So I am going to be posting a ‘Behind the Camera’ blog each month. My general focus for each of these blogs is to show the faces of the people that I have been doing ministry with over the past month without any pictures of me. This month, in particular, was all squad month, which means that instead of living with just 6 people, all 40 of us lived together and did ministry together. Early on in this month, I was super duper excited because I love people. I love community, I love having a lot of people around me, everything just becomes so much more fun. As I was praying the first week of this month, I felt the Lord telling me that my squad would be a big part of the ministry that I would be doing this month. On many different occasions this month I found myself staying up late at night having conversations with different members of the squad, and in a way, that really was a ministry. There were people here with pain, with unprocessed emotions, with hurt in their lives that needed to be brought to light and brought to the Lord. I feel blessed to be such a part of this beautiful community that the Lord has given me, its incredible.
I’m not going to post any details about anybody’s stories here because I want to keep those types of things private out of respect for those people. However, I did end up getting a picture of every single person on the squad just showing true joy, which is something that I would love to share with all of you! I will write a little thing about each person as well, either something I find cool about them or a story that the two of us share. I will also post their own personal blog websites as well so you can go and peep their websites too if you’d like!
Our Team of Leaders!
Amy Heitzman!
She is our squad mentor, which basically means that she leads us from the U.S. She came down to Thailand for a couple weeks to serve with us here and she is such a blessing to our squad.
http://amyheitzman.myadventures.org
Alex Kirby!
He is one of our squad leaders, he has been a participant on the World Race before and now has joined our squad to lead us for the next few months! His passion and heart for worship is inspiring in so many ways.
http://alexkirby.theworldrace.org
Marissa Anderson!
Marissa is our other squad leader, she also did the World Race in the past and has been chosen to lead our squad on this journey. She has such a fun, curious and genuine personality. She is a lover and embodies truth.
http://marissaanderson.theworldrace.org
The Freedom Runners
Cody Harvey!
Cody pretty much can’t help but be happy at all times.. it’s strange. At one point this month, we thought he may have had a bruised and/or fractured rib, he proceeded to cause himself pain because he couldn’t help but laugh and be joyful!
http://codyharvey.theworldrace.org
Abby Hutchinson!
At our hostel in Chiang Mai, the showers were in little enclosed stalls next to each other on the roof of the building. One day I walked into the shower and Abby happened to be in the stall next to mine and I then shared with her a great guacamole recipe.
http://abbyhutchinson.theworldrace.org
Jacob Colter!
I have no clue why he looks so bashful in this picture, but I’m into it… Real talk though, Jacob is one of the smartest and most humble men that I have met, he really carries himself with such a confidence and peace about him.
http://jacobcolter.theworldrace.org
Jenny Brown!
When we were doing our manual labor ministry this month, Jenny was put in charge of making sure that everybody had our lunch ordered and all that jazz. One of the days, I finally realized that I burn a lot of calories when I am doing manual labor and so I ordered two meals from her and she looked at me like I was a lunatic.
http://jennymbrown.theworldrace.org
Lauren Kelly!
One time I dropped a rubber ball on Lauren’s foot and her reaction was so dramatic that it was as if she was just pierced in the shoulder by an arrow.
http://laurenkelly.theworldrace.org
Shawn Arruda!
Shawn only sees the best in you. He will seek out everything that you are good at encourage you with every ounce of his body to seek that out and will make you feel so good about doing the things that you love.
http://shawnarruda.theworldrace.org
Theo Donoghue!
Theo literally looks just like Jesus.. both spiritually and physically, its obvious.
http://theophilusdonoghue.theworldrace.org
Team Tigress
Eva DiDonato!
Eva used to be a 1st grade teacher.. I wish she was my 1st grade teacher.
http://evadidonato.theworldrace.org
Paige Holness!
10 years ago, Paige was in the Hannah Montana movie.. 12 year old me is so jealous.
http://paigeholness.theworldrace.org
Krista Booker!
Krista and I have an oddly similar sense of humor, which, if you know me, is a really really strange sense of humor..
http://kristabooker.theworldrace.org
Ashley Collins!
Ashley and I have a shared obsession with toasties from 7Eleven.. basically, a toasty is a cheap, cheap, cheap panini that they sell for about $0.75 at 7Eleven.
http://ashleycollins.theworldrace.org
Sharon Mosley!
I learned that I really enjoy sitting next to Sharon in group things because she always has a funny comment to make that only I can usually hear.
http://sharonmosley.theworldrace.org
Ashley Jones!
She is one of the coolest people here. I walked into the hallway one night and looked at her and she, all of a sudden, had dreadlocks and I was filled with envy.
http://ashleyjones.theworldrace.org
Vessels of Joy
Calin Medeiros!
