2016 was a year to remember.
My brother graduated high school then a week later joined the Marine Corp. Many of my closest friends moved off to college. I went to the Dominican Republic for the third time. One of my best friends transferred schools so that we could be together our senior year. I became captain of the varsity cheer squad at my school. I was voted onto Homecoming Court. My amazing mock trial team went to state for the fourth year in a row. I learned I am officially allergic to dairy. I applied to go on the World Race Gap Year… and I was accepted!
2016 was a hard year to beat. I learned a lot about myself and Gods love for me. 2016 was the year I started to actually feel like I am entering the adult world. My brother no longer lives with us, my friends are working on their future careers, and I am about to travel the world for nine months. I am entering a year of sad lasts and amazing firsts. Last cheerleading game, last mock trial competition, last day of school and last time seeing my school friends. First day after high school, first day being with my World Race squad mates at training camp, first day leaving my parents at launch for the World Race, first holiday without my family, first time I will have to truly be responsible for myself and first time I will be a legal adult. On the day of launch, I will turn 19. I will spend my 19th year on this planet traveling the world and being an adult.
This year in 2017, I will face true hardships as I try to navigate the switch between ending high school and starting a drastically new chapter of my life. It is weird to think that this time next year I will be over halfway through my Gap Year and that I will be halfway across the globe. This time next year, I will be working on what I will be doing after the Gap Year and I will be in a very different mindset. I am so excited to see where Gods leads me in 2017 and where he will place me.
Maybe I will be called back to the Dominican Republic permanently, called elsewhere, or called to pursue something other than world missions. Thinking about my future and not knowing where I will end up is scary but also extremely exciting. God has led me to where I am today for a reason and so I know 100% God has bigger and better plans for me as I keep moving through life and as the years keep changing.
2017, I am optimistic for you… LETS GO!!!!!
*WORLD RACE UPDATE*
~YALL… I AM 19% FUNDED!!! Thank you SO much!! I still have a long way to go but I am so grateful for all of your donations!! Thank you SO much!! I could not do this trip without you all!!
~ The Adopt-A-Box is done BUT I am still accepting and needing donations! All donations made online through this blog, by check, or cash given to me will be put 100% towards my trip!
~I WILL BE SELLING TSHIRTS SUPER SUPER SOON!!!!!! Be on the lookout 🙂
~I will be sending out Fundraising letter super soon also… it been a struggle trying to get them all together but they will be sent out soon!
~I am still selling bracelets!!! They are going quick so buy them while you can!! $2 for one small one or $5 for three. $4 for one big one or a necklace or $10 for three big ones or three necklaces!
~Yesterday I bought some more supplies for the race! So now I have my backpack, an airporter for my backpack, a tent, a sleeping bag, a sleeping bag liner and a sleeping pad! I have most of the big stuff paid for so now all I have to do is focus on buying the small stuff such as packing cubes, flashlights, pillow etc.
I also want to point out that none of the money you are donating is paying for my materials for the trip. I am putting 80% of my paycheck from Runza towards paying for my materials and for spending money on the trip. The money you donate goes towards the cost of my trip itself including travel between each country, housing, visas, food, missionary health insurance, ministry costs and more. Your donations are a huge help to me and such an incredible blessing!! I could not do this trip without your donations!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I would like to ask you guys to keep praying for me as I keep getting closer and closer to training camp in July and launch in September. As Christians, prayers are our most powerful and influential weapons. I would also like to ask you guys to pray about potentially donating to my trip.
I love you all so much and I am so blessed by your support and prayers! If you ever have any questions or if you would like to know more about the trip I am embarking on, let me know! You can contact me in the Contact Me tab, my phone number if you have it, or social media! I love talking to people and I am totally up to grab lunch or get coffee with yall if you want also!
Thank you all again so much,
GOD BLESS! 🙂
