I can’t believe I’m writing this on an airplane on my way to Launch, WOW! Time has flown by, maybe even a little too quickly. I’ve been saying goodbye to people the whole month of August but this morning I left a piece of my heart in Washington. I didn’t realize how scared and devastated I was to leave my parents and siblings, well, I didn’t face the emotions of it all until this morning. People were handing me tissues left and right on my flight because I was full on sobbing, which is unusual for me, not because I’m “tough” and I don’t cry but because I normally don’t cry hard enough but for this, I was honest to God heartbroken to leave my parents. I know, what teenage daughter doesn’t want to leave her parents… Well, this one is because I didn’t just say goodbye to my mom, my dad, my brothers, and my sisters, I said goodbye to my best friends.
God has blessed me for my first 19 years of life and I don’t know why. I don’t get why I get these amazing parents, amazing siblings, amazing extended family, amazing friends, and amazing community when so many don’t get that. But, I am beyond grateful for it all. I thank you Lord for all you have given me, thank you for making it so hard to leave. Thank you for helping me seek discomfort in this next phase in my life and thank you for being there for me when I can’t breath from home-sickness.
“Anything we have is a gift, given to us from him.” James 1:17
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So, before training camp I had no idea how much I was so unaware of in the back-packing community… there was so much I needed and I wouldn’t have learned any of it, if it wasn’t for Julia Revels who helped me tremendously before I left! She was with me countless hours buying supplies, showing me how to use my tent, hammock, sleeping bag… etc. and it became this thing where we would go to Five Guys for a meal afterwards. I hadn’t had it since I was a little girl and I totally forgot how well done their food is. At training camp we were always hungry (because Americans over-eat, we were getting served 3 small meals a day) and we would all fantasize where we would eat when we got home… I was surrounded by Chick-Fil-A lovers but personally I couldn’t stop thinking about Five Guys. So, in the 24 hours I was home between Training Camp and Hawaii, Julia and I went to Five Guys.
Then, after Hawaii when I was at Rendezvous me and Julia planned to get Five Guys for dinner when we got home with my little brother Isaac & my cousins, Finn & Lydia. So, it was already a special place and then this happens… I was pulling off the Freeway and there was a homeless man asking for money. After my missions trip to L.A. where I spent a lot of time with the homeless I declared I would never not give them something if I saw one while I was stopped somewhere. I usually have packets for the homeless or some kind of snack food for myself in the car but there was nothing.
Then, there was this voice in my head telling me to give this man money which I very rarely do, but I did it anyways. I rolled my window down and asked the man his name, he said Robert. I introduced myself and he asked if we had just gotten off work and I said, “No, we had just arrived back home from a church camp earlier that day and I was taking out everyone in the car for dinner”. He replied with something that took me by surprise, “what you are feeling right now, don’t ever lose it. Don’t ever lose your passion for God and continue to strive for a Jesus high”. The light turned green and we had to go. We were all freaking out because it was SUCH A DIVINE MOMENT!
When we got to the restaurant we decided to buy Robert dinner and we wanted to hear more of what he was saying.
We headed back over to where he was, we walked through some shrubs to get to where he slept at night, under this tree with a crate.
We gave him the food but he was fasting but thanked us anyways.
From here on was a blur because he talked so fast but my goodness, Robert was one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.
For at least 45min Robert and we listened, not saying a word just eager for his next sentence of Christ filled interpretations.
He talked about how if we go to scripture and look at all the prophets in the Bible we will see that most of them were shepherds. Shepherds lived apart from society and looked in with a different perspective than everyone who lived within the towns. This helped shaped their beliefs and be able to hear God. He said that is what he is doing. He doesn’t want to live in the rat race of society but in the outcasts where the truth is revealed much clearer. I thought that was so remarkable, so, don’t look to those around you, instead look up to the heavens where God will guide you.
If you are someone who has a hard time being set apart in Christ and not focusing on worldly things and values (me!) then get away. Physically and mentally. Take a day or a weekend, spend it with God and turn off your phone. Ask God how you can escape this rat race we all get caught up in.
