22 DAYS UNTIL LAUNCH!! I seriously cannot believe I am leaving home in just three short weeks. Plans have changed a bit, so I’ll give a quick rundown of where things stand right now.
The trip:
September 2nd, my squad and I will arrive in Gainesville, Georgia. We’ll stay on the AIM (Adventures in Missions) campus until December 15th, with a week off for Thanksgiving. We’ll then be home until it’s time to travel internationally, most likely in the first week January. The hope is that my squad will still be able to go to eSwatini, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Cambodia as planned, but this might change. Fingers crossed that everything opens up by then! The plan is still to return home at the end of May/early June.
What’s happening in Gainesville:
While staying in Georgia for three months wasn’t the original plan, AIM has some amazing things in store for us! Our time in Gainesville will be devoted to three main things – missional training, leadership development, and discipleship. We will be diving into what mission work truly looks like, with evangelism and community outreach and development. We will also be learning how to lead ourselves and others the way Jesus led. Business leaders, teachers, and others will help us understand better how to lead in this generation. Lastly, we’ll be focusing on growing in our communities and worshipping God as one. We’ll be learning about selfless and authentic love, and how to share that with others around us. I’m thinking about our time in Gainesville as a church retreat on steroids, and I am so, so excited for what lies ahead.
Covid regulations:
I’ve had many people reach out to me with concerns about me still going on this version of the race, and I appreciate it!! Hopefully I can try to ease those concerns. Before any of us are allowed on the campus, we must provide a negative Covid-19 test that was taken within 12 days of arrival. We won’t be allowed to leave campus again without obtaining another negative test upon return. While we’re there, there will be regular temperature checks throughout the day. AIM will have hand washing stations set up all around the campus, and has also purchased two sprayers to clean and sanitize entire rooms. There will also be a nurse available, and they have set up a quarantine facility in case anyone presents symptoms of Covid.
Fundraising:
Last but certainly not least, FUNDRAISING!! You guys, I am overwhelmed with emotions at the support I have received. I currently have just over $1,000 until I am fully funded!! This has been such an incredible journey, and I can’t wait to finish this part out with a bang. I have one more big fundraiser planned, and depending on how much we raise there might be something else coming. But the next thing on the bracket is for this Saturday, August 15!! Brandy Young, one of the incredible sponsors at my church, has offered to host a yoga session in her backyard. We will be socially distanced in the fresh air as Brandy leads us in a peaceful morning of restoration. This will be entirely donation based, and all of the proceeds will be split between myself and Quincy Ingersoll, another racer from my church. If you’re interested in coming to support us, I’ll post more information on my social media or you can reach out to me personally. I’d love to see you there!!
As I’ve gotten in the habit of doing, I’d like to leave you guys with a song. I would encourage you all to take the time to listen to the whole thing, and really lean into the lyrics. It’s called Real Thing by Maverick City Music. My squad introduced me to it, and I often just listen to it on repeat. Go take a listen 🙂
Thank you guys again for your amazing support. I’ll try to write another blog before I leave, and I’ll definitely be posting more frequently once I’m in Gainesville to keep you updated. Love y’all and God bless!
