Teammate Spotlight: Adam J. Thooft

- Role: Trailer Packer

- Resides In: St. Paul, MN

- Birthday: November 21st

- Before NET: Working at a Menards (Midwest home improvement store) and going to community college. Parents met on NET, so he grew up knowing NET all his life.

- First Encounter: I saw him and his extremely long golden hair around, but didn't talk to him until the hammocks at Wapo.

- Initial Thoughts: Loud but very laid-back. Love his energy and passion in conversations.

(Left) During Men's Session at Dave & Buster's in March, we got "Winner" Chains from the prize booth as a brotherhood for irony sake. In this picture, we act even more ironic by trying to act tough with my D&B hat, and his D&B glasses. It's one of my favorite pictures from on the road. (Right) Adam is the goofball on the team, and this is one of many exhibits. I walk into the van after visiting the Schoenstatt Shrine in Wisconsin in February, only to be met by Adam wearing four pairs of sunglasses. Extremely thrown off by this, I had to take a photo. Again, one of many times Adam made me laugh this year.

- Favorite Memory: Anytime we stayed the night together at a host family, we would be up until midnight or later just talking. Starting in Olney, MD in October while watching the World Series, these nighttime chats were something we began to look forward, because we both needed to process everything that was happening on the road and call eachother on in certain aspects. This created the bond that we have today, and even when we are on calls together off the road, it feels like we're in the same room again, just thinking out loud with another day of ministry ahead of us.

- What I Will Miss: I'm gonna have to go with two things. 1) The Backseat Boys. Long story short, me and Adam sat in the back row so often that we created a name for ourselves whenever this situation happened, and when it does we acted like we just activated some trap card and just yell and freak out. It was very fun. Oh, and special activation points if Shortstop (Roni) was with us in the back too. 2) When Adam laughs or tries to process something mind-blowing, his body tends to freak out like an inflatable tube man at a car dealership, and it is extremely entertaining to watch. Ask any teammate, or even Adam, they know what I'm talking about.

- What the World Should Know About Adam: Jakob said it best, "there is no one on this Earth like Adam Thooft", and it is so true. His personality, demeanor, gifts, everything, is so unique and so different, it can only be described as Adam, and you likely won't meet anyone like him. Furthermore, he is very knowledgeable in the faith, and is an extremely strong soldier in Christ because he is not afraid to back down from a spiritual/philosophical debate, and I admire that.

Dear Adam,

I love you so much brother. You've taught me alot this year, whether you realize it or not, and tested me in ways I didn't think I would be tested in. Thank you for being so goofy, so fun, but also so devoted to Christ. Thank you for being you, I am so beyond excited to see where life takes you my man! Love you.