twentyeight19.org

I am sitting here trying to think of what in the world I should share with those of you who keep up with us on this website, and each time I have thought of a different topic I think “no, that’s boring.” But the fact is, there is really so much that is going on in the lives of our team members that really is far from boring. I think that is why I am not sure where to start. Recently, one of my close friends was asking me what the role of each of my teammates was when we were working together. It made me excited to share with her about the strengths God has given us as a team, so I have decided to focus on something a little different in this post than facts about where we are going or the craziness of our lives at present. I hope that this will give you more of a glimpse into the personality and the strengths of our team, and I also pray that this can be a reminder of what we have learned and an encouraging note for my teammates if they read this.

I guess I will start by letting you all know that we, as a team, have taken more personality/strengths tests than we ever imagined we would. At times this got old, but I think we can all look back and see the benefits these tests will give us in the future as a team. I will be the first to admit that remembering the specific/technical terms that each test labeled us with is not my strong point, so I will just describe each team member in my own words.

Wes Yoakum: Wes is the reason we even have this website. He thinks of just about everything. Wes is great at researching and finding information whenever anyone on our team needs to know more about something. He is constantly sending us emails with links, instructions, or great information about anything and everything. He also knows no stranger. Wes is going to be great at bringing people in when we get to Peru. He can strike up a conversation with anyone. Wes also gives his opinion about everything. Even though we all tease him about this, Wes always has something wise for us to think about. He is a fantastic partner to Stacy, and he is also one of the best dads I know.

Stacy Yoakum: This is one creative, determined, and strong friend, wife, and mother. Stacy has continually worked at opening herself up to each of us, and she is always seeking to teach us something new about her personality. She is very patient, and I believe she has taught our entire team more about patience in these past couple of years than anyone else. Stacy has a deep passion for God, and that shows in her desire to continually be in God’s Word. Stacy won’t be the first one out meeting strangers, but she will forever be deepening the relationships with those she already knows. She has a strong belief in discipling, and she will be great at acting this out in Peru. Stacy is a loyal friend. She also deeply loves her children, and that is evident in the ways she interacts with them.

Lee Fletcher: Lee is one of the most honest guys I know. He is always striving to do the right thing in every situation. Lee is also one of our team’s best researchers. He is always volunteering to find information for us, and he is always thorough. Lee is considered an introvert on paper, and he is an introvert in many situations, but he is also one of the funnniest guys on our team. He is great at providing comic relief for us in the midst of a “too serious” time. Lee is a wonderful learner, and he is always striving to gain knowledge about something else. He loves his family, and he is one of our team’s best prayer warriors.

Stephanie Fletcher: The joy and happiness that shines through Stephanie are contagious. She is one of our team’s best “includers”. She is able to find a place for anyone, and her ability to include everyone makes people feel special. Stephanie is also great at accomplishing anything. Nothing is impossible or too inconvenient for her. If she has an idea or is given a task, she will get it done. Her ability to pull things off is such an asset. Stephanie is also a fun friend. She has a contagious laugh, and I think she has a special relationship with each of our team members. She loves her family, and she is a great mom.

Mark Clancy: This guy is vital to our team. He knows more about the Bible and Bible times than most of our team members. Mark pours himself into learning, and it has paid off. He is also a great teacher. His ability to transfer his gained knowledge to others is unique. Mark not only KNOWS the Word, he LIVES the Word. Mark is also one of our team’s best “includers”. He is great at giving one person his full attention. He will do everything in his power to make sure that person knows he is focusing on them. Mark is also great at sharing what has been given to him. Even if it is something as small as a piece of fruit, he will make sure everyone has a piece before he even takes some for himself. Mark has also shown all of us that he can be one of the most loving uncles to all of our kids. This means so much to us as parents.

John Mark Davidson: John Mark is our team’s Mr. Positive. While this is said about him often, I don’t feel like I can skip over it now. John Mark has the unique ability to bring out the best in any situation. He can also make anyone feel like a winner. John Mark is probably our team’s best tech guy. Any video, slideshow, presentation, or newsletter that our team has used was most likely created by him. This is saying a lot, because there were numerous times when our team could not have pulled something off without his skills. John Mark is also a loyal husband and father, and his desire to become more what Tara, Kellan, and Parker need is more evident each day. John Mark is a wonderful leader for our team.

Tara Davidson: Level-Headed. This is a word that can best describe Tara. Tara is one of our team’s best realistic thinkers. She is wise beyond her years. Tara is also a loyal and honest person. She has the desire to be transparent with others, and she encourages them to do the same. Tara is also passionate about healthy living. I believe our team has learned a lot from Tara’s knowledge about this. She is always ready to share with others how they can better honor God with their bodies. Tara is the true package. She understands what God means when he tells us to consider our bodies as a temple for him to dwell in, and she lives that out. Tara is fun and energetic, and she makes one great friend.

I hope this has not been a post that was only for our team, but I pray you read this and feel now that you know more about each of us. It has been extremely evident to all of us that we need prayer as a support for us to continue living out the strengths that God has blessed each of us with. We are excited to see how God uses us in Peru.