This past week, I spent my time in Immokalee, Florida with a small group of my Wartburg family. We spent the week with two organizations: The Guadalupe Center and Immokalee Housing & Family Services. The goal of these two organizations is to help provide educational and affordable opportunities for the families of Immokalee. 75% of the population is Spanish speaking. 45% of the population lives 200% below the poverty line. As we did service in this poor, poverty stricken town, I couldn’t help but think about the race.
I can’t help but wonder if my experiences will be similar or completely new. Will I feel the same feelings? Think about the same things? Ride that same emotional roller-coaster?
These people were so impacted by our short time there and I wonder if the people we meet in those 11 months will feel the same way the people of Immokalee did. Along with the feeling of empowerment gained from our short time with the organizations, came a lot of frustration and anguish about not being able to do more for these people. Will these same frustrations come next year as the one month in each place draws to a close?
As I’m sure many other racers before me have done, I have done multiple service and mission trips. But only lasting a week to a week and a half. The longest I’ve ever been abroad is one month. But these short experiences have made huge lasting impacts on my life. I can’t help but question how I will go from one week experiences to an 11 month long one.
This past week I’ve been struggling and trying to wrap my brain around these questions that I have. I’m looking to Him for guidance and strength in this time of worry. Graduation is in less than one month, training camp is in 71 days and pure crazy in between. Time is flying by and it is all happening so quickly.
Yesterday marks exactly 4 months until we leave.
So if you’re reading this, feel free to shoot up a prayer for me and my squad who have already began this crazy, wonderful journey.
xoxo,
Kaitlin
My soul, thou wait only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. Psalms 62:5
