First, I want to say thank you to every person who has supported me. Not only did I meet my first financial deadline this month, but I am also A THIRD of the way to my final goal of $15,500! THANK YOU!
Your generous support has been used in my heart to confirm my steps in this process. The Lord has used you to teach me about his provision. And I have needed that confirmation as well as your prayers.
The past few weeks have been a flurry of happenings, ups and downs, strung together by a constant peace.
I have moved, had some meltdowns and am now on the road to training.
MOVING
I have moved. Most of my things were sold, given away or left on the curb of the ARC in the middle of the night. I also have a few things distributed to my friends’ houses.
I know that I will see things this upcoming year that will change me. I know that my perspective of material things will change. And while I have never considered myself a materialistic girl, leaving my condo was difficult.
My little place was perfect for me. It was my haven from the circumstances of a really hard year. I always felt safe there. The cheery red walls soaked up the sun and surrounded a brick fire place. Cozy.
I think I needed that place for a time and I know that my Father provided it for me.
But one day, it hit me how small my world had become.
A prayer that my friend had posted on FB came to mind:
Lord, please comfort the disturbed.
And disturb the comfortable.
I was comfortable.
This was a large factor in my decision to do the World Race. I don’t want to live a comfortable, selfish, alone, small life.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have the comforts that we do have in our lives. I just know that, for me, where I was, I needed to be challenged.
I needed to move.
Since giving up my place and my things, there have been countless stories of God providing for me.
For example…
I wanted to keep my bed and my piano. I prayed that God would show me what he wanted me to do with these special possessions. Within days I met people, in pretty random circumstances, who wanted to take them for me and use them for the year.
That’s just one story of what the Lord has done to take care of me. There are so many moments of his provision in my details.
He has given me some amazing friends out in my western home.
Thank you to my CO friends/family who took me in after the move, supplied so much gear, fed me meals and helped me soak in some great Denver memories before my move back east. Alex, Joy, Maverick, Lindsay, Addy, Gina and Bella thank you so much. I love you all!
MELTDOWNS
I’ve have them. Meltdowns, that is. Yes. Just a few.
To be honest, there have been several moments of doubt about my decision to do the Race:
“I like my warm bed!”
“I love my friends!”
“I’m too old for this!”
“I want a simple, settled life!”
“What am I doing?!”
It’s tempting to me to only share the good things about this process with you. I want to tell you about how exciting these months since my decision to do the WR has been. And it has been amazing.
But it’s also been really hard.
I’m not good at goodbyes. Honestly, I’m not great with change (you may be thinking at this point that I am in trouble/crazy to be jumping into a year full of change).
It was hard to leave the refuge of my condo. It was hard to say goodbye to my Denver life. It was harder to say goodbye to my Colorado friends. I’m jumping into so many unknowns. And that’s just hard.
As a slow processor, I’m not sure that all of this has hit me.
But, even though there have been several meltdown moments, I have felt mainly peace. Really! I have felt pretty calm. I have had so many moments of joy and excitement about this new season. I have felt the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Maybe when we’re doing what he’s placed in front of us to do, the peace that passes understanding holds us together and helps us take just one step at a time.
AN UPDATE
Right now I am in Nashville, TN in route to training camp.
My sweet mom flew out to Denver on Tuesday to help me drive across the country. And the following morning we hit the road in my trusty Honda Civic.
Kansas pretty much took up our entire Wednesday. Oh Kansas.
On Wednesday night we stayed with my Arkansas family. I have not seen them in so long! I love you all!
I met my little cousin who is pretty much the cutest kid in the world.
On Thursday we had a pretty uneventful nine hour drive to Tennessee. We listened to CDs that I had burned in high school. We were tired.
Today has been quiet in the hotel and maybe the first time that I have had to be still in a while. We're staying by the grand ole opry house. As a fairly recently converted country music lover, this is exciting to me.
Tomorrow I drive to Georgia for a week of camp. Next week I will be sleeping in a tent, meeting my teammates aaaand that’s about all I know about this training.
I have no idea what to expect. And so, I’m trying to go into it with no expectations other than to expect my Father to move me, excite me, challenge and love me.
From the little I do know about it, I'm sure it will be an experience.
Please pray for me this week. I’ll keep you posted!
