Laughter is so important to me.
In my mind, laughter is connected to several character traits in a person that are essential to a team, and to life in general. Traits like intense love, humility, and deep joy. A wise person once said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” I love the amount of joy that is constantly present in the atmosphere around our team. Whether it be through days and days of visa struggles, through the chaos of our family growing from 7 girls to 30 boys and girls overnight, or just through life here in general, there is that always present feeling of optimism and lightheartedness… I have to admit though; it was pretty awesome waking up to hammocks strung all around the yard and a mini tent campsite in the middle of the driveway from these awesome World Racers who joined our family.
During team time at night there are often several points when we have to stop and really think about “how this conversation started” or have to check ourselves back into our bible study because we got off topic and are laughing so hard we are tearing up. I think there are people that could easily see getting off topic during bible study as a bad thing, but from my perspective, I see a group of girls growing closer and closer together, while helping each other grow closer and closer to God. Moment by moment, I’m falling in love with the way God is shaping each of us individually to make the team the best it can possibly be.
Though the last week has been tough to get through, I have noticed each of these girls stepping past their insecurities to accept the changes and to really integrate the verse we taught the children at soccer from 1 Corinthians, (“Love is patient, love is kind…”) into every moment of their life here. Whether it be through cooking and swapping stories with the new team, patiently waiting in and out of immigration for hours and days on end, or even just celebrating life by dressing up together on a Saturday, I can see God’s love shining through each of my teammates. Oh and let me tell you, it is beautiful.
I love the way we laugh, I love the way we love, and I love the way we are doing life here together.
