Team changes: Last letters

CHANGE IS HARD
CHANGE IS GOOD

Friends! Hi! I wanted to share most recent news on my world race journey. This Tuesday morning and weeks beforehand, my team and I had been preparing for a new season in our lives: team changes. 

I am so thankful for having done life with my team Oakies for these past 6 months, (especially 24/7 in Guatemala). They’re incredible women, and even though I will miss being on the same team, I know that having team changes is an important growing experience for us to continue choosing whom Jesus puts in our lives.

We spent Tuesday early morning watching the sunrise together as our last morning together, and reading the letters we had wrote to one another. And so, here are the last written feedback letters (as Oakies) that my team wrote to me. These are words that I will treasure, for these incredible women have seen the good and the ugly of me, and have chosen to love me for who I am, and to see me the way God does. And I also having chosen to love them with their good and ugly can say… it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. Zim, Paiton, Lauren, and Katy, I love you guys so much and I am incredibly proud how you all have grown so much in such a short period of time. Thank you for the words of truth you have spoken over me and for receiving the words of truth I also imparted to you… it means the world.

From Hannah Zimmerle (Zim)

“Janice, I have told you before that you have a worshipper’s heart, like King David. When he was in the very pit of despair, he continued to praise God. I have seen you continue to praise God, even through the hard moments. You always re-focus us back to the Lord. Always hold onto that gift. Bring it into your new team. In difficult, hopeless times, people need a new perspective, and you always bring that. I have loved being on the same team as you, and getting to know you. You have stepped into vulnerability and boldness. You have grown so much in these past 6 months, and I can’t wait to see how the Lord will continue to use you. I have learned what it looks like to praise the Lord in the hard moments from you.

You taught me how to continually seek Him out, even in the small things. I remember how much you loved watching the ants in Guatemala during quarantine. You saw God’s beauty in them. Take this with you throughout the rest of the Race and beyond. Always carry that with you. Never let your passion and you love for people diminish. The Lord has cultivated that gift inside of you and I love seeing it come to life. Thank you for these last 6 months. Thank you for showing me your heart, and for allowing me to get to know you. Thank you for the friendship that you have given to me. It is very special and beautiful. I can’t wait to see how the Lord continues to mold you over these next 5 months. I love you.

-Zim”

From Paiton Houchins

“Janice, 

Dawg. Bro. Words are hard right now but I really love you. I am thankful for the plan God had for us to be on a team together. I am thankful for six months together. The way that God has grown you in such a short time since I’ve known you is amazing. I am so thankful for our friendship. For all our laughs, serious talks, and how we can tell each other things we don’t even want to admit to ourselves. Thank you for re-focusing my mind to Christ in all situations. You’re so special to me. We can always be real with each other and I love it. Words are getting harder right now so I’m going to write my Instagram post because I feel like that sums it all up perfectly: Janice. Man I love you. I have loved being on a team together. I’m honored to have had a front row seat to see how much God has grown you. Some of my favorite things about you are that you’re authentic, protective, spirit-led, trust worthy, and always true to yourself. You bring joy and light up every room you’re in. Our friendship means the world to me. I love worshipping with you. You’re Spirit-filled and the strength the Lord has given you is amazing. You keep it real always and that’s one of my favorite things about you. I know I can count on you to be there whenever I need you. You always point me back to Jesus and speak truth over my life. My prayer for you is that God gives you more… everything He has for you… and more. He’s gonna do it. It’s gonna be good. I love you, 

Paiton”

From Lauren Johnson

“Janice, 

You have brought laughter and vulnerability to this group. You have spoken, encouraged and brought your whole self, making the Oakies feel like family. You carry a depth and delight in the Lord with you at all times. We would not function the same without your passion and intentionality. I am so thankful I’ve gotten to be on our first team together. You are a faithful friend, an incredible listener, you are a safe person I can trust. I love seeing the growth you step into, how you shamelessly feel with all your being. How you continuously worship God with your heart, soul, mind and strength. Now, you have been compared to King David, I can never un-see that lense over you, what a beautiful comparison. I am encouraged by how you live your life in pursuit of Jesus’ heart. You powerfully bring Jesus into your life. I love you dear friend, 

??-Lauren”

From Katy Koser

“Janice is authentic, completely herself. She is wild and lives her life freely. She has amazing discernment and will never rest until she feels everything has been said. She feels everything deeply and passionately. She reminds me of David in the way that she worships and calls out to the Lord. She leads worship so authentically and draws other people in as well. My favorite thing about Janice is that she lives her life boldly. She doesn’t live her life controlled by what others think. She inspires me to be more open and vulnerable about where I’m at.” -Katy

Glory to God for these words of love and life and truth, because if it weren’t for His love and life and truth, these beautiful things in me wouldn’t have been made manifest. To Him be all the glory,

Amen. Till next time,

J <3