One night, we dared Cae to put a whole raw egg into her mouth and to bite down.. two minutes later, we were cleaning yolk up off the floor.
http://calinmedeiros.theworldrace.org
Brynna Hilton!
Brynna was sitting a couple chairs away from me while I was writing this blog and she was eating ice cream. She gave me the rest of it!!
http://brynnahilton.theworldrace.org
Amanda Gillespie!
Amanda is really soft spoken, but she constantly makes little jokes that you have to listen really closely to if you want to hear them. I realized this really quickly and always am listening out for her to say something funny because it is always coming.
http://amandagillespie.theworldrace.org
Hannah Latone!
She has the singing voice of 15 angels put together and shoved into a human voice box.
http://hannahlatone.theworldrace.org
Jeorgi Pulfrod!
Jeorgi is known all over the world for her sandwich crafting skills.
http://jeorgiannapulford.theworldrace.org
Sydney Nunley!
Syd was wearing a watch once and somebody asked her what time it was.. while looking down at her wrist, she replied, “oh.. this doesn’t work.”
http://sydneynunley.theworldrace.org
The Way
Hannah Greene!
One day in the airport, Hannah was sitting in her sleeping bag and sitting in a chair and I was so delirious at the time that when I looked at her, I thought she was sitting in a potato sack. She now has the nickname of ‘Sack.’
http://hannahgreene.theworldrace.org
Macy Shepard!
Macy is the oldest of 4 and she acts like it. I am the youngest of 4 and I act like it. I literally do my best to pester her like a little sibling as often as I can.
http://macyshepard.theworldrace.org
Madison Goforth!
Madison is ALWAYS full of energy. She does everything with serious, serious passion, its truly inspiring.
http://madisongoforth.theworldrace.org
Adria Johnson!
Her last name starts with ‘J-O’ so she has the nickname ‘Jo’ (Joe), which I don’t really understand. Her last name is Johnson… so I call her John.
http://adriajohnson.theworldrace.org
Morgan White!
She is a true American patriot. She has a crush on young Ronald Reagan and knows more about American history than you know about any subject that you’ve ever studied.
http://morganewhite.theworldrace.org
Malysa Napoli!
A fellow squadmate and I once determined that if Malysa weren’t 5″1′, she would be a major bully. She’s tiny and aggressive similar to a Chihuahua.
http://malysanapoli.theworldrace.org
XOXO Gospel Girls
Savannah London!
Sav is loud and goofy, and can be friends with anybody that has eyes on their face or legs on their body.
http://savannahlondon.theworldrace.org
Vicks Pantle!
Vicks has a huge VICKS logo spray-painted onto her pack, like Vicks Vaporrub, it’s almost impossible for her to lose her backpack, like genuinely.
http://vickiepantle.theworldrace.org
Steph Peltier!
Steph brought a pack on this trip that is literally larger than she is. I swear, every time she puts it on, it’s dang near impossible to see her if she were to turn around.
http://stephpeltier.theworldrace.org
Marisa Runnals!
Everybody calls her Ris, and for some reason, every time I say her name, I say ‘Ris’ like 10 times straight and get quieter with every ‘Ris.’
http://risrunnals.theworldrace.org
Stacy Vega!
I was asking Stacy if she was planning on buying any souvenirs while in Thailand and she said, “no, I don’t have any room in my pack… i bought a lamp.”
http://stacyvega.theworldrace.org
Caitlin Casey!
Caitlin and I got along the first day we met because we are both from the 414. We will occasionally look at each other and just shout, “fo one fo!”
http://caitlincasey.theworldrace.org
Tercules
Ryan O’Keefe
If I ever need a laugh, all I do is ask Ryan what his nickname in college was, often with a confused look, he will calmly reply, “O’beef.” I always laugh.
http://ryanokeefe.theworldrace.org
Amanda Warden!
Early on in our journey, Amanda mentioned that her little brother and her rarely ever pestered each other. I made it my all time goal to be the annoying little brother she never had the pleasure of experiencing.
http://amandawarden.theworldrace.org
Farrah Soliman!
I am convinced that Farrah is the nicest person on Earth. Her smile could cure any disease.
http://farrahsoliman.theworldrace.org
Shiloh Bullard!
Since day 1, I have been searching for something that Shiloh is bad at. He literally is good at everything.
http://shilohbullard.theworldrace.org
Stella Udeozer!
Every time that people are dancing, Stella and I sit next to each other and laugh at people for how they dance.
http://stellaudeozor.theworldrace.org
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I am blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful family! These people are amazing, and are filled so evidently with the love of God! I love them all to death!
Thank you for checking out my blog! I am pleased to say that we have now reached over $13,000 raised! That means that I only have like $5,000 left to raise! If you would like to help support me by donating, there is a ‘donate’ button at the top of the page! It would mean the world if you would consider supporting me on this journey! I am excited for the beginning of month 3 in Malaysia!
Much love!
