To Paige

So my team and I have been challenged by one of our teammates ( shoutout to MO) to write a blog about another squad mate. Mo put all of our names in a name pairing generator and I was given Paige canova! Now Paige is one of the very few people on my squad that I have not gotten to know really well so I was super excited to get to write about her.

 

I asked Paige a few questions so that we could all get to know her.

Where are you from?

 

Ankeny, Iowa

Why are you choosing the race?

 

I love mission trips and didn’t quite know what I for sure wanted to study in college so I convinced myself to apply and see if I got accepted. When I did, I knew this was God’s plan and said yes.

 

Aspirations

 

To get more comfortable away from home, learn to hear God better, and be more confident being out of my comfort zone. And of course meeting more Jesus followers!!

 

What has the Lord been teaching you during the preparation for the race ?

 

He’s taught me if it is His plan, He will provide. I saw this through fundraising. I got all my funds super fast, unexpectedly fast, which showed me He truly wants me here.

 

What is your favorite food?

 

That’s kind of hard because I honestly don’t have a go to favorite food. If I had to pick though it’d probably be chicken strips and fries because that’s what I get 90 percent of the time at a restaurant

 

Which country are you most excited to go to?

 

Guatemala because two people from my church have also been there and I’m excited to experience the same country as they have.

 

What makes you excited for the race?

 

Having new community, worship, and no expectations

 

Are you nervous for the race, if so, why?

Not for too much. Maybe nervous for the food a little bit and for being away from my family and close friends

 

What is your favorite verse right now?

 

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” It just reminds me that whenever I feel weak, God is there carrying me and helping me through it all

How can people be praying for you?

 

To keep excitement as nerves increase as time gets closer to leave family.

That is all of the questions I asked Paige but over the next year all of you will get to know my squadmates really well. I am super excited to start this journey with paige and the rest of my squad. I know that this will be one of the best/ hardest years of our lives so the next portion of this blog is for paige to read anytime she is going through a hard time on the race.

So Paige, I have a couple of letters from a couple of your favorite people. I hope that this will lift you up and give you comfort anytime you are struggling next year, love ya girl!

Deuteronomy 6:5. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.   This verse explains it all for why you are on this Race. Your heart and soul has been called to serve God even before you knew it yourself. From singing in little cherubs at the age of 4 to leading teenage peers in the “Junkyard”-where souls are saved at our church.  Your strength comes from serving the Lord and that strength will be shared with many others on this Race! Believe in God’s path for you as I know you do but accept the bumps in the road He provides you along the way for growth. His path for you is true and I believe in you. All my love- Mom

 

Dear Paige,   I don’t know how far into the trip you are or what is going on, but since you are reading this, I know it must be a rough time. You could be missing family, not making connections, or just feeling down. So while you are at this low point, remember why you are on this trip in the first place: because “it just felt right.” That means God wants you there. God has a huge purpose for you on this trip. He has a specific event/events that you will be apart of that changes numerous people’s lives. If it hasn’t happened already, then it will soon.

Remember all the growth and identity you want to come across on this trip. You are going to be so much stronger in your faith when you come home. Although you may be missing home, try not to think about it because “home is the place you return to.” It will always be there, but these nine months you have right now will be over at one point. So in this hard time, remember why you said “yes” in the first place. Keep serving God with all your heart. I love you. – Taitlyn