L SQUAD IS:

When they told us at training camp that our first month of the race would be all squad month, everything in me felt as if I was holding my breath with all my strength. I LOVE being around people, it’s one of my favorite things to do! Building relationship is a huge part of my life that I can’t imagine giving up. BUT. I also love my own personal quiet time. Time to sit and be, talk with the Lord, listen to music, read a book… this time recharges me. The idea of being in ONE house with about 35 other 18-20 year olds made the introverted side of me want to wrap myself in a blanket for the entirety of month one. Little did I know, this would be one of the best months of my life.

 

My squad is bold. My squad is dynamic. My squad is colorful. My squad is willing to fight for each other. My squad is courageous. My squad is fun, passionate, curious, loving, a family, intense, adventurous… my squad is yearning for intimacy with the Lord.  

My squad is a squad of honor.

These things were all shown to me over this past month. The Lord taught me these as truths about my squad; He then revealed to me that these are characteristics of what a family in Him looks like.

 

What beautiful characteristics, amiright? Not one family out there is perfect, and trust me, neither is the family that is our squad. Nowhere close. But hey, we are learning together and it’s so exciting to see how we grow closer through this. Now that all squad month is over, it’s time to delve into life with just my team. These girls are gold, and I cannot wait to use what the Father has taught me through my squad in a more personal setting with my team. (and yes, we did make it to Ukraine, happy and mostly healthy! Please be praying for health and deep relational time!)

 

On that note, here are 10 fun/ funny things I learned over all squad month.

-Sharing a room with 6 girls is doable, but sharing a room with 6 girls and a mouse? Doesn’t go over so well.

-Watching people have fun with the giftings placed in them brings so much more joy than you’d imagine.

-Baking a cake over hot coals on the ground at 11:00 at night just makes life sweeter. The conversation you have while doing it though… that’s where the memories come from.

-Nutella and peanut butter quickly become guilty pleasures. (hey Elise, I believe the jar you’re on now is jar 7? #proud)

-Stealing food from other teams is not worth it. They will find out, and all heck breaks loose. Also, this is just plain rude.

-Learning your own personal ticks can be difficult to grasp, but worth it in the long run to figure out sooner than later.

-Listening to your squad-mate pour their heart out is one of the most vulnerable moments to be apart of; be especially present in these moments.

-Earbuds + your favorite tunes + an open window to sit in = some of the best alone time ever.

-Trying to cook on 1 four-burner stove while 7 other people are trying to do the same thing tests everyone’s patience and to be frank, sucks. BUT! Just keep reminding yourself, you will get food soon. (and hey, you have an actual stove! WOO!)

-Living in community may seem daunting at first but when you take each person as an individual and dive into them personally, it becomes a pleasure instead of a task.

 

(That last one there is my favorite.)

 

Here’s some jamming music!

“Not in a Hurry” by Will Reagan

“There is a Cloud” by Elevation Worship

“Tremble” by Mosaic MSC

“Surely” by Olivia Buckles