“HAPPY WORLD RACE YEAR!”
One of my soon-to-be World Race squad mates posted this on Facebook today and it hit me: this mission trip is getting less and less distant and more and more real. To start the new year off on an incredibly positive note, I want to share some recent updates!
Before I arrived back home for Christmas break, my parents had spoken to Pastor Jeff at our home church, Trinity United Methodist Church, and shared my mission trip plan with him. This man is so kind and generous and BELIEVES in people! Even though I have been living hours and hours away from home for the past SIX years, he invited me to speak at all 3 services to invite the church community to get involved AND included me in the church program (see below)! The amount of love and support I have received from my church family since then is remarkable. They are definitely praying for me because I can absolutely feel it. Although checks take longer to process so my fundraising meter doesn’t show it yet, I am starting the new year a QUARTER FUNDED! Thank you, thank you, thank you. For those of you sending me on this mission by giving what you can, I can’t thank you enough.
Another exciting accomplishment from Christmas break was getting to spend an evening with my parents at REI browsing for gear that I will need on my trip. That experience was slightly terrifying (because I had no idea where to start and this is all additional expenses not covered by fundraising efforts) and also humbling (because this carry-what-you’ll-need-for-a-year-on-your-back-and-don’t-forget-to-get-a-tent deal is no 5 star vacation lifestyle)! My family is amazing and has really gone all out helping to prepare me for takeoff. One of my most exciting Christmas presents was getting my World Race “house”… my tent!
Now is when I find it appropriate to say I am “hashtag, blessed.”
