It’s been a while since I wrote my last blog. I have been trying to process a lot during this month and a lot of change has happened. I feel like there is so much I am thinking about and wanting to say, but am not sure how to fit it all on paper. I am going to try to catch you up as well as I can! I am currently about ($6,290) away from being fully funded!! My goal is to have ($19,200) by September 30, 2019. God is so faithful and has provided for each fundraising goal. It has been really sweet to experience the generosity of His people! I am sooo thankful for each person who has partnered with me through prayer and finances!
Since the last blog, there has also been a slight route change. We are no longer starting the journey in Guatemala. Instead, we will be traveling to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Morocco, Ethiopia, Djibouti, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. The WR staff decided that at this time, the ministry team in Nicaragua would be able to provide us with better preparation for the rest of our time on the race. They added Panama to our route because it will work well with our path of travel and it has great ministry opportunities. Let me know if you have anymore questions about the route change. 🙂
I had my last day of work last week and I have started saying some of my “see you laters”. It has definitely not been easy. I am thankful to have people who are so hard to say bye to and who are supportive in this process! I will be heading off to training camp in Georgia on June 4. Then, our squad will leave for Nicaragua on June 15! Wow, it is so close!
In the midst of all of the things that have been happening this month, my Father has been teaching me more about doing things that aren’t so “convenient”. I am not just talking about the World Race. I am talking about simply seeing the person in front of me and caring about their needs and desires more than my own. Y’all, I can be so selfish. Many times, I get caught up in the business of life, fear of rejection, or simply just don’t feel like going out of my way to show someone they are loved. I am so thankful Jesus did not consider leaving His throne, putting on human limitations, and dying in my place an inconvenience. I love how Jesus stopped for the woman at the well, who was rejected by society. He stopped for the man who was blind. He stopped for the man with Leprosy. He stopped for the masses. Thank You, Jesus! There are so many people hurting around the world and in our own backyard. What if a person’s soul and the glory of God are more important than making it to that event on time or feeling comfortable? I am not saying this to condemn you or myself. This has just been something that God keeps speaking into my life over and over this past month. We are so loved. I pray that we would not stop at that, but that we would truly love because He first loved us. There is endless grace for the many times we have messed up. The cool thing is that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to change our hearts. We can ask our Father to help us to see and hear people like He does. We can pray that He would search our hearts and empty us of any offensive ways. We can ask Him to empty us of our selfishness and change our hearts to be more like His. We can ask Him for help to love all people with a genuine love. As we feel scared or uncomfortable when we step out to serve and love, we can have total confidence that He is with us and will not forsake us!
If you have some time check out this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_bj6mjUj7k. 🙂
Prayer requests:
-Please pray for spiritual and physical protection for my team and me.
-Please pray for unity among my team.
-Please pray that I would keep my focus on Jesus and that He would be my treasure.
-Please pray that I would see and hear people like Jesus, whether I am at the grocery store in Johnson City, TN or at a ministry sight across the world.
Thank you again for all of your prayers and support! YOU ARE LOVED! 🙂
