FIRST OF ALL…I am so sorry for being such a slacker! When it comes to this blog I try to wait and write what needs to be written or what God wants me to write…with so much going on, it’s a bit overwhelming and I am pretty picky and may or may not be a perfectionist when it comes to writing. I have written about two drafts of this blog now and I am forcing myself to just do it! SO..here it is.
I made my deadline!!! Well, I have almost made my December deadline too! Ahhh it still isn't real to me, but I want to explain how God used my friends, teammates, strangers, past teachers, children, and random people to bring me to this place…
It all started when I took a last hoorah road trip with two of my best friends (yeah tripod!) down to Fresno and LA. We stayed the night in Fresno and spent some time with the FPU women's basketball team during their study hall. My old teammates ended up buying 3 threads of hope bracelets each and even the new newbies bought some too! It felt so good to have their support and know that they were behind me. They are awesome girls and if you want to watch some good basketball show them some love. 😀
Next, we drove to LA and spent some much needed time with our past assistant coach Tim at APU. It was refreshing and just a blast to hang out and be goofy like the good ol college days 😉 He also showed support and love to me.
This next phase of the trip was rather odd but bare with me…I had to be dropped off in a middle point between Fresno and LA and that happened to be Kettlemen City. So, any normal person would have been dropped off at a Starbucks or something, but I wanted to be dropped off at a hotel so I could relax in the lobby since it would be an hour and a half wait for my friend Angie to pick me up. Well, it turned out to be Super 8, a motel, and there wasn't really a lobby, it was more like a chair five feet away from the receptionist's desk and a TV. It was about 8 am and mind you we had left LA at 4:45 am so I definitely felt sick from being up at God awful hours and I looked a hot mess on top of it. For the first 45 minutes I sat there and watched the news, all the while feeling like I should spark up conversation with the guy at the desk, since it was only the two of us just sitting there in silence! However I didn't have the cajones to talk and frankly I was exhausted so I didn't want to. But then Jack Hannah's adventures came on and I wasn't interested in watching that so I took my Bible out and started to read. I was making deals with God saying "Alright, if it's meant to be, I will think of a way to start a conversation and then I will talk about my trip and ultimately point him towards you Lord." About 3 minutes after that the guy spoke to me and asked why my friends dropped me off at a random hotel. I laughed and made a joke and then we got to talking, turns out he goes to Fresno State, knows where FPU is, and we had some things in common. He asked what I was doing now and I LOVE that question because I get to talk about the race then it beelines right to the topic of why I am doing it and ultimately to Christ! So for the first time ever, I had the cajones to share my passion with a complete stranger and was willing to strike up conversation and ask him about his religion. It was a huge milestone for me. I proceeded to give him one of my letters and gave him 3 threads of hope bracelets for free. In a way I felt like I passed one of the last tests that would show whether I am ready to do the race and everything that it entails (like talking to strangers about God and sharing my story and showing others Christ). It was a great day from there on out because I ended my road trip with amazing girls by being lazy and crying to Grey's Anatomy episodes together. My Fresno girls, miss you! That's not it though, the hotel guy, his name is Armando, and we have been emailing back and forth since then. I just sent him 12 bracelets in the mail and he is sending support back….God is somethin else! Armando if you are reading this, you are awesome, I am so glad I am weird and I chose to hangout in a hotel lobby instead 🙂 blessings to you friend!
Now, speaking of tests, I was challenged to speak in a chapel. What? Wow. Why? How? I know. I felt like I was going to vomit until I got on stage…It was my first service. First time "preaching" if you can call it that. Weird. I spoke at my school's Elementary chapel and showed pictures with myself and teachers that are still there, and spoke about my trip and loving your neighbor as yourself. The kids were super interactive and I was not expecting their response to my questions. At one point I was throwing up a piece
sign because I had heard that it meant quiet because they were out of control! My friend Cher'rond came and supported me and she said in her head she was thinking "Don't ask another question britt! Reel em back in!"
(me with my "britney spears" mic 🙂 waiting to speak)
During chapel I also promoted the fundraiser I was starting called Coins for Countries.
Each class would compete and bring in coins for two weeks, daily candy winners and weekly pizza parties were at stake. Boy did the kids get into it! I could not have been blessed with more gracious and giving people during this fundraiser. I basically took over the office and all of its staff separating the coins and rolling them in their machine. It involved a lot of manual labor but it was totally worth it. The kids were the best part, I would walk into their classrooms every morning and they would attack me with hugs, "I love you's," "You are so beautiful's," and they would chant "Hi Miss Britt!!!" It was the best. They would come up to me with bags, buckets, coin purses, handfuls, and even one penny and say things like "Instead of eating a popsicle, I am giving this to you," or "these are from my piggy bank and I want you to have them," or even "I usually put the loose money into my Disneyland jar, but I want to give it to you so you can help other kids." Wow. Right?! Gosh I had to fight back the tears, they were so precious.
These precious little ones raised close to $4,000 in two weeks! I couldn't believe it! That is incredible!! I am so grateful for the students and I have a special love for each and every one of them. I miss seeing them all everyday, but they still grace me with hug attacks whenever I am on that side of the campus, I feel like a rock star truly.
God has blessed me with a strong foundation at Capital Christian where I went to elementary, middle, and high school. Between the faculty, parents, and students, that school has provided a majority of my funding. I am so grateful for everyone who has shown me love and support.
Shortly after elementary chapel was high school. I am proud to say that I did not feel like I was going to lose my breakfast. This was much easier for me and completely laid back. I sat on stage and shared my testimony, the nitty gritty parts even, and it went really well! The students laughed and applauded and I was completely chill and goofy aka I was just myself with them. At one point I was giving them advice and told them to not just stick to their own kind but to branch out and hangout with peers that were different from them. To get this point across I said, and I quote, "For example if you don't wear glasses, talk to someone who wears glasses!" What, haha who says that. Maybe I was referring to myself who wears glasses, big ones now, they are super hip 😉 But overall it went pretty good and judging from various feedback from the students I think God moved a little that day! But the high school offered to support me by offering a free dress day if a student would purchase one of my threads of hope bracelets. They were awesome and brought in over $600 in a few hours! Craziness.
With those occurrences, some very generous donations from teachers, professors from my college, family members, friends, and even strangers, I have surpassed my goal. Check that, God has surpassed my expectations, blown them away, and lifted my expectations to a new reality. A reality that only exists when you are walking in His plan and His light.
Before, about 2 months ago, I was looking at a daunting amount of $15,500. Now, I look at that and say PSHHHHHHHH God has provided, now I have close to $7,000 coming in to my account. I am blessed beyond. What a stud my God is. What studs all of you are.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I WISH I COULD WRITE ALL OF YOU A POEM, OR RAP FOR YOU, OR GIVE YOU A GIFT, OR DO SOMETHING TO SHOW HOW INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL I AM FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME AND FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT.
As the days get fewer and the new year gets closer, I get more and more excited about what is going to be my reality. Feeling more blessed and favored than I ever have in my life. Thank you thank you thank you!!! It wouldn't be possible without God, but it also wouldn't be possible without YOU!
