Nine P’s to the makings of a great road-trip
There are many things that go into the makings of a great road trip. Iwould like to just lay out a potential formula for you in case you have been thinking about making a trek across the country; coast to coast. Now, I would like to preface this by saying there are many ways to make a journey like this incredible, but this is what worked for us.
The Potential: The potential was great, and the possibilities were endless. It was just the open road, Danae, and I. Who knew what adventure would ensue. And hey I would like to brag on myself a little for finding the best road trip buddy ever.
The Planning: The planning was limited, a haphazard attempt to pull it all together last minute, at best. Somehow we landed on September 1st as a launch date and set out from there. A few hours in a tea house in Bozeman Montana and a handful of phone calls later, we had a route; a game plan on the back of a used envelope.
The Playlist: Now every road trip lover knows a day on the road is defined by the tunes. It just might be the one thing that gets you though the flats of Wyoming. It’s the make it or break it out there in the desolate places void of radio and cell phone towers. There is a good chance we spent more time looking for music then at the map. But hey sanity was a stake! There might be a chance we practiced our karaoke routine once or twice or more, and maybe some inspirational Josh Gorban “You Raise Me Up”
The Places: From amber waves of grain, to purple mountain majesty America has some great sights to show off.
Day one we witnessed the beauty of the Tetons.
Day two we rolled across the landmark of the world’s largest Jack-a-lope Exhibit.
It took a dull stretch through Wyoming but we finally made it to Estes Park Colorado to Wind River Ranch to say with our World Race friend and future CGA house mate Sara. We spent three days living under the magnificent shadow of the outstanding 14 thousand foot Lones Peak.
From Horizon the Horizon we scoped out the flats for Kansas and kept moving. Followed up by Missouri and Arkansas.
We slowed down long enough to explore Tennessee for a few days. Memphis was grand; a Need to Breath concert, authentic barbeque, and some more World Race friends.
After years of listening and appreciating country music I finally made it to Nashville, the music city.
Day 12 and our little ramble came to an end and we landed in Gainesville Georgia a little better versed in the landscape from Montana to Georgia.
The Providential timing: Despite our limited planning, the timing of our trip was amazing. Thank you Jesus. We got to spend our time at Wind River Ranch being blessed by the women’s retreat that we got to be a part of. We made it to Memphis just in time to see Need to Breath (the band that took over most of our playlist anyway). Somewhere along the way God used the time on the highway to prepare my heart to end one season and begin another season of learning.
The People: Oh boy does it pay to have friends in every state from Montana to Georgia. We spent every stop catching up with family or friends from the race. It was hospitality at its finest. I have never felt so welcomed into so many people’s homes. A huge thank you to all who hosted us, fed us, and arranged your plans to accommodate us driving though.
*** Special thanks to Weston Howell (and his mom) for being born in time for me to meet him before I moved across the county. What a great addition to the people of this world.
The imPortant life questions: The open road is a great place to think and with a few hours to fill we used our time to ponder some important life questions. All credit to these life pondering goes to Danae
- Why is there so much over population in China when there is no one in Wyoming?
- What do you think Sacajawea did to kill time. Like did she go crazy?
- What happens when a giraffe gets a sore throat? And where would a giraffe place a neck Tie? On the top or bottom?
- No wonder Christopher Columbus thought America was the end of the world, he was probably in Kansas.
- Look from horizon to horizon, there is so much air…so why are the bugs still hitting my windshield?
The Packing: So you might have been wondering how in the world you pack a car for such a venture. The answer; I don’t really know, but I can tell you what happens when you pick another person up from the airport in Chattanooga and don’t have room for them, things get a little cozy. 
The Purpose:
Here I am living in the south in the land of peaches (yet to see a single peach) and you might be wondering why.
I am participating in a program called Center for Global Action (CGA) with Adventures in Mission, the same organization The World Race is under. It is designed to give people the chance to be discipled, taught, and discover/live out their calling in Christ. My focus is the leadership track.
About life in Georgia:
I live in a house with 5 other girls, fantastic girls who are also a part of CGA, and a couple with a little girl named Ezra, our house mentors. My day is split into two parts, apprenticeship and track time. I am working in the World Race department for my apprenticeship, collaborating with seven other people on projects to help improve The World Race. The other half of the day is “track time”, where we get to be a part of classes or sit in on meetings that help develop my skills as a leader.
I am so grateful to have been given the chance to be a part of this community and learn from very wise people. I am eager to see what God has to teach me in this time and how He is going to use it for the next step.
Thank you to everyone who has sent me support.
I am a little over half funded for CGA and I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me get here. I am blown away by the ways God has provided for me this far to get here.
If you are interested in supporting me one time or monthly you can click the support me tab on this page or send a check to
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
and put my name in the memo line.
Merchandise section
Check out my new Tee shirts I designed for the Road Trip
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