Robert talked about many things, he speaks at least four different languages and reads the newspaper in all of those languages everyday. So, let this be a beautiful example to never judge a person by the way they look or because they are different from you. Don’t put labels on their heads because they are set apart from the rest. Don’t assume people who are living on the streets are only there because of drugs and alcohol addictions. Yes, drugs especially are like candy when you are homeless but that is NOT an excuse to walk past, fast without making eye contact. Learn to have your heart break for what break’s God’s. And if God can love you through all your fifth spiritually than you can do the same to someone who has fifth physically.
I’m not just talking about homeless people, I’m talking about all humans. When you hear that judgmental voice in your head as you are confronted with an, “unclean” person turn away from those mean thoughts because they are from the evil one. Learn to see what God sees. Learn to treat them like everyone else and most of all learn to LOVE unconditionally. Do not get wrapped up with the term “Christian” but instead focus what it means to be a follower of Christ. A follower who listens. A follower who lives by the fruit of the Holy Spirit; Kindness, Gentleness, faithfulness, peace, love, joy, patience, self-control, and goodness.
Although this was so unreal to experience what came next was even better. My cousin, Finn was with us. He comes from a non-believing family and he kept saying, “everything he is saying is accurate”, because it was. It was SO COOL to watch my little cousin light up to the Bible and the endless truth it holds.
When we got back to my house we couldn’t stop talking about what we had experienced…. God leads us to some RADical events if we listen… I URGE YOU, listen to him always because it’s never about us but about the people we surround. We never know what has happened to people around us in Gods master plan. If God asks you to talk to someone in Target or a Cafe, DO IT because we never know what else has happened to that person over their journey…. Maybe you are the 5th person that day to walk up to them and talk about Jesus and maybe it took that 5th person for it to stick. We never know so always listen!
As wonderful as the second half of August was, I didn’t set aside time with God and do devos everyday like I had been doing. I learned the hard way how crucial it is for me to set aside time for God in these next 9 months because I am at total peace with myself and with God when I do.
Nobody loves me like you do Jesus.
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FUNDRAISER UPDATE:
I am doing a fundraiser called ADOPT A MONTH.
What it is?
Every month I need on the ground expenses of about $100-$150 and that adds up over 9 months. It covers anything you could think of… restocking on toiletries, off-days (where we have to pay for all of our meals on our own), new clothes, restocking on medication, any travel day expenses, gifts for ministry hosts, if anything gets lost electronically… etc.
How can you do it?
If you would like to adopt a month and pay the amount between $100-$150 or more that would be AMAZING! I realize that can be a lot for one person to cover so multiple people or whole families can team up and pay for it together!
The months you can choose from:
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANAURY
FEBUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE (may or may not be needed, depends what day I get home)
If you would like to adopt a box please email me and I can tell you what months are available and we can choose together what payment option works best. THANK YOU!
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Email updates:
I am sending monthly updates about my ministry and logistics on the field. Pretty much everything that happens that I don’t include in my blog.
Ways YOU can Join me on my Journey:
1. Pray. I will need a multitude of prayers ranging from strength, wisdom, clarity, love, joy… The list goes on. Whatever your heart desires and feels right, pray.
2. Donating through this blog!!! When you donate through here it goes directly to World Race and my fund of 15,800 dollars.
UPDATE: ONLY 1,600 AWAY FROM MY 15,800!!!!! (please donate direct to me after I meet my world race goal online because I will lose the money to cover other expenses!)
3. Cash, Check, or Venmo. Donating to me personally is still much needed because I have to buy all my gear, supplies, vaccines, airfare and I will need money on the ground. (Venmo: Marguerite-SanMartino)
4. SPREAD THE WORD!! Tell everyone about my trip and show them my blog.
5. SUBSCRIBE! When you subscribe you will get all notifications when I post on my blog about my trip and any updates!
