Ubuntu
On July 18th, 2013, in a campus auditorium in Toccoa Falls, Georgia, W Squad sat in nervous excitement as the names of World Race teams were read off.
After the last name was called, we were instructed to split off with our team leaders. I found Dani to the left of the room up the stairs. Our new team stood in a circle and smiled at each other. I was surprised by the people around me. We had team-building activities for the past couple days, and I wasn’t paired with most of them much at all. Throughout training camp, I hadn’t spent a lot of time with them either. I talked to Dani and Lincoln a few times and Kristen a couple times (at the time I thought her name was Kristina, though.)
In the circle we agreed to pray for the upcoming year. Dani explained to us how her Bible study holds hands with thumbs to the left. That way everyone is being lifted up and is also holding someone else up. As we prayed for the upcoming race, I kept my eyes half-open and attempted to catch glances of crooked name tags.
The next day, Lincoln told us his idea of naming our team Ubuntu, an Afrikaan word meaning “I am because we are.” It’s a difficult concept to understand, but we loved the idea. Ubuntu became our official name.
The week before training camp, I met up with a girl who was from the same town as me and recently got back from the race. She told me that when I got back from the race, I would come back as the same person, but different. Four months later, I can see what she meant. Like a plant moved from a pot to the ground, I’m the same, but my environment has made it possible for me to grow.
Before launch
God used many things for this to happen, but especially my team. It is strange to think back to that auditorium during training camp, when I barely knew the names of my teammates. It’s strange because they have influenced me to be the same, but different. They’ve become part of my story, part of who I am at this moment. I am because we are.
I wanted to thank all of my supporters for making this growing time in my life possible.
In order to stay out on the field on the World Race, I must reach financial deadlines to cover the cost of food, lodging, visa fees, supplies and transportation. I am currently about $1,000 away from the December 1st deadline. If you feel led to give, click “Support Me!” on the left panel on this page. You can also mail a check and avoid processing fees. For that option be sure to write “For Stephanie Ransom” in the memo line and make the check payable to:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Thank you all so much again!
-Stephanie
