I apologize on the front that my last blog was almost two months ago. If papers, projects, and finals were currency, I would be done fundraising.
I’d like to take this blog to answer some of your pressing questions. Some are more intriguing or serious than others, and of course some are comical (because we all know how much I appreciate light conversation). So here’s a few I’ve gotten…
Q. How is fundraising going?
A. Overall, it’s going quite well. I won’t spend much time regarding my thoughts on the subject as you can get a nice taste of that by reading my last post “The World Race is a Lie.” As you can see, my first deadline of $3,500 has been passed and that is due in June. My second deadline is in August and I am required to have $7,500 in my account before I depart several weeks later. However, I am striving to obtain 50% of the funds by June (Approximately $8,000).
Q. What do you bring with you?
A. I’ll be carrying my entire life in a 70L Backpack for 11 months. You can get a sense of what I’ll be taking with me from that alone. Thankfully, I’ve acquired the large majority of my gear (some through shadier means than others). Such gear includes: Backpack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, tent, hammock, headlamp, clothing organizers, and quite a few other trinkets. I’ve yet to find a suitable speedo for those long days in Costa Rica, but I’m confident that will come with time.
Q. Will you have internet? Can we Skype? (Largely my Mother)
A. Will I have a bed? Will I have soap? Will I have a toilet (my personal favorite.. toilet paper)? The answer to all of these questions is best answered with another question… who knows? The World Race is about dependence, uncertainty, and spreading the gospel. I’m sure at some points I’ll have a wifi connection, and it may be at 3am, but who really knows?
Q. What are your plans when you get back?
A. I’m just trying to graduate. 22 days, 14 minutes, and 27 seconds… not that I’m counting. (Yes, I have general plans.. but that’s far too long-winded for this context. Maybe in a separate blog?).
Q. How many shots do you have to get?
A. I believe its hovering around 6 or 7, which actually isn’t terrible!
Q. What are you going to eat?
A. For those of you who know me well, this is a great question. My eating habits are terrible, not in the sense that I eat unhealthy food.. I just dislike foods that everyone else deems as “normal.” Macaroni and Cheese? Nope. Cheeseburgers? Nope. Spaghetti? Nope. My Grandmother has already made clear her theory as to how I’m going to starve. It’s a serious question. I guess I’ll find out when I get there right?
Q. Are you ready?
A. This also is a superb question. Am I ready? Ya know, I’m not really sure. Can we really be “ready” for what’s unknown? I mean, we’ve already seen how I’ve been unable to answer some of these questions already. This entire experience is largely new territory. What I’ll experience, who I’ll run into, the people I’ll be living with, where I’ll even be.. its all unknown. Try preparing for an exam where you aren’t told the subject until you start.. or try creating a team where you aren’t told what sport you’re playing until the game begins. How would you do it? I don’t know if I’m ready. If someone asked you this question the day you accepted Christ, how would you respond?
Q. How can I help?
A. I’ve had several people reach out to me and meet to discuss this trip. Honestly, I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated it. It’s extremely encouraging to have people genuinely interested, giving you words of encouragement, and praying for you. To those people, I thank you yet again.
Obviously, I still have lots of fundraising to do. My personal goal is to have $8,125 in my account by the end of this month. If you’d like to help support me just click on the “Support Me” tab at the top of this page!
Thank you all for reading! If you have any more questions you’d like me to answer, I’d be more than happy to! Knowing you guys read my blogs is a great feeling!
