With only two weeks until Training Camp and three months until Launch, everything seems to be happening so fast. Between packing, moving, buying gear, and the hundred other things that come before the World Race, I’ve suddenly gone from being the organized, punctual, laid-back me I’ve always known to a scatter-brained, emotional, slightly more frantic version of myself. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a fun process, but I am learning some interesting things through it. Here are my top 10 pre-Race lessons so far (with many more to come, I’m sure):
10) If I can fill 10 boxes and 4 garbage bags BEFORE packing anything I routinely use, I have too much stuff.
9) It’s a handy to have a good relationship with your pharmacy staff (fortunately, in my case, these are my co-workers) if you’re going to pester them about your possible malaria medications at least once a week.
8) There isn’t much point in pretending I’m not stressed out if I’m going to burst into tears when someone asks me how I’m doing.
7) Gear shopping with a fellow World Racer is a lot less overwhelming than tackling it alone.
6) Apparently, “opening yourself up to what God has planned for you” is Christianese for “becoming an emotional wreck, but getting to see God’s will for your life even though you’re a mess.”
5) Not everyone will be excited about this mission, but support and heart-warming enthusiasm will come from unexpected sources.
4) REI employees are even more awesome than I already thought they were – which is really, really awesome.
3) I am amazingly productive when my internet is disconnected.
2) Everyone needs a great friend or two to see them through their freak-out moments.
1) But, most importantly, I’ve learned that in spite of everything – the tears, the never-ending preparations, and the worries that keep me up at night – I STILL can’t imagine spending 2014 anywhere but on the World Race.
Thank you all for the multitude of ways I’ve been supported. Friends, with your incredible generosity I have not only met my first fundraising deadline but my second one (due in December) as well. I still need more finances to be fully funded, but God is good and his people are faithful.
Thank you! Please keep me in prayer as I get everything in order for my Launch in January.
