Hey everyone! I wanted to take the opportunity to update you all now that I'm back on the web (for now at least). I don't have a blog planned or a cute way to connect my month together, but I still wanted to write a little something.
First off, I met my December 1 deadline of raising $11,000. This is INCREDIBLE. Thank you all so much for all of your support and for your contribution to the Kingdom. It has seriously been such a huge testimony to how much Christ is in control of all of this because of the willingness of His church to make this happen not only for me but for all of my squadmates. May He make your donation overflow and bless you in return. I know this isn't why you donated, but I know that you're all trusting Him with this money and me to steward it wisely, and that can sometimes be difficult to do. The final deadline of the Race is on March 1, and that is to raise about $4,000 more to allow me to finish up the final months of the trip. If you feel the tug to donate, please either click the "Support Me" tab on the left of this screen.
I'll try to put together some blogs on how China went. I might not be able to share many details, but let me tell you it was probably my favorite month thus far. I loved China. I basically spent the month in a city hanging out and building relationships over coffee with university students. There was a lot that happened personally this month too, and it solidified my faith more than any other month. It's crazy how a place almost completely void of Christian influence could do that.
I couldn't be more excited for everything this upcoming month has to bring. My team, Talitha Cumi (which got changed — again), will be on our own in the Bicol region of the area, working for the non-profit Food for the Hungry. We're right by the beach, an active volcano, and a pineapple farm that the village is learning to become self-sustainable on. We will be traveling there tomorrow by bus (we're in Manila right now), and our ministry will start the day after. It looks like we will mostly be pouring into the kids/next generation, but other than that the ways we will be serving are still a mystery to all of us! Hopefully we will have internet out there, but if you don't hear from me that's probably the case — no news is good news.
Love you all immensely, and hope everyone had a blessed holiday season!! We will all have to make up for it next year…and if you all welcome me back in August with a plate full of Christmas cookies I would not complain one bit. 🙂
