This world race journey has gifted me with various life long friendships & in some ways, how we all came together is very unique. There is one person in partcicular on my heart to share with you about, she goes by Alyssa.
It was not our doing, but by the grace of God that we initially connected and became friends. Let me explain.
Alyssa is a teammate of mine on the race, she has been part of my small group team for the past 4 months. But it just so happens that we met each other several years ago in a small town, Plymouth MN.
Hold on a second, huh? you might be thinking. “I thought you are a Michigander Kailey, not Minnesotan?” You are right my friend, I was born and raised in Michigan, however I did live in Minnesota for two summers over the summer during college years. Those were some of the best time’s of my life. Shout out to the Hermann & Schuett Family, I love you guys! Woot woot!
Anyway, one of those summers, a while back I’m thinking in 2015, I decided to go on a prayer walk outreach with several friends, & one of those friends invited a group of local gals to join, one of them being Alyssa. Before we went out on that prayer outreach, we had an opportunity to pray for each other & Alyssa & I just happened to be paired up in that time. After going out on the prayer walk outreach in the heart of Minneapolis, we said our goodbyes & also sometime after that I think became face book friends, in my head, never to think I would probably see her again.
Fast forward several years to 2017. We both happened to sign up for the same World Race Journey, on the same route. After discovering this, we exchanged a few face book messages back & forth & eventually we met up at training camp that October of 2017. From the get go, she was a huge gift of a friend during that time.
She is the friend I probably spent most the time together with during training camp before we launched for the year, & in this journey she has been and incredible friend to dig deep with in the difficult & joy filled times. She is a woman chasing after the heart of God with everything she is & one of the most self disciplined people I have ever met in my life. Alyssa has been nothing short of encouraging, uplifting, & inspiring to me on this race through the way she has loved others we meet & poured into myself daily too.
She has taught me about videography. She has listened to me for hours at a time. She has surprised me with little gifts here & there simply to encourage & remind me that I am valued. She has poured into people on the streets & started countless conversations just because, love does. She has a way of asking challenging or probing questions that truly add growth in my life. She is a steadfast friend, willing to go the extra mile, above & beyond.
I have learned so much from the presence of Alyssa & I am only a testimony of one life that has been impacted in a postive way from her.
I thank God for her & am grateful for the way He works wonders all the time.
Who would have thought I would be completing this world race journey with a gal I met several years ago. Haha, thank you Lord!
Thank you Alyssa for who you are & continue to become. You are a cherished friend of mine, forever and ever!
This girl is destined for greatness. I am stoked to watch her thrive & flourish in this life time.
If you are interested in following her journey, feel free to follow her at theworldrace.alyssagammelgard.org
Thanks for tuning in, friend!
Until next time,
Kailey
