Yep, I gave them all up.
I went without all of the above to give myself a
week of surrender; a week of focus.
To give myself a week of World Race prep.
Sure, I’ve been on missions trips before, but The
World Race is going to be so different.
I may have given up these things, but I took up the
following.
My tent, my sleeping pad, my Bible, prayers, dry
shampoo, and my cross.
Honestly, going into the week, I had no idea of what
to expect.
God showed up in many, many ways and I made sure to
record every moment.
The following are my journal entries, if you will,
of my daily experiences without most things “normal” to Americans.
Warning: Some thoughts are slightly scatter-brained (it’s
what I do) as well as completely random. Also, I am not a good story teller, so
sorry in advance. Also, this is a rather long, okay pretty lengthy post.
Thursday,
3/15/12
- Worked
for 6 hours in the cafeteria, received my sleeping pad from my awesome friend
Justine. (Shout out to you girl!) - Received
an envelope telling me that someone had contributed $2,000 towards my World
Race! PRAISE THE LORD. - Took
my friend Stephanie to Dollar General and I went to the post office to send out
some WR items. - I
proceeded to go on a drive down back roads in Angola, I didn’t even know dirt
roads still existed! - Ended
up in Auburn, went past a Valero, turned around to go back to it. - Went
inside & came out to my car revving up just after turning it on. Freaked
out and talked to this nice elderly lady inside the Valero named Linda. - She
guided me to a mechanic 1 block away. They said they were too busy, but to try
pushing the gas after turning on the car. - I
left the mechanic crying out to God for this to work (yes, literally crying). - Linda
came out again & she asked me what they said, I told her and she told me to
push in the gas pedal. I said I couldn’t do it because I was scared. - She
persistently told me to not be scared & just do to it. - I
pressed the gas & the car stopped revving up. #thankyouJesus - Went
to Walmart & asked if they could change my oil. - They
said they couldn’t change my oil because of my filter; the guy reassured me
that it would be safe to drive to Angola. - Came
back, set up tent, & now here I am. - There
is talk of rain occurring tonight & I guess we will see what happens. - Commence
WR prep night numero uno!
Thursday Night,
3/15/12
- Raining & thunder storming, a good way to start
off night one! - A guy next door woke me up at 10 pm to see if I was
okay, yes I went to bed early. - The 5 guys that were present next door proceeded to
keep me awake until 1:30 am making the Guys House Weekly #1 video. - **Looking back at this night, I have realized that a
lack of sleep is also WR prep & I cannot be mad at these gentlemen for keeping
me up.
Friday, 3/16/12
**Day off**
- Slept
in until 11 am. - Woke
up by Tom & Orry talking about tying my tent up in the tree, they came
outside their house to walk up towards my tent & they proceeded to talk
about how that might be difficult considering my tent is staked down. As they
continued to approach the tent I said, “Don’t you dare touch my tent.” They ran
back into their house screaming like little girls & freaking out. Little
did they know that today was my day off. - Ran
errands in town, sent out thank-you’s. - Hung
out with my housemates, talked about a “Girls House Weekly” - It
never happened. - CCH
Techno Party, fist pumping #likeaboss - Pancakes,
passed out at 12:30 for bed. - Used
my noise-isolating ear buds, attached to nothing, to block out noise. #bahaha
Saturday,
3/17/12
- Up
@ 7:30 am for work. - Worked
Global station in the cafe. - Served
green omelets. - After
working I hung out @ the CCH Vacuuming service project. - CCHers
sold 4 TOH bracelets & all donations were given to me, over $30! #ptl - Went
to Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee Co. with 6 others. - Came
back and made dinner for Jon, Craig, and Eric, then invited 2 guys from next
door. - Played
Settlers of Catan with Eric, Craig, Jon, and Tye. - Watched
“Something Borrowed” - Shenanigans
all over Capture the Flag where I was that “in-between” person. - Here
I am, going to read my Bible, journal, and head to bed.
Sunday, 3/18/12
- Worked
in cafe 8 am – 3 pm. - Made
omelets #likeaboss for 2 straight hours. - Came
home and spent over two hours catching up and talking to Robyn Klepfer. - Went
to Meijer to get sub buns. - Spent
time in my tent reading my Bible. - Got
pranked on my the Guys House, Wilhelm’s, with assistance from two of my
housemates. - Legitimately
went off on 4 of the guys that live in the Guys House. - Went
to CCH’s prayer room to “escape” - I’m
still very angry about it. - I
honestly don’t even want to sleep in my tent tonight. - I’m
pissed, and I don’t use that word often. - I’ve
been drawn to tears. - Travis
Wilhelm came to apologize & talk everything out with me. - I
feel better after our talk; it is just going to take some time to heal. - At
the end of our conversation, Tye came out to apologize & I appreciate that. - The
last time I was this mad was back in 07 during the domestic violence case with
my mom & brother. - I
know that somehow this is World Race prep, I’m trusting that You, Lord will
reveal that to me. - I’m
journaling & going to bed now, without headphones, the first time in two
nights.
