Hey supporters!
It has been a long time since I got on here to blog. I actually didn’t realize I haven’t updated ya’ll on whats going on in regards to the world race and where I am headed. I have been confused when people ask me, “so are you still going on the world race?” and I stand there and think, “wow, I guess they don’t read my blogs”. But in reality… I HAVE NOT POSTED MY UPDATE SINCE IT LAST CHANGED.
So here is the update I guess you all have been wondering about:
I did switch from Gap Year Program to Semesters program.
That basically means that instead of going on my trip through the World Race in 9 months… I will only be going for 3 months. I am going to be traveling first to Johannesburg, South Africa working along side Impact Africa. I will be helping out the home for rescued infants and traveling to camps for evangelism. This is where my brother lived and trained for 10 months. My sister will be doing the same internship as him during my time there so I will get to serve along side her for my first month on the field. Next I will be traveling to Swaziland. While serving with them, Me and my team will work at the various care points and feeding programs and work in different departments at the base. My team will also have the chance to work side-by-side with emerging Swazi leaders to help meet the needs of their community.Next, I will be flying to Lesotho. My team will serve alongside Africa 4 Jesus. Our ministry will focus on discipleship and building relationships in several villages in the area. I will also get the opportunity to serve in children’s ministry at the local kindergarten that Africa 4 Jesus built for the community. I will probably be off the grid for most of this month.
I apologize for any confusion about where I am going and what I am doing this next year. I am really excited… when am I not? I know that I have switched around a lot but I know God is keeping me on the World Race journey for a reason. Honestly, it would have been really easy to just give up, go to college and get my degree. I just know God wants me to see and experience more.
I have been set to go to training camp January 23rd and I launch a few days after that. I am currently attending Northlake Community College to get some basics out of the way for when I come back. I am majoring in Social Work so I can pursue a non-profit job here in the states and I am minoring in creative writing just for fun because I hope to be a published author one day. I am still working at Via Real… hopefully full-time soon. I plan to come back to Via Real when i get back from my trip.
Fundraising update: I have switched from Gap Year, (which was $16,600) to Semester (which is only $6,903). If you have been subscribed then you probably already know… I AM FULLY FUNDED!!!! When I switched from Gap Year to Semester, they told me I could lose all of the money I raised and would have to start all over in the fundraising process. I decided that it should never be about the money and God would provide if he wanted me on this trip. So I asked them to go ahead and transfer my account. A few days later, my mobilizer gave me a call to tell me that all my money was able to transfer to my new account! Which leaves me fully funded!
I still have a lot of money I need to save before I leave. I have expenses to pay for up front and I need to have extra money while I am on the race. So as of right now, I am accepting donations by cash or check. PLEASE DO NOT DONATE THROUGH MY ACCOUNT ANYMORE!!! If you donate through this account, the money WILL NOT go to me. The money will end up going to Adventures in Missions directly.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been asking for updates and praying for me through this whole thing! It has been a long long season with separate seasons of growth. Just know that I am in a really great place right now. I met my teammates for semester and I love them a lot. I already met one of them, Olivia, in person when she was here in Dallas. I cant wait to live with her and the other 10 people (there are also only 12 of us going on this trip in opposed to 40 people for gap year).
Please be praying for me and my journey. Also be praying for my teammates… fundraising is new to some of them and can be stressful.
With love,
Your favorite racer,
Grace Googe <3
