Meet the Team!: Heaven’s Eleven

Its a good idea to tell you all who I will be traveling with for the next nine months. Everyone is incredible, whether I know alot about them or just met them for the first time on Team Announcement night, and I only have great things to say about them. Without further ado, here is your 2019-2020 NET Team 11!

Nels Mork (TL) (Billings, MT, 20)- I met Nels at the airport when I first arrived in Minnesota. He is very laid back, calm, and patient from what I can already tell. I dont have a whole lot of memories with him aside from the Lake Day and enjoying the cold water together, but he is a true Man of God, and a major reason why he is our Team Leader, let alone a fantastic member of our team.

Jakob Kachirisky-Reyes (Glendora, CA, 18)- You may or may not have seen his name already on the blogs. He was in my dorm when I came to the NET center, in the same small group, same Co-Ed group, and now the same team. In other words we’ve done everything together thus far, and are planning to do everything more the next nine months. He is a guitar GENIUS despite only been playing for just over a year, and will be a focal point in all things Praise & Worship. Even though he was a recruited lineman in high school, he is the softest, plushiest, most caring dude you’ll ever meet. He’s our very own Baymax, and I am so excited to see whats in store for us, because obviously we are meant to be something great together.

Evan Mock (Ham Lake, MN, 19)- I hadnt really talked to Evan a whole lot up until Team Announcements, in fact I had only played basketball with him once before we were called to Team 11. He is easily the most quiet on an extremely loud team, but he is one of the most important pieces as he is our only Second-Year. In all ministry training thus far, Ive seen him come alive in the dramas and AME’s (After Meal Entertainment), and its really exciting to watch as we bond together.

Adam Thooft (West St. Paul, MN, 20)- He is what I like to call a Legacy. His parents did NET, hid siblings did NET, and now it’s his turn to serve the Lord. He’s such a chill guy, but he is quick with his words and will always get his point or question across before you do. Lots of energy, lots of fun, will be a fantastic leader for the youth

Something to note about the brothers: we are EXTREMELY tall!! The shortest one of us is Nels, who is 5’11”, and everyone else is 6’1” and above. I really like the name “30 Feet of Brotherhood”, but we’ll see if it sticks…

Sarah Beaver (TL) (Erie, PA, 22)- I had one conversation with her during a meal, but I knew immediately that she would be an amazing Team Leader. Never in my wildest dreams thought she could be MY Team Leader. Extremely fearless and very confident in herself, always ready to take any challenge head on, and and will do anything to bring people up. She is going to be incredible for me and for Team 11.

Roni Walton (Chadds Ford, PA, 19)- It took me a few days to realize she was on my team. I met her at the airport as well, and we hung out alot at Wapo, my motive being “The Holy Spirit is telling me we wont be on the same team, so I want to spend time with her before we head our own ways.” Holy Spirit is funny that way I guess. She is so much fun to have 1-on-1 convo with, just has a loving personality and is a caring person as well.

Monica Brown (Victoria, TX, 18)- Before Team Announcements, I only knew her because she hung out with my small group buddy Tomás, but also thought to myself, “I would love to have her on my team!” She is initially quiet, but in the first week Ive already seen her open up to us, and she admits she’ll open up more and more as time goes by, so Im excited for that. Also, she easily has the most unique laugh on the team, so entertaining her will be enjoyable for me.

Moriah Michieli (Littleton, CO, 18)- She was the only one I hadnt met leading up to Team Announcement night, which made me excited since I only wanted one or two people on my team I didnt know. In our small convos thus far, she has been extremely entertaining, alot of fun to hang out with, and is so so sweet. I am most excited to build a relationship with her since, well, I hardly know her!

Aimee Rangel (Riverside, CA, 22)- My Seattle girl!! Well, shes not from Seattle, but her sister lives there now and she visits and loves it, so thats how we relate. She was in my Co-Ed group along with Jakob, and when I realized we were teammates Friday night, I FREAKED! She is a bundle of joy, and conversations with her are always fruitful, and she adores “angsty” teens and high schoolers, so I am thrilled to be with someone who enjoys many of the things I do.

Ellie Lehto (Savannah, GA, 18)- Our grand singer. I met her on the first day behind the NET center as her and Jakob were jamming out, and she sounds EXACTLY like Rapunzel from “Tangled”. Like, EXACTLY. Its crazy. Anyways, she is super energetic and extroverted, and loves sharing her life with other but also listening to everyone else talk about themselves. Our meme humor is very similar too I learned, so I will likely be making lots and lots of Vine references with her.

Overall, it is a very young team, with 6 high school graduates including me, but all beyond worthy and deserving to be NET missionaries. One of the first things I noticed is none of us, as far as I know, have big personalities nor character issues. This will be vital for early team bonding because no egos will get in the way. We’re all eager to work through eachother and become a beautiful working force, and these pasts few days have shown me that we’re gonna be extremely supportive of eachother through the highs and lows as long as we communicate. I have no doubt in my mind this will be an incredible year, and I wouldnt have it any other way!!