Just singin’ and dancin’ in the rain

Community! I think community is often an overused word that describes something that is usually short of all God wants it to be. We all have had it preached to us that community is something we need and that it’s essential to be a part of one. I don’t think we realize( or I haven’t realized in the past) just how good community is because it’s hard to appreciate something you’re in the middle of. I’ve been in several communities in my life, and I cherish them all for different reasons.

We got pulled around to ministry sites on a trailer one day. Bumping down roads made of large rocks is terrifying and a little thrilling. No one complained (even when it torrentially downpoured on us on the way back) and instead, we turned it into a sing-along/scream song lyrics/try not to get thrown off by the potholes time. One of my favorite memories thus far. 

Before I went on the race, I had been praying for a strong community of women to come into my life. God showed up in that and put me on a squad that’s small (18 people instead of the usual 30ish) and is all women. It’s like a Christian sorority. Not only that, but He also placed me on a team for these first four months that has been incredible.

They are dance in the rain type of friends. What do I mean by that? I mean we were boots on the ground, in the middle of things, messy and sweaty, uncertain, unsettled, doing manual labor literally on day one. Our first week could’ve been defined by uncertainty since there was quite a lot of it, but instead, these girls chose joy.

Couldn’t wait to get out of the car and dance in the rain. As soon as we pulled up to our home for the month we all (plus the hosts’ dog) went twirling around and jumping in puddles. 

We enjoyed working hard, and going to bed exhausted, and feeling accomplished after tangibly putting our hands to something. We laughed at the number of times our plans would change instead of getting frustrated. We made running jokes and bets on if we were ever going to get to a place that wasn’t so unsettled. We tried to do laundry by hand, hung it inside the humid church we were sleeping in and laughed as every day they were still not dry and smelled worse than the clothes we had just done hours of manual labor in. No matter what is thrown at us, this team has responded with positivity and a desire to work through things. We sing as we work, we curl the heavy logs we’re transporting so we get extra work on our biceps, we dance in the rain. There are things in life that aren’t always pleasant, but if you learn to see it from a different perspective, it can change everything. 

My question for you is when was the last time you looked at a rainstorm not as an inconvenience or something to be afraid of, but as an invitation to dance?

Quick overview of my team! 

Sarah-Katherine. Our team leader. She shows gentleness and beauty in everything she does. She’s a boss at Spanish and is very passionate about chocolate/sweet bread. A sweet friend, and someone you can do anything with. She’s always looking out for others and cares for them well. She’s the least gringo looking of all of us and we’re all jealous of how easily she is tanning. Has the best closet and will share with you. She’s a favorite of the kids!!! 

Claire. The resident musician and monkey watcher of the group. She leads us in worship whenever we sing for Church here and she has the voice of an angel. She is also a lover of all wildlife and takes cool photos of all the animals she’s seen. Kind-hearted and loving. She cares deeply about the street dogs and other animals that would get passed over in their normal lives. Loves conversation with those who might be overlooked. Avid reader and podcast listener. 

Kendell. I’ve never seen someone who seeks others and loves them as well as Kendell. She is a nurturer and she loves intentional conversation. She has the best laugh ever and she takes the more challenging things of life and is able to see how they work out into a beautiful story for God’s glory. The most cheerful worker and someone who makes the hours fly by. She tells people she loves them often and she genuinely means it. She’s someone who you can feel God’s love through just by being around her! 

Cassady. The one who keeps us all laughing. She can make a joke about most anything and she’s genuinely hilarious. She’s down for whatever work comes our way (even after sweating and working for 8 hours she’s always down to serve) and she is incredible at embracing culture. She has a truly generous heart when it comes to joy and loves people deeply and quickly (and misses all of the friends we made that day as soon as we leave the ministry site). We always make eye contact after one of us has done something really akward and then we get to laugh it off together. She’s a joy-bringer everywhere she goes! 

Jackie. The coolest. The most spontaneous. The most incredible. She has an amazing perspective on life and always points people to Jesus. FUNNY. Like makes you want to pee your pants funny. But also can talk to you about deep things and it never feels odd to transition between the two with her. Loves experiencing places like the locals, and is always searching for how Holy Spirit wants to move. Never trust her in spicy uno because she’ll give you a card that doesnt actually help. But you can trust her in life because she’s someone that genuinely backs up the people she loves. (apologies for this photo we had both been up all night planning, had a couple hours of sleep, ushered the squad through flights, customs, buses, hostels, and were ready to just get dessert and go to sleep:) )

Lubbock. If we’re gonna get technical about it, Lubbock isn’t actually on our team cause she’s a leader of the whole squad. We got her for the first 10 days though and it felt wrong to not include her cause she’s the best. LOVES Holy Spirit and is an amazing resource for processing deep spiritual things because she can put words to what you’re feeling so easily and simplify them. My partner in attempting to make cold brew coffee with none of the right resources, but we tried nonetheless (this was the only actual iced coffee we had found so we had to take a photo with it). Works HARD and then wants to workout after. Has a large personality and is sassy, and also is the kindest human alive. Loves to have people read her to sleep or make her a bedtime story. Can be comfortable in even the most uncomfortable situations. Is the one who brings FUN to every adventure or task.