I’m the oldest of 6 kids. One sister and four brothers. It’s always my go-to ‘fun fact’. We work together like clockwork and our banter is effortless. When someone is missing, the entire dynamic changes. They are my foundation and, quite honestly, my best friends. They are my support system and in a sense, they are an extension of myself. When they hurt, I hurt. When they rejoice, I rejoice. And now I have to leave them. For a year.
Truthfully, leaving them has been a huge source of worry while preparing for this journey. Who is going to take care of them? Who is Danielle going to vent about work to? Who is Max going to crack nerdy jokes with? Who is going to watch Adventure Time with Michael and Timmy? Who is going to take AJ to the local pet shelter just to visit the animals? But if we’re being honest, my biggest worry is, who is going to be there for me? Who will I have?
Well as it turns out, the whole ‘brothers and sisters in Christ’ thing isn’t as lame and cliche as I thought it was. Because at training camp, I was adopted into a family of over 50 new brothers and sisters. And they’re the real deal, too.
One of my sisters held me as I sobbed in the middle of a mock African market. One of my brothers took the time to explain what fasting is all about. One of my sisters wrote me a note that changed the way I identify myself. One of my sisters prayed for me and told me exactly what God needed to tell me (it was kind of creepy, actually). One of my brothers gave me the warmest hug on one of the coldest days when I didn’t have a sweater. One of my sisters shared everything she had with me on a night where I, and two other girls, had nothing (p.s., I still have your socks).
I told my mobilizer that I thought training camp was going to be the worst week of my life. But it turned out to be one of the best because of my new family. All those seemingly small things they did for me added up. These people fought for me, and I for them. And soon I discovered that when they hurt, I hurt. And when they rejoiced, I rejoiced. And now I get to do life with them. For a year.
