Hi friends!
Launch is in just 3 days! On Sunday, bright and early, I will get on a plane to spend a few days of training in Atlanta, GA. At the end of that training, I will be sending my iPhone back to my parents before heading to Kampala, Uganda.
I am not taking my phone on the Race. It’s definitely not required to leave our phones at home, but it is highly recommended from the experienced people who work at Adventures in Missions and those who have been on the Race. Ultimately, it’s a personal decision, and mine is to leave it at home.
I want to explain why I am choosing to leave my phone at home, just so you can know the heart behind the decision. It is abundantly clear that by and large, people (not just young people) are way too addicted to their phones. This absolutely includes me. I frequently find myself spending time with loved ones, but every single one of us is looking at our phones instead of paying attention to one another.
I don’t want this to define my Race. I don’t want to look back and realize that I never actually saw the amazing places I was in because I was too busy looking at my phone. I don’t want to look back and find that relationships were not enjoyed or deepened because I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen long enough to look the other person in the eyes. I don’t want to look back and realize I spent so much time trying to stay connected back home that I completely missed everything that was happening in front of me.
What God is about to do in my life is incredible. He doesn’t need the World Race to change my life, but He is choosing to do so. I don’t want to get in the way of that for even a second. So I go, but my phone stays.
I am choosing to press into the hard times when I would rather escape to the comfort of my phone. I am choosing relationships over technology. I am choosing to be wholly present where my feet are rather than straining to be present where my friend’s and family’s feet are. This is my life. This is my Race. (Actually, they’re both God’s, but you know what I mean). And this is how I am choosing to define them.
So this begs the question, how can you keep in contact with me?
Well, the best way is going to be this blog. This will be my number one place to post updates and stories about what is going on in my life and in the lives of the people I meet. I am humbly asking you to subscribe right now (click here to do so). This way I will have peace of mind that you are staying updated, if that is something you want, without me having to send a million different e-mails to everyone. (Side note: If you have made a financial donation online, I already added your e-mail address to the list. If you don’t want to receive e-mails, you can unsubscribe at any time).
The next best way to contact me is by e-mail at raelynn.defalco@gmaildotcom. I love receiving e-mails. Please feel free to send me one at any time, even just to update me on something cool that happened in your life (Madison, I want to know the gender of that baby!) You can also send me words of encouragement, bible passages that you think I might need to hear, or anything else that could be an encouragement on the field. The wi-fi might not always be the best, but you can bet I’ll be looking forward to e-mails from my loved ones while I’m away.
The last way to stay in contact is through Facebook. Honestly, Facebook is going to be the last on my list of places to update. I have heard that it’s sometimes easier to upload pictures to Facebook rather than the blog when wi-fi is kind of crappy. If that’s the case I will be sure to direct you that way in my blog.
Guys, this is really happening. I am actually going on the World Race. I have no idea how I got to this point, except an unfathomable amount of grace from God. I am running the gamut of emotions right now, but above all I am so at peace knowing I am right in the center of God’s will for my life. Thank you for joining me on this experience, I cannot wait to share with you all the amazing things God does in the next 11 months.
Factoring in monthly donations through the end of the year, I still need to raise $4,132. My next deadline is October 31, and I need $1,265 to meet that. Click here to donate. Thank you for your support!
