K-Squad,
You are loud, you are brave, you are gentle, you are welcoming, you are firm believers, you are supportive and caring, you are tender, you are spontaneous and outgoing, you are filled with joy, you are incredible new friends.
Here’s to the year I set out with complete strangers to embark on an 11 month journey across the world where the only thing for certain was uncertainty.
This blog is a tribute to you, even through hard times and tension this is genuine and I truly mean every world.
___________________
Matt- Thank you for teaching me intentionality with every local I meet no matter where I go. Thanks for showing what a smile and simple “can I help you?” does to spark an entire relationship. Thanks for showing me that sometimes the valleys are deep but you can always put in effort to climb out.
Clayton- Thank you for showing me what a servant heart is. Anytime, anywhere, no questions asked you were always there, always doing what wasn’t asked of you. It’s a characteristic I hope to ingrain slowly within myself, I promised it never went unnoticed.
Anthony- Thank you for being logical, realistic, and analytical. You always welcomed good conversation and were always willing to increase in knowledge and share your own. The way you handle yourself professionally is something to aspire to.
Mike- Thank you for a showing me a what a massive heart of wild flowers look like. Truly watching you give the shirt off your back, getting on your hands and knees to pray for anyone, being completely open-minded has set standards higher for myself to uphold. Yet, you’re wild and free and will not be defined by people, places, and things and that’s just a good reminder to not be trapped in the garden society is growing us in. You chase after the King … and a good bakery.
Marah- Thanks for your spunky attitude and constant dad jokes. Your “can do” willingness at any obstacle you face teaches me that it doesn’t matter the height of the mountain, in the end it’s just another mountain.
Jessie L- Pick your words carefully and then sing them with the appropriate tone. Let’s be real JL, you know what you want to preach and you preach it good. I’m more aware and mindful, let that be tribute to you.
Alyx- Thanks for wisdom and a bunch of other stuff. You got scripture in your soul and the way you use it to spread the Kingdom inspires me to learn and study it more. Your humility in who you are and your flaws also shows me your courage as a leader, willing to always be the first to admit their faults – that’s a rare gem, it’s refreshing to see, keep it close. Thanks for being the one I turn to when I need some guidance and someone to tell me what scripture says. Thanks for being a WR bestie that I call both my squad leader but also my friend. Thanks for letting me say all the things and thanks for helping me process it all, pointing me back to the Lord in each circumstance.
Amanda- Thanks for your creativity. It’s not always deep conversation or prophecy but it’s taking an item and flipping it upside asking, “what do you see now?”. It’s the way you can change perspective that amazes me, I’ve learned there will always be another way we could do something. Let your mind go beyond the limits you put on it, learn that whether you lean more towards art or science, our world needs both. In a factual career path where things are demanded to be black and white you remind me that grey isn’t always bad.
Kayla- Thanks for showing me resilient joy. That’s tough stuff, that’s hard knock, and that’s beauty. You’ve taught me that in the darkest of places you can shine your light and it will be seen AND it will light OTHERS paths. Let God bless you so you can bless others. You’ve never let your light out and if it did go out there wasn’t anything stopping you from putting fuel back in its fire. Thank you for showing me the importance of shining in every season.
Lakota- Thank you for being truly a person I inspire to be like. Without a question or hesitancy you are there willing to sacrifice anything in every moment. You give without thinking and some may call it foolish but I think the Lord says you are much like my Son. If any day I could give without hesitation like you do I’ll know it’s accredited to you, to someone that walks so much like Jesus walked. Thank you for that Koots.
Rachel Morris- Thank you for being a rock and an anchor. Watching you over this past year it seems that you never wavered on the Lord or your faith. Yes, troubled times but you are clearly an example of what it means to build your faith on solid ground – you’ve done it. I’ll always think of you when I am unsure of what’s next or come to the fork in the road. You are discipline and have intentionality about calling upon the Lord for directions, I hope to do the same.
Taylor- Thank you for being firm in your beliefs. Thanks for not easily wavering but still being open minded. Thank you for showing me the importance in knowing why you believe what you believe. It has opened the door for me to question just exactly ‘why’ to many things in my life. I agree it’s important and know that it stemmed from watching you understand your own convictions.
