This letter is very important, so I need you all to read each word very carefully because you are about to hold such a precious gift of mine. You are about to care for the most important thing in this season to me. You are about to care for my people, they are about to be apart of your new season as they are leaving a season that is passing for me and I am so excited for you, because having these souls in your life is such a blessing, even on the hard days, I promise.
They will choose to love you even when you feel unlovable, they will make you laugh when nothing in you wants to, and they will remind you without fault why God has chosen you for this kind of life. I have been forced into community with these women for four months, I have learned a lot about each of them, and I know what they need and what annoys them..so I thought I would give you all a guide on how to love them well, because lets face it, now your stuck with them too so every little thing helps!
Laura Franklin is a tough cookie to crack at first, her shy exterior gets the best of her sometimes, so handle with care please. She’s a quick one though, she’ll cut through a conversation with a surprising sarcastic remark when you least expect it, but there is so much more to her than the humorous side. She’s very kind, she’ll offer up anything if you ask and for the most part won’t make a face about it..most times. If you want to love her well on a bad day she’ll never say no to a sweet treat, chocolate is her favorite. She enjoys a quality conversation over a meal and she values a good movie with company. She’s an observer, internal processor and she’s real hard on herself sometimes, so patience will be needed on a long travel day or when a choice is being presented. Include her, make her voice known and do frequent checkin’s, she’ll appreciate it. I promise though, she’ll make you feel home.
My firecracker, Elysse Williams. She’s loud, she’s vibrant, she’s determined and she has more layers than an onion. She’ll be the team’s nurse or the mother, whatever you need she morphs into it. But with all the morphing she exhausts herself, so to honor her well, space is a must. Grab a jacket when you head off to bed because if there is an option for AC expect the numbers to read 20 degrees. She listens well but sharing is not a comfortable feeling for her..so push her, just a little, if you push too hard her layers come back. She’s knowledgeable, she’ll always be able to answer any question you have, it may not be correct but her confidence is refreshing. Loving her well means a good hotdog but only ketchup, a good song recommendation and a Tik Tok dance partner. She’s sensitive, don’t let her fool you, and she’s becoming fairly in tune with feelings, so she also requires some patience. She’s always there to play with your hair or to rub your back, and if essential oils are your thing, she’s got you covered. I promise though, she’ll make you smile when you don’t think you can.
The thunder to my lightning, Lacy Vollmuth. Lacy told me that God told her we would be together for 11 months, so just in case she heard Him wrong and I’m not there to tell her new team in person..please take special care of this one. She is wise but holds her tongue to avoid praise or affirmation. She’s strong, the amount of stress she can handle is remarkable. Sometimes the stress needs to be let out so have a good listening ear, she will talk it off..thank goodness you have two. When she gets overwhelmed don’t push her, she’ll just get further from you, space is important for her to process. She can’t sleep with any source of light so dim your phones or she’ll ask you, “Hey is that the dimmest your phone goes, I don’t care, I’m just wondering,” surprise, she cares. When she puts in her headphones she is gone to the world, so let the girl sleep. She can braid hair really well but won’t ever offer if someone asks the group to give someone else the floor to honor people, so you have to directly look her in the eye and ask her, she loves doing it. Her southern accent comes out during the funniest moments and I promise it will have you on the floor laughing. She’s very protective, loving and sweet; even though she hides behind her humor and sarcasm. She loves snickers, a good potato and her sleepy time play list. She’s my lacy, and she’s real hard to give up, so love her well, please. She doesn’t like doing things she’s not good at, so affirm her, even if she doesn’t want it. She probably will never say I love you, but she’ll show it through her actions every time. I promise though, she’ll make you feel safe.
Michaela Grace Ward, the sweetest, most precious southern gal. She’s cold, more than I am, so make sure she leaves out an extra pair of socks on travel days, make sure you ask her twice before leaving where you’re staying if she wants to put on another layer, odds are she needs one. She’s wise, she’ll point you back to scripture or Jesus Himself if you are struggling, she always has something good to say, even though she’ll question herself sometimes. A caramel latte is always on her pallet, unless she’s in a hazelnut mood, sometimes that does happen. Her laugh is contagious, so if you need a good pick me up ask her about her dad jokes. Also, her dad is the cutest, when she talks about him her face screams love, so get her to talk about him. Please for your sake never call her Kayla or Mich (Mitch), that will be a huge HECK NO space ranger. She sometimes reply’s in commentary more than conversational so if that happens a lot something might be off, so ask her if she’s okay. She will listen to you talk for hours but make sure to ask her about herself because talking about herself doesn’t come natural for her. I think she’s afraid of being a burden sometimes, so please remind her she matters and so does her voice. She’s such a good friend so please be one in return, she’ll have days where she really misses home so ask her to see photos and remind her of all the good she is doing, even though she doesn’t need words of affirmation, I know she appreciates it. Honor her well please, you won’t meet many like her. For me, please love this one so well. I promise though, she will love you in all of your seasons.
I feel so privileged and lucky to have been on a team with Marianna and Frieda, and I know no one else will get to experience them, but it didn’t feel right not adding them to this letter, because they are my people too. So Dallas, please take good care of my Marianna and her sweet, sweet soul. And G42, love my Frieda well, she deserves so much more than she will ever realize, that girl has my entire heart.
For four months and five countries these girls have been my home. It hasn’t been easy but when has a family ever operated with out any hang ups, the weird ones, that’s who. Each one of them have taught me more about myself then I could have imagined, they have tested me, challenged me, loved me, annoyed me but most importantly made me realize how hard this goodbye will be. I’m an optimist, not a realist, and most of the time I like that the most about me, but I know there will come a point, soon, that I will be faced with the reality of having to say goodbye to this season of my life and these individuals, and I am going to have to allow others to take care of them, to love them, and to keep their hearts safe. I’m protective over my people, so I want you all to know, their future teammates, their future families, fighting for these four is so worth it, loving them through the hard things will make so much sense.
One day you will have to say goodbye to them and you will finally know what it will feel like, to say goodbye to a person that makes you feel home like Laura, a person who will make you laugh like Ellie, someone to make you feel safe like Lacy and a friend like Michaela. HKS, whatever you stand for, I will always love you and treasure all of it, the good, the bad and yes, even..Mongolia.
So future teams, here ya go, the guide to my gals. Please re read as needed, they are yours now.
Wow, so rad.
Kenz
