Meet Team Mariposas. We are strong, creative, passionate women of God. We desire to serve people just as much as we serve each other.
This is us: (from left to right) Kati, me, Aspen, Hannah, and Victoria.
KATI: a brave fighter, story teller, advocate for many, creative, joyful, and incredibly news savvy.
ASPEN: a leader driven by the Spirit, adventurer, carefree, and a hilarious friend forever.
HANNAH: a learner devoted to seeking knowledge, loyal, unique, and dances on the devil.
VICTORIA: a nurturer, tenderhearted, witty, and positively the most humble person I know.
Here we are. 4 days without showers (our water is out), looking cute as heck, squeezing each other tight through the stank. We’re the Mariposas. Expanding our fearless wings to the unknown possibilities in Ethiopia.
While praying for this season I had known for awhile that it’d be one of rest. I was excited for change, new gal pals, and a new continent. What I didn’t know was how active rest can actually be. The Father spoke to me and asked me to take a break from social media, to finish rereading the Gospels and to pray with a new prayer language. The last one got me. He said, “I know you are continually expectant and I know you know I can, so just say “thank you.”” So far this month I have been only praying from a place of gratitude and man, has it changed things. He loves us so much! Living, breathing, and praying from a place of knowing I am loved has made me see through different lenses. Ones with a fierce tenacity, seeking to love deeper than ever before. To love like Jesus does.
Perfect love.
What does that even look like? (1 John 4)
Having the best example of how the Father has loved us has given me a kind of resilient drive to love others the same way.
Now, it is a season of rest for me and I am resting a ton. I get my own room, a team who loves to sleep in, relax and watch movies. I’m getting more time to rest in the Word, in His presence, and I am resting in who He is. Knowing His true character and how much He loves me is seriously the best rest you could ever get. It is also a time where four new strangers become my life partners in a foreign country. We get to become community, the ones I trust, rely on, and count on to call me higher. This month is gender month, and me being on an all girls team… not gonna lie, I cringed when I found out. I typically dread female friendships or all female anything. I have been burned countless times, rejected, and left to be forgotten by several gal friends. I have always struggled with trusting that women are being their genuine selves. I fear getting close to any female due to past experiences. Through complete and utter surrender to the Lord and what He has in store for this time He graciously reminded me that, “perfect love casts out fear.”
Again, perfect love? (wow)
He is my perfect example. (thank God)
So, to rid of the fear I not only should receive the perfect love freely given to me by the Father but also give it away. I am not the only girl on the planet who rolls her eyes at the mention of “all women” whatever. I’m not the only woman who has more male friends than female. I am not the only one with this completely ‘rational’ fear of female friendships. Perfect love casts out fear and some does come directly from God but there is also an invitation for us to show that love to one another and to chase out any fear. When we are fortified by love the fear has a much harder time coming against us. (thanks Miles)
Showing love to these ladies this month is my ministry. It is my goal. My goal is to learn each of their love languages, to make sure they feel pursued, valued, seen and heard just as the Father does. That our perfect love shown to each other will not only drive out every fear of our own but every last fear from the ones around us. We have been thriving this first week. We smashed some fears, celebrated several victories, and opened up to one another. Projecting the perfect love has enabled us to be vulnerable and champion each other. These gals, in such a short amount of time, have also shown me the perfect love and allowed me to see what healthy female community looks like.
Thank you Papa for redeeming the time that was lost while I lived in fear. Thank you that You restore every broken thing, every relationship, You restore it all. Thank you for Your feminine side, it is relatable, comforting, and nurtures my needs. Thank you for Your faithfulness and goodness. You always provide for me even in ways I would have never expected. You show me what true relationship and community looks like and with You at the center I could never fail. I won’t fear because your grace has covered it all. We can conquer any fear with Your perfect love flowing from within and through us. I love you Papa.
~written in love by your local gypsy
