It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to blog. A lot has happened. Here’s a little update on my life:
In the past three months, I have finished up my college career at Bethel University, where I had the most amazing, transformational experience. I graduated (or I guess you could say walked), moved home and I am now finishing up my last few credits online over the month of June. In just a few weeks, I will be leaving for World Race training camp (July 6-16th).
The not so fun part about these past few months is that the good-byes and last times have begun. It has started to hit me that I am truly leaving for the next year. Sometimes I even ask myself, “why?”. I love my life here. If I wasn’t leaving, I could be living in Minnesota with some of my best friends. Trust me, it’s tempting to want to stay. The decision to go was not easy and is still hard at times, but God has continually reinforced that World Race is where I am called to for the next year. I could not be more excited to be able to begin doing his work abroad, to travel and see the world, to meet new people, experience other cultures and pick up some new languages along the way. Then to top it all off, I get to share the story of our Lord Jesus Christ to those who have never heard it! Now that doesn’t sound so bad right? I’m actually sitting here with a big smile on my face as I write this, I seriously cannot wait. But I will, and trust me, I need the time at home to figure out how to fit everything in my small backpack :).
Between now and our launch I have some fun adventures to come. I am currently training for another Tough Mudder and I am planning several more visits to Minnesota to see some of my closest friends. If there is anything that God has taught me over my years at Bethel, it is how important community is. I had the wonderful opportunity to live in Bethel’s community and specifically with my five roommates these past few years and I am finding out quickly how much I am going to miss that. It is taking a whole new level of trust to believe that God will give me that community again on the Race and then as well when I return, whether that be back in Minnesota or somewhere else.
Something else new is that I have moved back home. I haven’t lived at home for over a year and a half now, so being home and around the family, relatives and friends from home has been and will continue to be a great way to spend my last bit of time in the states. In July, my family will be taking our first road trip. We will spend 2 weeks traveling out West and we will all be squeezing in my two person tent during our visits throughout Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, and several other beautiful national parks. Just kidding, but we will have a lot of fun time together in a packed car.
Another huge life update is that fundraising for World Race has been going incredibly well!! Thank you so much to everyone who has been a part of supporting me. It has been a very humbling experience for me, seeing all the different people that God has placed into my life for this time. I am so excited to soon be leaving and doing this journey with you all. As of today, I am officially 94% funded. This means a few things for me. One, I am able to spend my last few months at home focusing on preparing my heart and mind for this upcoming trip. Two, I will have more time on my hands to spend with family and friends. Three, if you are still planning and/or want to help me out financially you can do so by helping donate directly to me for trip spending money and gear. Contact me if you wish to hear more about that. When I am fully funded on my site any more money donated to World Race will not go to me, but to their general fund, so if you wish to discontinue your monthly donations let me know and I can inform you when I am fully funded. Finally, just because I am financially funded doesn’t mean that I can ever fully be funded through prayer. Please continue to pass my story along to your family and friends so that they can hear about how God is working through mine and my teammates lives.
Thanks for reading! Those of you in the Rockford Area, let me know if you want to catch up while I am home!
**Disclaimer: All of my “wonderfully written blogs” are edited by my amazing mother. Prepare yourselves as she will not always be able to proofread them once I am on the race.
