Summer has arrived! I’m very happy to announce that summer has finally arrived in middle Tennessee. We have had a week of no rain, which I think is the first since May, and temperatures are in the low 90’s. That combined with all the talk of fall and Holiday decorations already out in stores makes for an interesting combination, but I’m loving it. However, with summer apparently drawing to a close as students head back to school back home in Oregon and already back in class here in Tennessee, I thought I’d send out an update.
Most of you know at this point that in January of 2014 I will be leaving on an 11 country, 11 month mission trip with the World Race. Training camp has officially been scheduled from October 12th to the 19th at Oconee Camp outside of Copperhill, TN. At training camp we will meet the other people from our group, or squad, as well as other racers since they will have all four January squads there at the same time. Last week also started the beginning of Squad Wars. What the heck is Squad Wars? Good question, I asked the same thing.
“January 2014 squads take the stage for a Battle Royale, a blitzkrieg, a crusade of valiant warriors. After the dust settles, who will be left standing?
Squad Wars is a tradition dating back to the earliest ages of the World Race. Since the dawn of time (circa 2010), squads have mustered their troops, fighting at the sound of the battle cry, proving their dominance over other contending squads. Song. Dance. Marshmallows. Hosiery: all weapons in the battlefield.
If the Eye of the Tiger isn't playing in your head yet, it should be.”
The first challenge was a photo challenge. We had to photograph things that looked like the letter of our Squad without photographing the actual letter or making something ourselves. Our squad letter is “Y”. The winning group was whichever one had the most participation from their group, and we got 2nd place. Not too shabby. Surprisingly, of the other squads, Z, A, and B we were beaten by the B squad. Hats off to them, that’s a hard letter to find.
On the fundraising front things are going well. I am just shy of my December goal of $5,500. On September 27th a local band, Artisan Stage, is going to be playing a benefit concert which is being organized by my friend Jessi. On September 21st is the craft fair at Calvary Baptist church and a few girls from my bible study have generously offered to man the booth as I’m actually in a wedding that same day. A few posts ago I also mentioned I had gotten a second job at a local Mexican Restaurant. That was an interesting experience. My training consisted of the head waitress showing me where everything was and then giving me a table to take care of. Wow, talk about learning on the go, but it seemed to go well. People have some weird requests and orders but I had the chance to meet some great people and really see a different side to eating out. And let me tell you, I have a huge new respect for waiters, that’s for sure. Especially when the pay is only $2.13/hour and people’s lively hood really depends on the tips from their patrons. I did, unfortunately, on day 3 get 2 plates wrong which I had to pay for since it was my mistake and the boss wasn’t happy. The following shift I got another plate wrong and I felt absolutely horrible. I offered to go in on my free time just to watch the other waitresses and see their routine. I was there watching on a Thursday when the restaurant got so busy that the owner had me clock in and start waiting tables and he then scheduled me to work that Saturday which was encouraging. Both shifts went by without a mishap and he told me all I had to do was work on being faster and that he would call me with the schedule. 3 weeks went by with no word. So I called him and asked, he said the restaurant just isn’t busy enough for 3 waitresses. I asked him if it was me, if I wasn’t a good fit or just not fast enough or if he was waiting for school to be back in session. He assured me it wasn’t me so that was good to hear but I’m not working at the restaurant anymore.
To be honest I started to get a bit nervous. What if I had already reached all the people who could and would be interested in my trip? I had reached 40% but somehow need to reach 100%. The 2nd job was supposed to help towards the cost of the trip, the gear I need for the trip, and travel to and from the launch site that isn’t included.
So I’m reaching out to each and every one of you. Do you know anyone who would be interested in hearing more about my trip? Friends, family or your church? Anyone who would want to receive one of my support letters, maybe get a group together for coffee and a convo, or someone who would like to know the address for my blog to follow along that way. I’ll be in Tennessee through the end of October, back in Oregon early November, and up in the Seattle area around Thanksgiving and I would love to tell people more about my trip. Not in a pushy, give me money kind of way, but in a, in case you’re interested, way. Maybe people would like to hear more about this crazy, once in a lifetime, 11 month journey I’m about to embark on. Maybe they would like to help financially support me, or maybe they would consider praying for me while I’m gone? Support comes in many forms. Or maybe you have some ideas? I’d love to hear from you, my email is [email protected] or you can also find me on facebook.
Ironically, this week I met up with a gentleman named Eric Rodell who works with investments. I met him at church and we decided to meet up again as he offered to help me with some fundraising ideas. He brought up an interesting point. Am I focusing too much on the grand total of $13,500 and forgetting to praise God for the $5,300 that He has already provided? It was a good reminder. Thank you again, everyone, who has already contributed. From passing out flyers, eating at Carmen’s, coming to my fundraisers, praying for me, to those who have decided to support me financially, I want to thank you so much. God has used YOU to get me this far, and I look forward to sharing more about this journey with you in the months ahead.