Monday 3/19/12
- Worked
7 am – 3:30 pm - Received
my daypack from Karen Norris. - Took
my car to the shop due to problem that arose on the 15th. - Walked
over a mile back to my house. - Took
a refreshing 2 hour nap. - Made
dinner on the grill, Italian sausage sandwiches. - Watched
License to Wed with Kayla, note that I like never watch movies. - Watched
some people play euchre at my house. - Went
to my tent to prepare for bed. - Looked
in my journal & I read my entry from 10/3/11 where the title was “$1,650
Raised!!!” - In
actuality, that amount ended up being the $2,000 that was contributed on
Thursday. PRAISE THE LORD! - In
my journal entry I was declaring truths to God about my support raising. - They
are truths I need to remember every single day. Here are a few:
Jesus, I praise
You for Your provision. I praise You for the work that you are doing in my
life. Jesus You have called me by name to go and make disciples of all nations.
I’m laying every single dollar at Your feet. I’m trusting in Your provision.
I’m swimming in a pool of Your love, grace, and mercy. You are God almighty.
You have called me by name. You are going to provide me with so much more than
what I need. Stretch my faith, grow me in new ways, teach me Your Ways, oh
Lord. I pray that my foundation would be built on You alone. I pray that Your
love would overwhelm me.
·
- Now,
it’s time for bed & I have tomorrow off so it’s bound to be a good day!
Tuesday 3/20/12
**Today marks my two year anniversary of being
single!! #hollar
- Woke
up & got ready for my walk to the mechanic. - Picked
up my car & drove to Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee Co. - Spent
some time reading & reflecting on God’s Word. - Rented
3 Red Box movies. - Went
to get my car washed (first time ever & I’ve had Sally since October 8th,
2011). - Proceeded
to drive around Angola to air dry my car. - Came
home and watched all three movies throughout the day. - Also,
I did 7 loads of laundry. The last load is in the dryer now. - Had
dinner outside with Kayla and Danielle. - Washed
my hair in the sink, first time I’ve washed it since last Thursday. - Went
to TNW & learned about symbolism in the Bible. - Dairy
Queen for Buy 1 Get 1 $99 blizzards with 4 of my housemates as our weekly
activity. - Came
back & finished movies & laundry. - Now
it’s time to gear up for bed & wind down.
Wednesday
3/21/12
- Woke
up & went to work by 7 am. - In
a “funk” at work & became very lightheaded. - Left
around 1 pm to go home early. - Napped
for 3-ish hours. - Returned
my Red Box movies. - Went
home & watched Talladega Nights. - Read
my Bible for an Hour. - Had
a pretty legit deep conversation with Chris & Kate. - Rejoined
the internet world @ midnight. - 4
hours of sleep, here I come!
Funniest
Moments::
- Check
out the first bullet point on Thursday - Waking
up in the early morning on Tuesday after rolling over and having my full body
flinch like I was falling out of bed, and realizing I was sleeping on a
sleeping pad in my tent. - Travis
Wilhelm (CCH’s Campus minister) gave a tour of all 3 CCH houses to 3 other
campus ministers from Michigan. In the midst of the tour he found my tent
between the Guys House & the Girls House. One of the campus ministers
asked, “Does that person pay rent too?”
Lessons
Learned::
- Abandoning all that I have here in Angola will not
be easy. I will not have the comfort of staying in a tent right next to a 3 bedroom
house where I can go and get anything I could ever want. Or being in America
where any sort of item I could want is only a short drive away & can
normally be picked up at my local Walmart.- It’s going to be hard to leave the friendships I
have made here with my CCH family. Good thing I have a G-squad family that
loves me too.- Going without a shower and with limited clothing is
going to be one of the most stretching things for me. Sounds lame, but I’m
serious.- If God can provide $2,000 from one family, He
totally has all $15,500 raised for me.- In a time of prayer & fasting is when I feel
most connected to God. I’m currently in a mindset that I need to be fasting
from something to keep my focus on Him.- I cannot, by no means, do this alone.
