thankful like I’ve never been before

God is so good. When I think about the last year and a half of my life, it brings tears of thankfulness to my eyes. There’s nothing I did to ever deserve to experience an incredible journey like this one, but I now know such deep levels of God’s love and care for me in the fact that He did take me on this journey. And not only did He lead me to the path, but He walked alongside me every single step of the way – the ups and downs, laughs and cries, transitions and goodbyes, sweet and hard moments. He never left me.

It’s hard to even know where to begin processing. I do know that there will probably be lots of processing for the weeks, months and even years to come. And I can’t wait to see how the Lord continues to teach me and show me things in the future, about this season that is now ending. But for now, all I can really say is thank you. Thankfulness is what is pouring out of my heart for this season. 

Team Radiate, thank you. I think as time goes on, the Lord will show me more and more of how you guys have impacted me, but what I know for now is that you have encouraged me so much in leadership. I honestly came into team leading a little nervous because I was expecting it to be really hard. Following is a choice, and I was nervous that it wasn’t a choice that my team was going to make a whole lot (<- hah syd, you’re rubbing off on me) and that if you did make the choice to follow my lead, it wouldn’t be done with excitement, thankfulness or joy. I’m so thankful for how you chose to follow, because you didn’t have to, and you didn’t have to do it with so much thankfulness and encouragement and joy either. But you did, and I’m SO thankful. Thank you for showing me what it means to be honored and respected SO WELL in a leadership position and for trusting me with your stories. I’m always so amazed at how trusting you are of me, and it’s the biggest honor to have had you let me in on what you’ve walked through in the past, what you’re walking through in the present, and what you hope to be walking in in the future. I know so much more about the kind of leader I am and how I want to continue to grow as a leader because of your encouragement and love these past 3 months. You have brought so much redemption to the title of being a team leader and I’m so incredibly thankful for that. Seeing how you love and trust me has made me grow in loving and trusting my own leaders, too. Thank you for being sisters, friends, encouragers, cheerleaders, prayer warriors and human beings with such big hearts. When I look at each of you, I’m thankful for God’s intentionality in bringing us together because He knew I needed you in this season. Thank you for being the incredible humans you are. 

To the kids of Maba 2, thank you. Thank you for all of the beautiful smiles, hugs, dances, songs and laughs. Thank you Semathe, Phagamile, Jay, Cebile, Sandile, and so many more for being my sweet friends at the carepoint. Thank you for being an example of joy and thanksgiving, even when there’s so many reasons you could choose to not be those things. Thank you for growing in me a heart to plant seeds of scripture and songs of Jesus in the hearts of little ones. In the last year and a half, I’ve seen so much of how there will always be suffering on this Earth, until Jesus returns. But thank you for showing me that when seeds are planted and hard times come, if you know the love of Jesus, you’ll remain in the love of Jesus. And when you remain there, no matter the circumstances, you’ll be okay because He’s got you. And your stories can and will be used to draw more people to the love of God. I pray that when you encounter those really hard and heartbreaking things, that you wouldn’t run to the world for comfort but to your Abba Father who adores you and is the ultimate comforter. Thank you for being such a beautiful example of deep joy. 

To Nomsa, Magavilane, Pastor Grace and many of the others we visited and spent time with, thank you. Thank you for being radical examples of trust in the Lord. Thank you for being beautiful living testimonies of God’s provision. Your faith has amazed me, and I’m thankful I got to witness it. It makes me want to jump into the deep – a place of deep trust and faith in the Lord. I’m so thankful for your stories you shared about needing jobs, cars, homes, and church buildings, then praying in faith and watching the Lord fulfill His promises. Faith can be such a hard thing to constantly and wholeheartedly walk in sometimes, as I’ve learned in this season, but your stories have reminded me that it’s worth it. God’s way is always better and He is the God of fulfilled promises. So thank you for being beautiful and graceful examples of crazy faith. 

To my co team leaders, thank you. Thank you for the endless laughter. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for reminiscing on our own Race and the things that God did then with me. Thank you for teaching alongside me. Thank you for praying for me and uplifting me when there were hard days. Thank you for being such a safe space. You are people that I am so proud to call my brother and sisters. Thank you for leading and loving your people so well, I know that their Race will look different because of your presence. Thank you for your obedience to the Lord and for coming to Swaziland, but also by walking obedience out in the small everyday moments. I’m so thankful to know each of you.

Malia Williams! thank you. Thank you for being a voice of truth and beautiful example of authenticity and faith in God’s goodness. Thank you for laughing with me and bringing so much joy to all of us. Thank you for pouring so much into the squad and being so intentional to love them. Thank you for buying us cake and candy and pretzels and for always thinking of us. You are so generous and it flows right out of you. Thank you for bringing your gifts of leadership and worship to the squad and your desire to pass that on to people. You are and incredible leader and are going to continue to bring so many to praise the Lord in their own unique way. Thank you for being such a sweet friend. Miss you already.

Jill, thank you. You have been such a fun squad leader and dear friend. I’m so thankful for having you to listen to me and to also encourage me. Thank you for being willing to walk alongside me in healing and in leading my team. You are such a special person, and I’m so excited to see you continue to walk out obedience to the Lord with this squad. Thank you for always talking with me about American Revival! 

David and Jenna, thank you. Thank you for pouring out so much wisdom on our whole squad. You are both so intentional in caring for us. I’m so thankful to have watched how you both walk out obedience to the Lord, how you treat each other in your marriage, how you are raising your kids. Thank you for being such strong examples of people who love God and desire to love people well too.

B squad, thank you. I’m thankful to have watched you grow over these past three months. I’m thankful to watch your eagerness in growing near to the Lord. You are amazing people. Thank you for letting me be part of the beginnings of your journey. I can’t wait to see where you go!

To every person who has supported me on this journey financially, peacefully, in your words of encouragement, THANK YOU. I wouldn’t have been able to write all of that just now without your help. I will never be able to put into words how much it means to have a tribe of people come around you and show you that you matter and what the Lord calls you to matters. 

Thank you Jesus for guiding me into this time and these places. Thank you for placing these people in my life. I’ve never felt so fulfilled, hopeful, at peace, loved and so much more me than now, and I know it’s because of You. 

-Elena, from 35,000 ft in the air! <-can you tell I’ve been in Africa for awhile?