Crystal- Thanks for being a powerhouse woman. I have watched you be determined with motivation that you know our God is on your side, better yet, that you’re on His side. Your trust and faithfulness in the Lord this past year has never left me short of amazed. As I’ve watched you I watch someone with persistence that the Lord will come through over and over again. I will take this with me for when I get low on myself maybe doubt He just won’t do it this time, I’ll remember your faith. Also, how much you jump in full force even if you don’t like something — your willingness is outstanding.
Courtney- Thank you for your boldness and bravery. Thank you for showing me that my past is my past for a reason and that the Lord can redeem anything. Thank you for teaching me that no matter where I am in life, if I stray away, the Lord will love me and welcome me. Thank you for being like an older sister that listened so intently and was always willing to give guidance even during times I didn’t want to hear it. Thanks for all the small things and all the hugs. Forever just one of your nugs!
Mary- Thank you for teaching me about justice. Thank you for teaching me about being a strong woman. Thank you for showing me that I have the power to make a change and that I have the duty to educate others to join me in this change. Thank you for being an advocate for so many things and striving unconditionally for equal education for all. Your determination and leadership is an extreme exemplification in how we should all go about our passions.
Emma- Thank you for teaching me about so many topics I was naive to. Thank you for taking my questions and answering them gently and kindly without sign of entitlement. I believe you have a gift for teaching and I have enjoyed each one of our conversations. Thank you for also inspiring me to help others share their stories. As much as I want to share mine I know others want to share theirs as well but might not have the means to. It’s important to sit down, listen, and help them in that way. I hope to share stories of those that cannot one day.
Carsyn- Thank you for your desire to have everyone see themselves as the Lord sees them. No matter one’s circumstances or situation the Lord sees them as His children and I think you see the same. To look at the world with those lenses is incredible and something I look up to you for. The gentle, kind-hearted way you go about letting people know that they are important, valued, seen, and loved is amazing. You remind me of the picture of Jesus sitting on the rock with children on His lap and crowds around Him, everyone wanting to hear that they are so loved by the Father. You never cease to remind me of that, thank you.
Jessie B- Thank you for having such a heart for the Lord. Thank you for showing me what Him setting a fire down in your soul really means. I constantly watch as you thirst for more, more of Him, and seek out ways you can find it. Whether it be through scripture, conversation, podcasts, or researching you’ve always set an example of what never being complacent with your faith looks like. Also, thanks for being a WR bestie that’s been a should to cry on, a bed to share laughs on, and always will search for coffee and chocolate with me even if you don’t like it yourself!
Hannah- Thank you for showing your heart for abused women. Thanks for being so led in a direction that the Lord is calling you and using yourself as a resource there. Thank you for all the laughs and the good times. Thanks for being such a prankster and good sport about being pranked only because you’re gullible (hehe). I admire the way you carry yourself light-heartedly but take no injustice lightly. You are bold and I inspire to be fearlessly passionate as you in what the Lord has for me.
Karrie- Thank you for loving this squad well. You clearly have natural nurturing characteristics, always conscious of how others are feeling and doing. You never fail to make me feel better or feel loved and that isn’t just the back rubs talking! You’re a great listener and you can tell how genuine you are in your responses. Thank you for all those moments you took a second to ‘check up’ on me, I hope to do the same to those I’m in community with moving forward.
Amber- Thank you for opening the door to vulnerability. Thank you for putting trust in strangers and thank you for showing us that transparency isn’t easy but what the Lord can do with it is great. You have been my biggest role model in transparency and vulnerability never shying anyone away and coming forth yourself. Vulnerability breeds vulnerability and I think this squad started with you. I will always admire you for that and think back on how courageous you are with the hard conversations, I greatly aspire to that.
Julie- To the most unique brain on the squad, thank you. Thank you for your unintentional verbal processing that makes others think. Thank you for always be conscious of others and their mental/emotional state. Thank you for caring about the animals so tenderly. The way you think and act has taught me so much about stewarding our responsibility with this world. I will always appreciate your deep concern for every single person and situation, sometimes you don’t always say it but your face easily shows it (the whole squad could do the face… haha… I know, Julie… “oh no”). You’re a world of joy to be around.
Myself- Thank you for taking a chance. Thank you for having enough courage to be bold and abandon all the comforts of your life for the most daring step after Jesus. Thanks for opening up your heart to 22 other strangers and plenty more along the journey. This is one I can promise, you’ll never regret.
Much love and many blessings,
Rachel
