So, if you have been staying up to date with me, you know there is a LOT up in the air right now.
I still have not reached my $3,500 deadline by May 3 (grace period end of the week). I am sitting at $2,628. SO CLOSE! But yet, no cigar…yet…
With being so close to not reaching or reaching my deadline, I have been doing a LOT of thinking.
“Should I switch to a later route in September, or even January?”
“If I switch, should I move back to Ohio to save some money and be with family?”
While switching to a later route seems more plausible and realistic because of EVERYTHING that needs to be done in such a short period of time for me to leave in July, I can’t help but think what if it is too comfortable to switch. (We all know God works in the UN-comfortable zones). What if I am not supposed to be comfortable in the preparation? Because, I most certainly will not be comfortable in eleven countries sleeping in a tent with little to no privacy for eleven months!
Despite my thoughts and mental preparations to switch to a later route, I keep wishing I could go on the July 4 route. Last night, I was talking to God and just asking him to guide me to the route He wants me on. While I was sitting on my bed, I got a huge burst of motivation to write down EVERYTHING that needs to happen for me to leave in July. I am not sure if it is because that is the route God wants me on, or if He just wants me to practice being specific! So here goes, here is a list of what I NEED YOUR help with to get me on the July 4 route! I know it is a lot, and it seems impossible. BUT, MY GOD is the GOD of IMPOSSIBLE! So here it goes!
- I need a vast majority of my supplies by May 15 for training camp. Here are the supplies I need:
- A 2 person freestanding tent
- A sleeping pad
- Chacos
- Outdoor clothes (I would use mine, but they are all workout clothes that don’t meet the dress code or are fancy clothes, so lets face it…I need to go CLOTHES SHOPPING!!! J )
- Plate/cutlery items
- A mess kit for training camp ONLY (not for the race, but need it for training)
- Small first aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Hand Sanitizer
- Wipes
- Clothes line
- I need more funding!
- I need $872 more in my AIM account by this Friday,
- I also need a total of $7,500 in my account by the middle of June
- I need personal money. Here is the breakdown of personal finances needed
- Car loan/insurance (I hate to say this, but I have a car payment and if I can’t find someone to buy my car…then I do have a financial obligation to pay for my car loan)
- Monthly cost $375
- Grand total for 11 months is $4,125
- Spending money for hygiene items, souvenirs, “day off” excursions, and misc. in country costs not covered by the trip
- Monthly budget: $150-$200
- Grand total for 11 months: $1,650-$2,200
- Miscellaneous unforeseen financial obligations/emergency fund $1,000-$1,500 for the year
- GRAND TOTAL (MAX) Monthly: $711
- GRAND TOTAL (MAX) For the year: $7,825
- Now, I am not expecting to have 100% of or needing 100% of this raised by July
- My goal is to have about 5-6 months (half of it) raised by the time I leave
- So, in my personal fund BY JULY I will need approximately $4,300 for my personal account (unless someone wants to purchase a 2012 Kia Forte 6-Speed for $10,000!!!!
) - We already covered the supplies I will need by training camp, but here is a list that I don’t necessarily need by training camp but WILL need to launch in July (so have a few more weeks to purchase)
- Sleeping bag liner
- Pocket knife
- Tennis shoes
- Skirts
- Camera
- Laptop
- Outlet converters
- Packable towel/sarong
- Stationary
- Ear plugs
- Travel locks
- Duffel or air porter for my pack
- Compacting bags/heavy duty Ziploc bags
- Misc. Toiletries
- There are a few other tasks and errands that need completed that only I can do. Such as:
- Meet with the lawyer to do the POA paperwork
- Create a bank account that is good for traveling
- Get a forbearance on my school loan
- Take care of my cell contract
- You get the idea
SO! Is it possible to leave in July? Well, I can tell you this, to the normal human being, they would probably say, “That is WAY too much to do in two months…and some needs to be done in a week!” But I serve a God of the impossible who has children throughout this country and this world that I know would love to help me out in the areas listed above!
Now that you all know my specific needs. I ask that you will join me in praying specifically for God to move in each area. Yes, it might not be HIS will for a July departure. But what Harm is it specifically asking God for needs I need either way and eventually!?
I am asking for people willing to partner with me to reach each of these goals in the next two months.
WHO’S WITH ME?!
