Nothing could have prepared Ashley, Maggie, Jessica, Rachel, Wendy and me for what God brought us through over the last 3 months of our lives. From the garbage dump in Tondo, to the severe sickness that passed through our entire team, the devastating passing of Wendy’s mother, the typhoon, and saying goodbye to Wendy for an indefinite period of time in the Philippines. To a remote village in China, learning how to be missionary ninjas, hiding from police officers in our hotel, and experiencing the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in China. To welcoming Wendy back to us, bringing light to some intense darkness and unexpectedly being transferred to a new ministry in South Africa. This only skims the surface on some of the things the Lord carried LOL through over the last 3 months.
We really were women that God chose to send into places to expel the darkness with His light. God’s purpose for us was so unique and I will forever cherish the season that He allowed the 6 of us to walk beside each other. The bond we formed is deeper than words can ever express. We share a level of realness and sincerity and compassion for one another that most families don’t even get to. I have never fought so hard to see the best in a person than I have in those 5 women. I have never felt more accepted and valued by a group of people than I have with those 5 women. And God has never revealed Himself to me in the way He revealed Himself through those 5 women. The unique bonds I have with Ashley, Maggie, Jessica, Rachel and Wendy will always, always be there.
The verse the Lord gave me for our team back in the Philippines still holds very true to my relationships with these girls. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they will keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) The cord that was woven between the women of Team LOL will never be broken. Even though the Lord is bringing us into a new season, where the 6 of us are not on a team anymore, the bonds I share with these women is not broken.
Which brings me to the verse our squad has been using a lot for this time of team changes “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). I have complete peace and trust in God about the team change and stepping into this new season of the World Race. Although it is obviously emotional leaving my family that I formed over the last 3 months, I am excited to gain another family. A strong, bold, powerful family of 4 new women I get to grow with. The 4 new women are my new team leader, Sara Norton and three new teammates, Kat Davis, Britni Bersin, and Jessica Fishbach. My 5th teammate is my beautiful former LOL teammate, Maggie LaVigne! I am SO excited that I get to walk through these entire 11 months with Maggie by my side! In the Philippines I had a dream that our team would get split up and that Maggie and I would still be on the same team, the Lord was definitely speaking to me through that. I am so happy to be on an all-girl team once again and I am so excited to be woven together in bonds with these 4 new women. I am confident that this new team, which we decided to name Team Sound of Strength, is going to bring the kingdom of heaven to the nations. I am also confident that this is a team that can foster an environment of deeper spiritual growth for each of us. This is a team of incredible women and the new heights that the Lord can take us to are absolutely limitless. We are women of boldness, praise, peace, and strength. We are our Abba’s song and we are going to bring that song to the nations. Our voices and our lives are going to be used to impact everyone we meet with the Sound of Strength we carry.
“I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
The right hand of the Lord exalts,
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.”
Psalm 118:13-17
