned? And second of all, the Lord doesn’t always tell us everything all at once and I know Michelle is patient to hear what’s exactly from the Lord and what’s worldly. Trust me, she would love to know as well.
You may also see that Michelle is a woman of so much freedom it makes me want to cry. She has overcome the lies the devil has attacked her with over her body image and her eating disorder. Because of these chains falling off she’s been able to show tangible steps of growth. It has been an honor to stand beside her as she has her first ice cream in over 4 Years, go to the beach with her in the first swimsuit she’s owned since 7th grade, drink soda, have candy bars, etc. She walks in freedom of what others think and confidence in who she is. She’s no longer afraid to be silly and sing and dance no matter who is watching. Once she comes home and you want a late night snack maybe some gluten free cake or pie, she’s your girl. While battling the lies of the devil she’s also struggled with the words of people in other cultures who don’t share the same sensitivity to comments about outwards appearances. Michelle has handled these moments beautifully. Through obvious hurt she turns to the lord, praying and journaling finding the hurt and bringing straight to Him. Michelle is truly unshakable.
I’ve seen Michelle grow in patience this year with dealing with living in community or just dealing with me. She’s learned the power of her words and continues to choose kindness more and more. She is still sarcastic and loves to joke but she knows now when its appropriate and knows when it’s better to be gentle. She never reacts out of anger and Is extremely self aware when she’s acting out of emotions. Her self control is unquestionable and she walks out peace which is one of the many things I admire about her. My friend Michelle walks in so much honor. When she’s home don’t even dare gossiping around her she won’t have anything to do with it. No matter if she agrees with your words or not she won’t play into bitterness . Michelle is thriving, becoming more like her best self, who the Lord says that she is everyday. She has authority over who she is. She is no longer who other people say she is or the lies of the devil and because of that she is more herself than she has ever been. She isn’t perfect and she doesn’t pretend to be. She’s there to talk with you through anything and never judge or condemn you. Don’t be afraid to bring things to her she holds others hearts so well and treasures trust.
These last nine months weren’t just a trip, or a vacation full of adventures. This last nine months was real life. Just because it was lived differently from everyone at home doesn’t make it any less real. She didnt “get traveling out of her system” so she could “ get on with the rest of her life” and “go to college.” Her life doesn’t need to fit the mold of the normal American dream for it to be adequate. With that said, please pursue her and ask questions when she comes home. Have grace with her and the process of reentry, but if I know one thing its that Michelle is an external processor and wants to talk about it. Have coffee with her whether you are best friends or not and allow her to fully share her heart with you. You won’t regret it.
With Love,
Hannah Key
