Hello friends, family, people I have never met, etc.,
I cannot help but start off this blog with that catchy tune, “God is Good All The Time,” by Don Moen in my head. (I am currently listening to it as I type so pardon the mistakes I may make while writing this because I am part dancing as I type lol). I am in complete awe of how Great God is and how crazy fast time is flying! My brain is also in a million places so bare with me! As of this moment, I have raised $9,891, that would NOT be possible without the wonderful support of ALL OF YOU! I believe that I will be getting just over $2,000 from my church’s “Missions Offering,” which they were giving to me throughout the month of July! There is talk that I could receive even MORE from my church too, from our Pancake Breakfast, and our Missions Fund! The outpour of love and funding from my church family has honestly been incredible! It is an HONOR to represent them while I am serving next year! After all is said and done, my church family will be almost funding me 50% or more! That is truly a blessing, THANK YOU SCOTTSVILLE UMC!
I am now writing in GREEN because my squad (January 2017 Route 3) are now known as the “S Squad” and our squad’s color is GREEN! We, as a squad, have already started discussing shirt ideas and skit/cheering ideas because at Training Camp we have SQUAD WARS! I have no doubt that my squad will win because God has surrounded me with an AWESOME family to travel the world with next year! Seriously, the relationships, support, and prayers we have said for each other already have been nothing short of amazing! We already feel like we know each other and are SO at ease talking, it is TRULY God’s Community! Also, I am quite competitive for those of you who know me, so you know I want our squad to win haha! Oh, training camp is 1 month and 3 weeks away, NBD!
I decided to go back and read my last blog before posting this one, just for fun and to see how much things have changed in a month and and 10 days time! Boy, have things certainly changed! Let me break down that insane list I had made last time:
I would love to put in my t-shirt order; however, there are still like 30 more shirts I wanted to sell – This is being done today! I have sold 52 shirts and am ordering the last 23 for people to buy who do not have social media or didn’t realize how cool they were and wanted to order some!
I am behind on thank you notes and uploading $ onto this blog – I am still slightly behind on thank you notes and uploading money, but not by a lot!
I need to get some first round shots already – I have gotten 2 shots already and have decided I am only going to get the Yellow Fever shot and then call it a day; YF is one of the only ones people are getting, it is just super hard to get!
I need to send in my passport papers – I have sent in the papers and have already gotten my new passport and my old one arrived today!
I need to write my presentation/sermon that I am giving at my church on July 31st – Sermon went pretty well and I am giving my second sermon NEXT Sunday, September 4 at Wyomissing COB, so I am doing a slideshow, picking out Scripture, and elaborating a bit on the sermon today!
I need to finish the poster of information for my church’s lobby – This has been finished and proudly on display at my church since July 31st!
I need to update my fundraising thermometer poster that is up in my church – I will be updating my thermometer tomorrow at church!
I need to see my doctor this week or next about some WR things – I still need to see my doctor, hoping to see her next week!
As you can see, PROGRESS IS BEING MADE! GOD IS SO SO GOOD ALL THE TIME! I only have a mini to-do list for the rest of the day so I am feeling really great about WR stuff right now! I actually went shopping today with my parents and they bought me some supplies as an early birthday present! They bought me my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent footprint, collapsable bowl, collapsable cup, 2 “fork/knife/spoon thingy’s,” and the hammock and straps that my wonderful brother said he would buy me for my trip as a birthday present! I have assembled my tent and am giving it a test run tonight in the backyard! The fact that I have more supplies than just my hiking pack and Chacos make me feel a lot better and it makes this whole experience even more real! THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING PEOPLE!!
My best friend’s wedding was last weekend and the fact that it has now passed; I am going forward with all World Race stuff and wrapping up stuff at work. It was a beautiful wedding filled with God’s love and with the Spirit moving! My heart is literally still SO FULL from it! Change of plans, I am now leaving work when we go on break for Thanksgiving, I realized 2.5 weeks would NOT be enough time to mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually prepare for 2017’s adventure! There has also been some ROUTE changes since my last blog! We are now going to Albania instead of Greece and Zimbabwe instead of Botswana! It is exciting that He is moving already and leading our group! I am super stoked for Zimbabwe because I may have a chance to meet my Sponsored Child, Tatenda, through World Vision! I have been sponsoring him since my birthday, 9/19 in 2009!
I am debuting the drinking Tumblers that I decorated with the help of one of my fabulous best friends from work, Brit, tomorrow at church! They will be $10 each, I also have 3 candles left that 2 of my favorite boys, Tristan and Memphis sold for me, they are $20 each! Also, like I mentioned earlier, I have 23 shirts that are up for grabs, let me know if you want one; those sizes will be S, M, L, and XL for $20 each. If you need a 2XL or 3XL let me know ASAP, they are $22 and I am not ordering a large amount of those sizes!
I think that is all for now friends! I would like to leave with this prayer. I watched “The Letters,” over the past 2 days because I have always had a love for “Saint” Mother Teresa. It also got me super excited for India, January cannot come fast enough! Anyway, this is a prayer that she apparently said everyday:
“Prayer of Saint Francis”, or “Peace Prayer”
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
God Bless you ALL and please continue to PRAY for my team and I! Please subscribe to my blogs and pass them along for your friends to read, share it on social media! If you feel led, ALSO follow my squadmates’ blogs! They are AWESOME! Love to all of you!
In case you feel like getting your worship on like me at the beginning of this blog:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-OouIx8Lk
