As
I’m preparing to leave this adventure and come home to the Omahan
world I once knew, I am becoming more and more aware of some of the
‘culture shock’ that I am going to experience. I have become
increasingly aware of how abnormal my life has been over the past
year and that as I come back to the states I am going to be expected
to readjust and readapt to the culture and the lifestyle that once
was so common.
There
are so many things floating around in my mind about this upcoming
transition (and probably another blog,) but one of the things that I
thought would make re-entry a bit easier was if I quickly introduced
you to some of the people I have spent my past year with.
So
here they are, in no particular order, the people that I love.
Amy
Duncan. 26. Anderson, Indiana
While Amy’s name is one that I’ve
known before (shout out to the other Amy Duncan!!) she is one like
I’ve never met before. Amy led the wonderful team Gozo the first
three months of the race and was on team undignified with me for the
following five. For eight months I got to spend every waking moment
with this beauty queen. I got to watch her passionate relationship
with Papa God grow deeper and more intimate and from her, I got to
learn what it means to truly be a leader. This one is a strong
bugger and has been a consistent friend through-out this race.
Kelsie
Funk. 24. Lilburn, Georgia
Well.
Ha. I don’t know what to say. This one’s my friend. She was my
first friend on team Gozo and my bosom buddy on undignified. Kelsie
and I went through a lot together the first eight months of the race.
From shoveling poop in a dump to bungee jumping to demon
casting-outing, this one and I have been through it all. I was given
the blessing of watching her ask questions, search out answers and to
grow into a woman almost unrecognizable from the beginning of our
race. I will miss the Funk in my life.
Sarah
Bousquet. 30. Thousand Oaks, Ca (or hoity-toity Vermont)
I also had the joy of spending the
first eight months of the race with this one, and I’m serious when I
say joy. This one can laugh…and laugh and laugh. And without her
on my team, I seriously go through withdrawals. She worked as a
first grade teacher for ten years before coming on this adventure and
has easily become one of my favorite people in the world. (Oh—and
she handled finances for me on team undignified…I tend to remember
us as the ‘dream team’…either that, or Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
Whichever.) Sarah B, I love you.
Sarah
Olmstead. 23. Blacksburg, Virginia
I
only got the joy of living with this one for the first three months
of team Gozo, but, let me tell ya, she knows how to keep things
interesting. From her vast knowledge of animals’ reproductive
systems to her unmatched self-confidence, things never got boring.
Being on different teams the remainder of the race I missed out on a
lot of the incredible things that the Lord did in her heart, but the
evidence is there. She shines. And it’s beautiful.
Brian
Barrett. 23. Valdosta, Georgia
Brian
flew solo with the Gozo gals…and he loved it. We actually
convinced him to get a tattoo with stick figure drawings of each of
us girls, but then had to re-convince him that that was a horrible
idea and that his future wife would hate it. Brian’s name means
strength and honor (which he got tattooed on his chest instead) and
on this race I’ve had the privilege of watching him walk into his
namesake. And his facebook profile says that he knows six different
languages…sooo…that’s pretty impressive.
Katie
Hines. 24. Wichita (or Manhattan), Kansas
Katie
joined me with team undignified, which is humorous because she is one
of the most dignified members of this squad. As a fellow
mid-westerner and lover of the arts, Katie and I clicked immediately.
She’s a french speaking NASA freak who knows everything about
anything but decided that none of that even matters. I had the joy
of walking alongside Katie as she questioned her priorities and
decided that the Lord is the only thing her identity should be found
in. She is beautiful. More and more everyday.
Erin
Thames. 24. Gordon, MA
Erin was another undignified chica
and wore the name well. Erin brought the fun and kept our team on
our toes. She was always laughing and thinking up creative things to
do as a team all while meeting doctors and seeing hospitals in
seriously every country on the race. (Erin—I will never forget the
doctor in Kenya…) Life is just not the same without Miss Erin
Thames.
Laura
Finley. 24. Crowley, Louisiana
As teams changed the third time and
I was no longer on a team with any of the girls I had spent my race
with, Laura entered my life. Laura and I were fellow team leaders
together and fell in love as we led our teams through three months of
Africa (with two Asian bookends.) She’s an incredible
singer/songwriter who will be famous someday. Do you see that
face…you should remember it. As sad as I was to be away from the
girls I’ve spent my entire race with, Laura has quickly become one of
my favorite humans alive. (And…I’m not just saying that because
she’s proof reading my blogs.)
Gina
Beukelman. 23. Topeka, Kansas
A passionate mid-westerner with a
love of simple beauty. She loves to laugh and just have fun. Gina
has taught me a lot in the short amount of time that we’ve been on a
team together. She’s taught me to be honest and maybe without even
knowing it, has pushed me to not be such a coward all the time. She
has taught me to be responsible for myself and not to burden myself
with other people’s bondage. Gina’s strong and has a story of
strength. I thank the Lord for my time with Gina.
Jared
Messenger. 30. Washington D.C.
My
leader. I have loved what the Lord has done with me and leadership on
this trip. I came on the race an awesome attribute to a team and
learned what it means to be a leader…as soon as leadership became
comfortable, the Lord shifts things around, teaching me how to
follow. Jared has taught me about respect. He has taught me humility
and he has taught me to work hard while being an example of what
discipline looks like. I’m so glad that he’s leading this team.
Taylor
McKellar. 21. Chattanooga, TN
Taylor
and my teams worked together the first two months of the race, so I
have been able to see him at the beginning of this adventure and now have the pleasure of ending the race with him. I’ve said from the
beginning that Taylor has a place in my heart that only my brother’s
share. I’m not sure how he got in there, but I love him. I love
him…and he has the ability to make me mad the way that only my brother and Mitchell can do. Taylor is a natural leader who people flock to. A brand
new christian, Taylor was baptized and celebrated his one year with
Christ on the race. I’ve had quite a few moments of sadness when I
thought about him not living in the same city as me.
Tiffany
Berkowitz. 22. Gainesville, Georgia (or San Diego, California
My
original squad leader. I had never experienced a connection like I
had with Tiffany. The first time we talked I fell in love with her.
She has been God’s gift to me on this squad. Whenever I felt like I
was alone or on the wrong squad, the Lord reminded me of the woman He
put as a leader of this squad. She knows her Daddy and she knows who
He says she is. She is young, but speaks with power and strength.
She has taught me, poured into me and challenged me. And I’ve never
been sad to say goodbye to her because I know that I will be spending
the rest of my life with her (in some aspect or another.)
Patrick
Baez. 25. New York, New York.
I
don’t really even know what to say about this man. I love him. My
other original squad leader. He’s been good…and quick at telling
to ‘get over myself’ whenever I’m having a pity party. Which
happens…maybe a lot. Thank you Patrick Baez…for not putting up
with my crap.
And
last but not least…
Andrew
Bennett. 26. San Diego, CA and Tricia Wegman. 25. Ohio or Costa Rica
These
two picked up the reigns when Patrick and Tiffany went home. They
began squad leading and called up the leaders that I led with. They
encouraged me, came along side of me and believed in me. They spoke
life into me and taught me what it means to be a leader. They’ve led
our squad through eight countries, pushing us and pouring into us.
They came on the race to be a participant and ended up leading us
all. Praise the Lord for them.
Well…
I’m
leaving out about 20 or so odd folks that have walked through 11
months in 11 different countries with. Each one has loved,
ministered, listened to and laughed with me. Each one has been
radically changed and each one has a story of how the Lord has turned
their lives upside down.
I
don’t know if you can tell…but I love the Q.
(ps…i’m not in the above photo…so don’t look too hard. loves!)
