Poiema: God’s poetry
After spending month one with our entire squad, we have now departed and split into smaller teams for the next three months or so. I’m so excited to introduce you to the girls I have been closely doing life with these past few weeks. I have always valued strong girl friend relationships, they were some of my toughest goodbyes at home. And because they are some of the strongest relationships in my life, I came into this mission trip with very low expectations in fear of being disappointed. I am pleased to report, the Lord didn’t listen to my expectations and instead decided to show off a little bit. These girls you are about to meet, have each made their way into my heart and claimed a piece to call their home. I adore each one of them, and have started praying they remain in my life for at least the rest of it <3.
Laurie is our free spirited, adventure seeking, go with the flow team leader. She is one of the few people I know that listens to hear, and not to respond. She takes off her own shoes and puts yours on as you are speaking. Laurie is teaching me how to care more about the persons’ wants in front of me than my own current needs. She is teaching me how live with patience as a knee jerk reaction. She doesn’t just hear the small voices, but creates a space for those voices to speak up and a platform for them to be heard. Laurie is gentle, but in a way that reflects an inner strength that I don’t think she is aware she has. It takes courage to live with an open heart, and Laurie does it without hesitation. My first thought when I saw her was, “dang, I want to be her friend. She kind of looks too cool for me though” (I’m weird). Thankful for this sweet friendship, thankful for answers to prayers never prayed.
Em is our introverted yet deeply sarcastic team member. Em was a beautiful question mark when I first met her, she was one of those people my curiosity sought out. After spending a month living in such close proximities I quickly learned Em is one of the few people I could spend all the time with and never get tired of (that probably just made her cringe, I love it). She speaks up when it’s important, she asks questions that lead to a greater outcome, pays great deal of attention to details, and always has a witty remark to lighten the mood. I catch myself listening for her voice in the midst of a busy room and eagerly waiting to hear her opinion because I appreciate her open mind and admire her sensitivity toward the Holy Spirit. Also, Em is stunningly beautiful. When I look at her, I see the artistic hand of the Lord. I’m inspired by the beauty she walks in and pours out.
Maci is not someone I could possibly accurately portray within a few sentences. She very recently started walking out what it means to be vulnerable, and seeing someone who lives unfiltered already, add vulnerability to their every day stature has been one of the greatest examples of authenticity I’ve seen. Also, Maci has this incredible super power to make me laugh LITERALLY all the time, even during my not so sunny moments. There is a sincerity about Mace that you don’t come across often. A sincerity that makes her a safe place. I trust Mace, with every dirty detail of my story. I didn’t have many expectations coming into this, but there was one specific prayer that I prayed over and over again, and that was for the Lord to give me someone that brings out “that laugh”. Because what can’t you get through, if you have someone that makes you laugh? Oh did He answer my prayer. He gave me Mace. Ps- Mace lives in Somerset, Kentucky. Maybe my favorite place on earth, lake Cumberland. Guaranteed friendship for life, even though she was very concerned for my love of such a place.
Shelby is our team cheerleader. That girl has more enthusiasm for life and more encouragement for each individual person than any of us know what to do with. But she is so much more than that, this girl has a beautiful depth behind her striking smile. I admire her ability to see everything through a lens of positivity. She chooses to see the purpose in all that we do, not just the task or instructions. Shelby reminds me of someone drenched in grace, walking in the confidence that only comes from knowing what the Lord saved her from and what He saved her for. I see the Lord taking her deeper, asking her to take steps that she can only accomplish if she keeps Him near. I am inspired by her faith and trust in the Lord, and I am moved by the intimacy with our father that her heart longs for. Shelby has always felt like she was too small, and I think that’s why the calling on her life is so big.
Nikki is so many things, in the best way possible. Every moment spent with her, is a moment learning something knew about who she is. She lives in a constant state of creativity. Everything she does, has an art about it. Her humor is intelligent, she dresses with an edge, and her voice when she sings has left me paralyzed in the middle of room with tears streaming down my face. I don’t quite know how to appreciate all that she is. Every time I look at her, there is a spark of creativity lit into existence. Nikki is bold enough to challenge the intentions behind my actions, question my way of thinking, and has this curiosity about who I am that leaves me discovering depths of myself I wouldn’t have otherwise noticed. Now that I have Nikki in my life, I don’t want to picture a life without her, she adds color I had no idea existed. She is the kind of person who effortlessly exposes the you that you have always longed to be.
Val is our little well of wisdom. Spend just a few moments with her and you will understand just how true that statement is. She speaks with confidence, but only when something fruitful is to be gained from hearing her voice. When I look at Val, I see someone constantly observing the external world while internally examining the different facets of who she is. Val lives in integrity and with intentionality. Every step has a purpose and ever word has a reason. Val is someone that success effortlessly follows. She has a mind that people quickly learn to appreciate. She has a great career, doing what she loves. She has created a life that to others, would seem like more than enough. The greatest thing I admire about her? She is willing to strip that all down, open up her beautiful mind, toss her desires behind, and chase after whatever the Lord has for her instead. She asked the Lord to do something that stung a little, so living for him would feel like a sacrifice. She closed the book she wrote, and is letting the Lord pick up the pen and write her future. That’s true surrender.
Madison is one of our four squad leaders, meaning she had previously done the race and has decided to come back and join us for our route as a leader. For the next three months Madison will be with my team, and within a week of living together she has already become a part of our little family. I have watched Madison wake up and give her life over to faith each and every day. The kind of faith that it takes to leap over rushing water time and time again. Madison jumps without the fear of falling, because her faith has carried her before and she’s confident it won’t stop now. Anytime I think of Madison, I see this burst of yellow that consumes my entire thought. You know how excited you get when the sun peeps out from behind a cloud? Or how refreshing lemonade tastes on the hottest day of summer? Or the dress you throw on when you need a pick me up? Or the crayon you pick out of the box to make your picture brighter? That’s the yellow I’m talking about, that’s Madison.
God, I love getting to know your favorite creation. These are also some of mine <3.
