Created for Community

I am an introvert.

Actually, that's probably an understatement. I am the kind of introvert that would not only survive being stuck inside a house all by herself for two weeks but thrive in that empty house. Some days, all I want is my Bible, a bottomless pot of coffee, a book, blankets, and my computer for writing. 

Being that type of an introvert can make living in community difficult. But thankfully, God has let me escape the world of hermits. He has blessed me with great community experiences these last few years.

I had wonderful college roommates, a great Young Life family, and an unforgettable Ghana team. This year on the Expedition, God has once again given me a wonderful community.

I have four teammates that I'm sharing this year with. They are Ross, Tyler, Josh, and Ruth. They are teaching me more of what it means to be in community, so I thought I would let you know how great those four people are. 

Tyler, me, Ruth, Josh, and Ross (photo courtesy of Ross)

This is not to say that they're better than my YL family or Ghana team. They're not. And the others aren't better than them. They're all different, and I love each group. I miss the ones I'm not with, and I will miss my Expedition team once we part ways. 

1. My Expedition teammates love Jesus. And they all love him in a slightly different way and are all teaching me how to love him more.

2. The five of us have committed to believe the best in one another. And my teammates actually do that for me. They continue to show me lots and lots of grace even though I make mistakes, and they speak truth into my life.

3. They allow me to be myself. And they love me in my mess. Even though I am the team crier, they don't get frustrated with me when I cry. They hand me tissues and pray for me.

4. They believe our team is what we need to do life and ministry this year. They don't play the "what if" game and think about how much better it would be if we had a ____ person on our team. They believe that I contribute to our team, and they remind me of that on days when I think I am completely inadequate and useless here. (That's just one example of how they show me grace and speak truth into my life.)

5. They think it's important that our team prays together. I appreciate that a lot. 

6. They pray for my family and join with me in rejoicing in my family's triumphs and grieving with me in my family's struggles. My friends back home and my Ghana team did this really well. So I was afraid that my Expedition team wouldn't be able to live up to that awesomeness, but they do. And they love me really well through this. 

7. We laugh together. Sometimes, I have to quit eating at team meals because I can't handle all of the jokes and laughter. There's so much joy and beauty in those moments.

8. They are adventurous, so even though I am not, I still end up at really exciting places like this:

(Photo courtesy of Ross)

9. They support my coffee addiction and make finding the best coffee shop in each city a priority.

10. They are spontaneous -- spontaneous enough to break into a full-fledged snowball fight during the middle of a day of prayer. And no one was a poophead about it. 

(Photo courtesy of Tyler)

11. They are willing to address conflict. And conflict is resolved well in love.

12. We can all cook in one tiny kitchen and not get upset with each other.

13. When one gets lost, the others will search in the most obscure places for the little lost one.

14. They value card games and make team game nights feel like real family nights. 

15. They promote my obsession of elephants by pointing out elephants to me and giving me drawings of elephants and sometimes even elephants themselves.

16. They gave me a reason to "Remember, remember the 6th of November" by turning it into my birthday. And they made it the most exciting birthday I have had in a while. 

17. They make me laugh by doing silly things.

Like drinking fresh, fresh water

And fishing by hand

And taking turns hunting for treasure

And helping each other capture epic photos

18. They are willing to drive across the border for supper and to get more stamps in our passports. 

19. Ross is really talented at using the self-timer on his camera. He makes sure we get good team pictures and balances his phone on the strangest surfaces to do so.

20. They serve Jesus with all that they are. And they have fun while they do it. 

My Expedition teammates are reminding me of what it means to have joy and hope when I begin to forget. They are helping me appreciate and even crave community. They are teaching me more of what it means to be a part of a greater body. 

We've been together for four months, and I am thankful that we still have six months to live life together and help each other grow in understanding community and the gospel. I am excited to share more about their awesomeness with you as the journey continues.

Thanks, team for making this year as epic as it has been and for teaching me more of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus!