Here’s to my team.

I have been on the World Race for six months now. It’s crazy to think of how fast this time has gone. The days are long and the weeks are short. So much has happened. I’ve been challenged and stretched in so many ways.

As my squad has now reached over the half way point, changes are happening. This week, we will be changing teams. So, I’m using this blog to celebrate my first team, the Oaks of Righteousness. 

Hannah Zim

• Zim is attentive and thoughtful. She is inquisitive and always asks thought-provoking questions. She is brave in how she faces challenging situations. She brings wisdom to our team and our squad. Zim is very consistent and intentional in all she does. She is loyal to her teammates and family. She has become bolder and lets the Lord use her freely. My favorite thing about Zim is her awareness of those around her. She knows how to make people feel at ease and think more deeply. She challenges me to speak truth over people when I see it.

Janice 

• Janice is authentic, completely herself. She is wild and lives her life freely. She has amazing discernment and will never rest until she feels everything has been said. She feels everything deeply and passionately. She reminds me of David in the way that she worships and calls out to the Lord. She leads worship so authentically and draws other people in as well. My favorite thing about Janice is that she lives her life boldly. She doesn’t live her life controlled by what others think. She inspires me to be more open and vulnerable about where I’m at. 

Lauren

• Lauren is the most gentle and intentional person I know. She is wise and gracious and sees people on a different level than anyone I’ve ever met. She has an awareness and a sensitivity to the people around her. She understands what I’m saying when I word vomit. Sometimes I don’t have to say anything for her to understand exactly what I’m thinking or feeling. My favorite thing about Lauren is that she constantly sets her pride aside to see people through the lens of Christ. She encourages me to try and understand people more clearly before judging. 

Paiton 

• Paiton is my fierce, yet gentle friend. She is not afraid to share her opinion, but always does it in a loving and encouraging way. She is hard working and always honest. Paiton is protective and will do anything to protect those who can’t protect themselves. I love watching the freedom that comes when she worships the Lord. My favorite thing about Paiton is how deeply she cares for people and how her heart beats for those around her. She fights hard for the ones she loves. She is teaching me to stand up for what I believe in and to fight for the people around me. 

These teammates have meant the world to me over the past six months. I can’t imagine my Race without them. I have been pushed and encouraged by them. I trust them with hard things. I’ve had SO much fun with them. Even though we’re changing teams, I am thankful to have sweet, amazing memories to cherish. 

So, here’s to the Oakies – who have made the first half of my Race unforgettable.