The Lord has done some major heart surgeries on me these past months. He took me exactly where I was at and spoke His truth into me. He’s opened my eyes to see that I have been in place of what I thought was freedom and contentment but was really captivity and settling in who I was. He redeemed me and taught me how to forgive myself in month 1. To learn how to have bold faith and to pray while falling back in love with Him being my first love in month 2. And how to never settle and always strive to be higher in month 3. To truly walk in freedom in the truththat my identity comes from Him and Him alone.
I give ALL the glory to God and God alone but I have to also give credit to my amazing teammates. They have all stood by my side encouraging me, praying for me, and continually building me and my faith up. They have shown me what it truly means to have joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, faithfulness, and most importantly love that comes directly and only from the Lord.
I would love to share with you all who exactly these girls are. They aren’t just faces in my pictures but sisters who have molded my heart to look more like Jesus.
Savannah: The first impression I had of Sav was at training camp when she asked me about my story. When I told her, she listened so intently. I instantly knew she sincerely cared about what I was saying about my life. And that genuine friendship only grew from there. Sav is a woman of wisdom. She may be the youngest by years but her wisdom far exceeds age. She is a person who when she speaks, everyone intently listens and soaks up her words like a sponge. A burning passion for Jesus is what I had grown numb to and didn’t even know it. helped me realize that passion I had been missing. She has reminded me how much of a privilege is it to have a relationship with Christ and passionately love Him. She has spoken so much truth in me about His love for each and every child of His. Sav is a woman of light. She has helped me believe just that. Savannah is one I have can sit quietly by and enjoy the presence of Jesus and also one who can make me laugh with joy. Her love language is mountains, bread, and french fries which has made me love these things with a new perspective (well… mostly mountains haha). Being a team leader has brought some tough days but Savannah is one who continually encourages me in that role and has truly pushed me higher in giving up control and depending on Christ. She also have taught me some awesome dance moves haha!
Ali: Ali is someone who you first look at and admire her beauty but then when she speaks, you admire her love for Jesus. She is a woman of confidence and honesty. I can always count on her to give me the truth even when it isn’t what I want to hear but I need to. She gives me encouragement in helping me grow in the hard places. She has helped me in letting go of what is “easy and comfortable” and reaching for higher. Her testimony is one everyone needs to hear. I look up to her in the way she has allowed Jesus to COMPLETELY change her. She used to be independent, doing it all on her own like so many of us, but now is fully dependent and obedient to what the Lord is calling of her. Ali is one who will cry with others and share their struggles and their joy. When she prays, she prays with every ounce of her heart and I can literally feel Jesus’ presence. Ali can move mountains with her faith. And she never settles when digging into the word. If there is something in the Bible that she does not fully understand, she digs and digs until she figures it out. This is phenomenal (her favorite word) to me because it has made me more aware of my understanding and having a desire to know more. AlPal also is my workout buddy. I can count on her to be my two when I need some extra endorphins from exercise. We always joke because she is my long lost soul sister and safe place where we can and have always been able to be ourselves with ease around each other since day one when we decided within an hour to get our noses pierced if we were on the same team.
Bailey: BaiBai is something special. She has taught me more than I could ever imagine. We were talking about how our friendship has taken more time to grow but the roots are deeper because of it. After hearing each others story, we found out how similar we are and how we can help encourage one another in ways that no one else can. Her story gave me so much respect for her and a sense of a bond that will forever remain. Her growth the past 3 months is so inspirational and brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Her heart change radiates outward in everything she does and inspires all who are around her. She is the walking definition of walking in Christ’s freedom. Bailey also is the most servant hearted person… our team probably would not survive without her. Not only does she cook us meals almost everyday, she also trims our hair, sows our clothes when they get torn, starts fires out of grass, walks beside me when I feel unsafe on the streets, cooks cookies when I need some sugar, and also gives me melatonin when I am in desperate need of sleep. (Melatonin and good sleep is treasure on the race!) BaiBai is also the most loyal person I know and that she would protect any of us from any type of danger… I call her my protector haha (street dogs and wasps are real here in Europe!) She has taught me what it means to walk in freedom and how to truly love others as Christ does.
