Well…here's the moment that we've all been waiting for! (And if you haven't been well than I guess I'll just speak for myself) After 5 months of much anticipated waiting, I finally know what any Racer longs to find out when they first sign up for the Race…my first team!!!
You can say that this has been something that I've been longing to know (sometimes patiently, sometimes impatiently), something that I've spent much time in prayer over, and something that I've thought about for awhile now. And why wouldn't I? These are the people that I'll be living with 24/7, 7 days a week (for 11 months potentially!). These are people that I'll be doing ministry with, eating with, doing shannannigans with, experiencing other cultures with, resolving conflicts with, encouraging and rebuking with, and a host of other things that will occur when one lives so closely with others for an extended period of time.
I remember the day before and the day of finding out our teams, I was really nervous about which team God would have for me. Lets face it…I love all of N squad!! There really wouldn't be anyone that I would be disappointed to have on my team. But at the same time it was something I was nervous about because this would impact my Race experience a lot. The night before we found out our teams, I remember spending a lot of time in prayer just asking God to provide the right team for me and that I would be accepting of whatever that team may be. I had a number of people prophecy over me, reassuring me that God was sovereign over this and that He knew exactly what team would be best for me.
I guess you could say they were right…spot on, to be more precise.
I was so pumped when I first found out my team! The other guy, Justin, was someone I connected with right away and is someone that I admire a lot for his walk with Jesus. The girls, Mary, Julie, Alyssa, Chelsey, and Katrina, are all amazing women of God who love Him passionately and love each other passionately. And as a group, we all connect well and seek to put each other first before ourselves. What more could I ask for.
Below is a picture of my group
Left to right, top to bottom: Mary, me, Justin, Julie, Chelsey, Alyssa, Katrina
Mary: She was one of the people that I first connected with on the first day of training camp…(she needed help repositioning her tent as she set it up to face the woods directly rather than the rest of the squad). She is an amazingly wise teacher (she literally is an 8th grade teacher) and her guidance and encouragement will be crucial for this team. She also has a heart that radically pursues the Lord and the plans He has for her (just ask her what she all gave up to follow His calling). She also has a HUGE servant heart. I'm so excited to learn from her!
Justin: Man I love this guy! He may only be 20, but this man is already a strong leader and shepherd of the people God's given him to lead (which is why I'm happy to say he is our team leader). He is a man full of wisdom and discernment over God's word and what He is doing in peoples' lives, including his own. And above all else, he is one of the most humble men I've met. (I always leave a conversation with him having a deep longing for his humility) I'm so excited to be led and taught by this man.
Julie: She is a spark plug. I've decided I'm going to shoot for having the team call her "Sparky." (Not really, but if it catches on i guess I'd go along with it). But seriously, Julie brings sssooo much energy and enthusiasm and uplifted spirits to the team. She is super social, engages people well, and seeks to make sure everyone is involved and heard from (something that we will need to be aware of as we have many social butterflies on our team). But the thing I admire most about her is her honesty and genuineness. She is never afraid to verbalize her thoughts, advice, or feelings regardless of what people may think of her. (She is a Michigan fan though, which could pose problems for a devoted-Badger fan like me).
Chelsey: I'll give you a before and after. Before the Race: I know zero styles of dances (I only dance solo in large crowds) After the Race: I know swing, salsa, ballroom, line, square, and any other dances that are out there. And it will all be because of Chelsey. On a more serious note (although dance is very serious with the people of N squad), Chelsey has a beautiful heart that loves the Lord and loves people. She faithfully pursues deep relationships with people and is a great encourager. She also just simply loves life, which brings a lot of joy and peace to the people around her.
Alyssa: She has a quiet strength that can at times get overlooked by the people around her, but I believe, will be a source that God uses to provide the rest of our team with strength, especially in the difficult times. Let's face it, regardless of how awesome the Race is/will be, there will be some tough, faith-stretching, just plain difficult times. And Alyssa can always be counted on to look on the bright side and see the good of every situation rather than getting so caught up in the bad. When I think of Alyssa, I think of when Paul wrote of how he learned to be content in any and every situation (Phil. 4:11-12). That's what she is: joyful and content. (She is a Buckeye fan though, which will add to the already tense Big Ten rivalries that are forming).
Katrina: Katrina is smart. Not only does she have two majors, an endorsement, and speak Spanish almost fluently, but she also is wise in word of the Lord. She may not be the most talkative, but when she does speak, you can always be sure its with wise, biblically sound teaching (she's another teacher at heart, what can i say). She also just loves people really well. That may not sound too spiritually impressive, but as a person who struggles with that, I am excited to learn from her. She cares for people in an amazingly deep way and is a great example for when Jesus says, love your neighbor as yourself. She also is well traveled and will be our go-to person for helping us survive in this dangerous place called Earth (besides God of course).
I'm so excited about this team!! Each of us has a unique set of gifts that God has given us and together we will be a force that God can use in some amazingly mind-blowing ways! I can't wait to grow alongside each and every one of them and for all the adventures we will have together! I love them all!
This is my team: Reckless Pursuit
(I will explain more about our team name in a future blog…this one needs to end)
