Dear Rachel and Nolo,

There was a moment. A little flicker in time, really – when I knew. And it wasn’t a tsunami of emotion. It wasn’t a grand conversation. Seemingly, I could have missed it all together. But. In the dimly lit restaurant cradled by a wall of green, we all went into slow motion laughing in a freedom that had crept in slowly, like falling in love all at once.

The guise of properness and professionalism I had been wearing, trying to lead well and trying to show up well for your ministry had started to chip off like paint. And it needed to. I needed to rest. You told me that, Rach.

You told me so much. And I learned so much.

Thanking you feels trite, as if we engaged in some sort of exchange of experiences rather than literally feeling like part of your family.

I guess that’s the whole point though, right? The body of Christ should and does feel like that when done well.

Your passions became our passions, your concerns our missions, your children our children and your goals our goals. Your family became our favorite people and you both, well, you were ours. And we were yours.

I’m just really thankful. Thankful we got to be your first World Race team, Thankful we got to have you first. Thankful we never forget the first love.

I’m sure people think that the World Race is full of partnerships with big missions organizations and nonprofits where we get funneled into a schedule and a never ending list of Westernized “mission” work.

Thank God that you blew that out of the water. You showed us how to live the kingdom of God every day. You fed the hungry, you stopped to pray for the sick, you listened to stories, you held needy children and you were completely and utterly interruptible.

Living life with you showed me how to slow down, to watch the plays before me, to enjoy every fiber of life and to laugh off the things we don’t understand.

It’s not about numbers and big financial goals and professional logos. It’s about doing what Jesus commanded of us. Living like He lived.

And the overwhelming thing, the thing that hasn’t stopped rolling through my mind is that ANYONE can do this. Anyone can leave their comfort and their home to pursue the voice of Jesus. Anyone can open their eyes a little wider to see the needs of those around them. Anyone can take in children who need homes. Anyone can stop to pray.

These are not hard things, yet they completely silence the lullaby of materialism and greed that we have all grown so accustomed to.

You challenged me. You challenge me still. I am changed having encountered you and living your life alongside you.

As you often said, “This is just your life. We are just living your life with you.”

Thank you that now, more than before, “This is just my life too.”