While talking with people about this trip I have gotten several negative comments either from strangers or people who really care about me and don’t want me to go.
When I originally sent out my support letters there was one business in particular who was thinking about donating to me. When I went back to speak with them again the owner told me that he couldn’t support me because it sounded like a vacation and he did not want to pay for my airfare. I just got back from training camp this last Saturday and if I learned anything I learned that this trip is going to be challenging. Some of the things I learned along with all of my squad mates is that sometimes we’ll be sleeping in a bus overnight or that we’ll have to fit all of our team into a small area to sleep like when we slept in community tents. We learned that we would have to depend on people when we spent the night out in the woods with the food we were given, some wood, a few tarps and a backpack with whatever we could fit in it. We got to know the handful of people that we will live with the next 9 months. We learned how we got very little alone time if any at all. Many of us learned that the food won’t be what we’re used to and that being a picky eater isn’t an option. We delved deeper spiritually learning about grieving, forgiveness, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us during this trip. If I learned anything at all I learned that this journey will not be a vacation and that we all struggle.
The day after I got home from training camp I worked. I was talking about some of my experiences and what I learned. When I mentioned where I was going (Guatemala, Thailand, and Botswana) one of the regulars was very concerned about my well being. He kept asking why can’t I let someone else do this. No matter what answer I gave whether it be I want to help people, I want to show people God’s love who might not ever see it, or I know this is where I belong he was not happy… Until I ran out of reasons and I just said that “I am the someone else you keep referring to.” He was still concerned about my safety, but he seemed to understand that not everyone can let someone else do it. All of the current past and future racers have decided or been chosen to be that someone else everyone is always talking about.
I would like to ask that you continue to pray for me and that you pray about donating. I do still need financial support. I want to thank you all for helping me out so much. I leave for launch on September 6, but I must be fully funded by August 22 so mailed checks must be in by the 8th and online donations must be done by the 19th.
