and
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Thank you so much for the overwhelming support and prayers over this past year and a half.
I can still remember the moment when God called me to the World Race…it was not a happy moment (if I am being honest). Never in my life did I expect to leave everything I had worked so hard for to be His hands and feet and travel to 11 countries I hardly knew existed. I believe I actually started crying hysterically knowing what I was going to witness and what I was going to have to leave behind for such a long period of time. It was so easy to ignore that poverty and saddness exited when I was surrounded by materialistic pleasures in the comfort of my cozy American home. Well here I am sitting in a coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Christmas music playing in my headphones of course!) realizing I am over half way done with this journey already…and today I am not celebrating Christmas alone, but with the new family I have made while on this journey. I would not change what I have learned thus far, although it feels like I have been stretched in what feels like a million different directions and have aged about 10 years.
So thank you…for getting me this far. Thank you for helping me through the rough patches and the happy moments! Your words of encouragement, skype conversations, emails, packages, cards, blog comments, donations, and prayers mean more than you know. I took for granted how many people believed in me! Thank you for helping me become FULLY FUNDED as well. (See note below on personal finances) So many people put in countless hours with the Diva Dash, Bel Canto Choir Concert, Bake Sales, Raffle ticket sales, and Craft Shows. Along with those who bought jewelry, t-shirts, or baked goods from me, or made a donation small or large….THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!
I am excited to share the second half of my journey with you as we travel to a new continent…AFRICA. I have prayed multiple times that God would rock my world and take away my fears about traveling into another unknown. He has already shown me that Africa has a special place in my heart…through the possibility of my parents coming to visit in Tanzinia (yes you read that right! Joyce and Darrell might be coming to visit!) and through some of my youth back home going to Ethiopia while I am gone…CRAZY!
* I realize there has been some confusion on why I have asked for personal financial support although I am fully funded, once I am fully funded according to World Race standards I do not recieve excess money donated to my account. The money in my account is for lodging, a $4 a day food budget, traveling, etc but does not account for snacks, toiletries, extra food money, mishaps (i.e. computers breaking, retainers breaking, shirts and bags ripping, etc) These things were not accounted for by yours truly before the Race :), amongst the craziness of fundraising I forgot to think of that! If anyone does feel as if they would still like to donate to my monthly costs, please contact my sister (Sarina Bauer at [email protected]). Merry Merry Christmas!! *