Claire: Claire became a Beloved on month 2 and I praise Jesus everyday for that because she was exactly what our team was missing… she was the missing 7th Heaven piece! She brought a sense of gentleness and peace on this team. Claire is a person who changes the atmosphere in a room when she walks in. I can be feeling anxious or stressed out and just being in her presence, I can feel Jesus’ peace. She has taught me a huge lesson these past two months… she has shown me that gentleness is a gift from God. All my life, I have been told I am gentle but I have felt that being gentle has caused people to walk over me and take advantage of me. I felt college and situations in college told me to be more outgoing and more aggressive in the way I portray myself to protect my heart. Claire has reminded me why gentleness is a fruit of the spirit and taught me how to be gentle with joy. I feel so blessed to have learned this and put into action in my everyday life. Claire brings out my inner gentleness and pushes me higher in who Christ created me to be. To be Nicole and no one else. We also have similar stories concerning the one thing that has continued to hold me captive. (Galatians 5:1) It was this month that I finally released that and can walk in freedom! All the glory goes to Jesus and thankful praise for putting Claire in my life to look up to the possibility to finally believe I deserve more and Jesus’ plan for my life is greater than what I would say I deserve and settle for. I am forever thankful for Claire.
Elizabeth: Liz was the first person who I felt comfortable around. I clinged onto her without her knowing for several reasons. First, she is absolutely stunning and her smile is so inviting, it brings a sense of acceptance and grace to all who are around. She was also on the same path in life as I was before the came to Europe. We had both just graduated nursing school and had lived the same demands of life the past two years. She has reminded me why I first chose the path of nursing. Her compassion level for others is remarkable and so inspirational. Liz reminds me to love people exactly where they are at and serve as Jesus serves. She is also a woman of honesty and joy. She is always authentic and shares her heart and mind with open honesty. I strive to be more like Liz in that way everyday. I have been one who holds my opinion in case of offending someone because my opinion differs but Liz shows that every opinion matters. I have seen myself walk in more peace and freedom in believing that what I think and am passionate about matters. She also brings so much joy and laughter to this team. Her stories brightens the entire team and shows me how laughter is such a sweet gift from our Father. Liz is probably one of the funniest people I know and she can turn a very tense and awkward environment to a joyful and lighthearted mood… she brings the light of Jesus into a room. That is a gift that comes only from the Lord and such a HUGE blessing for our team. She also has served our team so well in being our treasurer and taking care of our budget! Dads I can’t wait to see what kind of nurse Liz will be when we get back and our many patients’ lives she will change by showing them the light of Jesus.
Campbell: CamBam and I instantly become friends from the instant I met her when she embraced me in the biggest hug the first day of training camp. Cam is full of joy and was my shoulder to lean on when entering month 1. Cam is a woman of wisdom and knowledge. She speaks truth from the Bible that flows out who we are in Christ and brings to light the lies that come from Satan. The thing I am most thankful about Cam is the tone she set for me month 1. She and I would have 2-3 hour quiet times every morning in Serbia which I will never forget. She brought the importance of having intimate time with Jesus. She also has flamed a desire in me to know Jesus on an intimate level, a level so deep that it will something I strive for everyday for the rest of my life. She brings knowledge of the Bible to our team with love and grace. When one of us are feeling down, she is the first one to grab us by the hand and pray. She has changed the way I pray and how often I pray which will forever change my life for the better. I look up to Cam in the way she loves our Father and how she carries the weight of her relationship with Jesus with respect and joy. One thing that I truly cherish from Cam is the way she affirms people around her. She can speak truth and love into someone in a way that comes only from Jesus and can change your day in an instant. She is a natural born leader and teacher and I am so thankful for all she has taught me in these 3 short months.
I have always been taught about the benefits of being surrounded by a Christian community but have had the mindset of “I can do it on my own.” But just after three months,my opinion is forever changed. I do not ever want to go through a day in life without these girls but also community that is founded on the Lord. I may have been chosen with the role of being the team leader on Team Beloveds but these 6 women have led me more than I can ever explain and I am forever thankful for them shaping my heart to be more Christ-like. These friendships are such a blessing because I have been praying for Christian friends to push me and call me higher for years and Jesus not only answered that request but answered it X6!
