1-30-18
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Open Letter to the 7tens next teammates
I was inspired by the wonderful Wendy of A squad to write an open letter to the future teammates of my current teammates, the 7tens. When leadership told us who our teammates would be for the first few months of the race, the following women were the ones I was chosen to be with. The Lord knew exactly who I needed and blessed me far more abundantly than I could have even known to ask for. These 6 women have become my sisters and very dear friends, friends I hope to keep forever. I know the Lord’s plans are good for each of us as He leads us into this next chapter, but it’s not easy letting them go as we are quickly approaching team changes and leadership changes. These 6 women are precious and I value their hearts immensely. My prayer is that they would thrive in their future teams, be deeply loved, intimately known, and walk in confidence of the beautiful daughters they are.
To the future teammates of:
Megan
Let her be exactly who she is and be blessed by her innocent sweetness. It is genuine and sincere. Remind her of her boldness and let her know when you see it (P.S. you’ll see it often). Offer to braid her hair for her. 🙂 Words of affirmation is her love language so keep that encouragement coming! Be blessed by how much she loves you and loves your whole team. If she offers to cook, let her! She’s magical in the kitchen! She will probably be the most thoughtful person you know, but don’t forget to think of how to love her well, too. She is a true servant.
Calli
Dive into her joy and positivity! Calli has a huge heart for evangelism and can talk to anyone- if there seem to be obstacles in the way, she looks right past them and isn’t phased a bit. Learn from her. Encourage her in that, and don’t be afraid to join in with her. Calli is young and free in the VERY best way possible. She is free to love others because she knows the Father’s heart for them. Follow her “yes”. Learn from her childlike joy and carefree spirit. She’s a butterfly.
Bry
Bry is exactly what her tattoo says- steadfast. She is full of wisdom and it’s multiplying daily. If I were you, I’d ask to get in on any bible study she wants to do and do it with her. Her hunger for more of God is contagious. She will make you laugh all the time and she will turn normal moments into fun ones. While she is a goofball, she is also a safe place. You can trust her to steward your heart well. When she is vulnerable with you, don’t take it lightly. Listen to her, ask questions and check in so she can feel the love you have for her.
Cassie
Cassie lives everyday to the fullest, seeking God in the adventures, people, and places. Ask if you can come along, too! You will find that she has the innocent joy of a child and knows how to make the most of time anywhere. You can expect honesty and authenticity from her always. Be patient with her as she learns to trust you, and you will find that it is absolutely worth the wait. She may not always throw out a lot of info about her, but if you ask, she will tell you. She’s pretty fascinating if you take the time to ask. Cassie will always pick the flowers, so take her picture when she puts it in her hair. She’s beautiful. Also, she will pick and eat the fruit…anywhere. Just let her lol. She’s a big girl and can own up any consequence if it’s not a good one. Also, let her pet all the dogs and cats lol.
Mallory
Mallory is a prayer warrior. If you need prayer, seek her out and ask her. It brings her joy! She is mighty, encouraging, and will fight every battle the enemy is throwing your way or hers. Don’t let her fight it alone. She carries a lot of power and authority, but because of this, the spiritual warfare is real. Claim the authority of Christ with her. Remind her of how wonderful she is often. Learn from her faithfulness in the character of God. Also, listen to her when she speaks. She is full of wisdom, love and passion to give away! If you need a verse, for any circumstance, she’s your girl! A bible study with her would be a life changer, also. Mallory may not always tell you when something is wrong, so be intentional in getting to know her and loving her well. She is so worth it.
Elise
Elise is a woman of many words, but they are so good. Listen to her heart when she talks. The Holy Spirit uses her a lot without her even knowing. See her eagerness for grown and love her well in that. Her love language is gifts, so get her a little snack or something every now and then. If you need a task done with excellence, she should be your first option. She’s incredibly talented in areas she is still discovering about herself, so challenge her to those tasks. And please, please, please, let her sing with that beautiful voice. Not only does it bring joy to her heart, you’ll find it brings joy to everyone around you. Take care of my baby girl. She will love you fiercely.
Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with these women the past 4 months. Thank you for the memories we shared, the growth we made, the laughs, the tears, the honesty, the vulnerablitiy, the friendships, the trust, and the unity we shared. You are so good to us.
