Ignite Fuego (Ignite Fire) [written shortly after my return home]
Our team is/was a family of trailblazers! One of our goals was to light a flame deep inside each soul we met for the betterment of furthering the kingdom. My journey over the last 3 months certainly would not have been the same without them! Ryan, Brian, Erica, Vivian, Kearston, and I were and are forever team Ignite from 7/11 until 1/12. We went through a lot of ups and downs together but made sure to have a lot of laughs along the way. We certainly grew a lot from the beginning of our journey till the end and for better or worse it couldn't possibly have gone the exact same way had others been involved instead. God places people and situations in our lives for a reason and sometimes what one person sees/does/expresses to you is what someone else just simply cannot do. People are placed in our lives for many different purposes whether it be to help/encourage us, challenge us, grow patience within us, change our outlook on things, be a shoulder to lean on during trials, or just to be our voice of reason during uncertainty. These 5 individuals and I certainly had many times when those things were dragged out of us due to our new relationships and small living quarters… but eventually trials & growth are used only to make you stronger.
Team Ignite officially came to an end during low tide on 1/2/12 in Lake Nicaragua. As was customary in the Bible, we made a small alter of remembrance for what the Lord has done for us individually and as a team, before moving forward into more unchartered territories with our group. Brian brought a leaf resembling new beginnings, Kearston brought a cool little bomb thing to symbolize her busting out into bigger/better things the Lord has planned for her life, I brought a small blossomed flower with hopes that the next time around it'd be large and more full of life, Ryan brought sand like that of an hourglass to symbolize time passing by, changes occurring, and our inability to control it, Vivian brought a rock b/c the Lord is our rock and foundation, and Erica brought a (dead) crab to represent herself at times, haha, as well as a stick with a few different branches coming together to represent our diverse team.
The following night, I had the opportunity to have one last meal with my team Ignite family. We were able to talk about serious and silly stuff, have lots of laughs, reminisce about many inside jokes & random times throughout the race, etc. I was able to give Dan some of my food for old times' sake, haha, reminisce with Jordan, talk with Kenra & Caitlyn, and have a lot of laughs with Ben as well. All in all, it was a good time and I'm super appreciative to have had that chance! I just wish I had more time with everyone… During our last squad meeting in Nicaragua we sang together, prayed together, talked with each other, encouraged each other, and thanked each other for some of the things that've transpired over the last 3 months. The squad surprised me w/ an Ignite shirt full of loving messages & encouragement. [see pics below] They also prayed over me as well as the 3 girls that were close to being sent home and thanked the Lord for the financial miracles He performed for them that day.
(front and back of my signed "Ignite" shirt)
(Courtney, Viv, our cheerleader/support coach Liz, & Nikki after a long day support raising)
