Greetings!
I’m sitting here writing this newsletter and wondering where
the last month has gone – until I remember that I started back to the job God
provided me with. And while Sky Harbor slams into my eardrums, welcoming me to
a world where we need love, I think about Friday night movies with Mary (my
youngest sister), Sunday afternoon walks with James (my younger brother), and
the fact that in just four months, I’ll be in New Zealand. I’ll be on The World Race.
This won’t feel real to me until I board the plane in
January. I know it won’t, because nothing this big feels real until I am
actually doing it. I’m in awe of the fact that this is the path that’s been set
before me, and can’t wait until this part of the adventure begins!
If you want to join me in the anticipation, you can get a
head start on it by visiting my blog and subscribing to it. It’ll send you an
email every time I update it, so you can keep track of what’s going on between
support updates! Sign up now at http://catpollock.theworldrace.org. Just click
on the “Keeping Up With Cat” link, enter your email address, and you’re all
set!
Upcoming Fundraisers
September 12th,
2009 – Benefit Concert
6PM @ New Life
Baptist Church
8701 W. Encanto Boulevard
in Phoenix
Come hear some great music from musicians in the West
Valley (including New Life’s band
The Atonements), and find out what Cat has signed herself up for with this
World Race Thing
September 26th,
2009 – Rummage Sale
New Life Baptist
Church parking lot… times TBA
If you have anything you’re looking to get rid of, let me
know – we can make arrangements before the sale to pick it up!
Support Update (as of
August 30th)
Pledges: $150/month
NLBC Account: $850/$2,500
AIM Account: $443/$16,000
Total Raised: $3,393/$18,500
To put this all in perspective, I’ve raised about 18% of my
goal, with four months until we launch. The NLBC Account is looking fantastic,
but the AIM is obviously not looking so well. If you’re thinking about
supporting me, then now is a great time to start! Find the “Support Me” link on
my site, or send the money to:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Be sure to put my name on the memo line, so they know to
apply it to my account!
Friday Night Movies
Mary and I have developed, over the past year, what I would
call a tradition we call “Friday Night Movies”. This is probably my favorite
night of the week for two reasons… one, because I get to spend time with Mary,
and two, because for two or four hours, I’m not thinking about all of the
things on my to-do list for the day to get ready for the next fundraiser or
what’s next on my list of gear to buy or which international insurance plan I
should go with. I run myself ragged when I don’t take a break.
And you can quote me all the scripture you want about how it
is good to take a rest – I know them, and will be saying them with you as you
say them (or typing them as you type). I know, and I have yet to figure out how
to make myself stop for more than a few hours. But I aim to try. I’ve started
reading Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis, and
there is a section of the book where he talks about how we need to take one day
off a week… one day (in my words) to be still and know that God is God, and all
this craziness is under control through
His efforts, not mine. I’m finding it hard to find that much of a chunk
of time, but I’m looking hard for six or twelve hours here and there, because
that much I think I can find.
And Friday nights are a good start.
Catch a Glimpse
This month’s Catch a Glimpse will cover Australia
and Malaysia –
the second and third countries on January 2010 route. From
updates.theworldrace.org:
Australia
From the Sydney Opera House to the Aboriginal Tribes of the Australian
Outback, World Race will seek to partner with ministries, churches and
missionaries who are spreading the hope of Christ to the rich and poor alike.
While Australia
boasts a more westernized culture, the marginalized, impoverished, destitute
and lost still exist and live each moment for the hope of hearing the good
news.
Malaysia
Enter into Malaysia
and walk into a world entrenched in Islam. Although Malaysia
is home to one of the most thriving metropolises in the world, the people of
this nation still live life with little to no knowledge of the gospel. It’s a
world much like our own, but much different in the spirit. Delve into this
culture of works-based religion, strong self-discipline, and uncanny faith,
while delivering hope and pointing the people to their Redeemer.
Training Camp
Official dates for training camp have been set. I’ll be in Gainesville,
Georgia October 16th
through the 25th for training for The World Race! This is where I
will meet the rest of my squad (all 97 of us at last count) and where the team I
am on will be decided, amongst other things. I am so excited to meet everyone
and see who God is putting me together to live with for a year!
Looking for more ways
to help me go? Here’s a short list!
1. Pray.
2. Volunteer to help with fundraisers… there’s always lots
of encouragement and never enough help!
3. If you have issues with donating money, then there are
things I need to get that aren’t covered in the fundraising… I have a list. Ask
for a copy!
Things You Can Be
Praying For:
1. Finances: That God will continue to do His magic, and all
of the money will be raised.
2. Rest: That I will take some time to rest, and not try to
be the Energizer Bunny.
3. Training Camp: It’s not until October, but just that my
heart will be open to all of the things that happen there.
