Fundraising Updates:
As of right now, July 7th, 2018, I have raised $5,307 for the World Race out of a total of $15,800. A third of the way there! My second fundraising deadline is $10,000 by August 24th. That’s pretty soon, but I’m still not worried about it. The Lord will provide like He always has!
I’ve got most of my gear! I’ve had my big pack (will hold all my stuff for nine months) donated, so that’s awesome! Those can be really expensive. The other day I went to a friend’s house to tell her parents about what I’m going to be doing and answer any questions they had. They were super interested and my friend’s father said he would get me a tent, a sleeping bag, AND other things I need, like packing cubes and stuff sacks (to compress things)! I was blown away. After that night, I got in my car and cried- no biggie HA. I’m so grateful and I love when I can see how the Lord is working through people!!
New Fundraiser!! Please help:)
A new fundraiser that I’m working on that will HOPEFULLY carry me to my next fundraising deadline (Aug. 24th) is called “Adopt-a-box”. There’s boxes 1-100. You can “adopt” a box (or boxes) – say if you adopt box 17, you would donate $17. Adopt box 82, donate $82, and etc.! In early September, I’m going to put all 100 numbers into a hat and draw out one (maybe two) numbers. I’ll bring home a super cool something for whoever adopted that box number from a country of their choice! (Swaziland, Nepal, India, or Guatemala!!)
If you’re interested in adopting a box, then WOW thank you SO much, that’s awesome!! But also, you can message me on any social media and let me know the box you want and donate that amount directly into my World Race account (same website as this blog), or you can use cash! Whatever is easiest for you.
This picture shows what it looks like. After someone adopts a box, I’ll cover that box number and put their name on it. If all boxes are adopted, it’ll be a total of $5,050 towards my mission trip- which will bring me to my next fundraising deadline and tears of joy!! 🙂
Fundraising has been exciting and very humbling. It’s definitely hard, but it’s a part of the process and the journey of the World Race! I always remember that while yes, I am fundraising for ministry, but also, fundraising IS ministry. Every time I speak to someone about what I’m raising money for, that’s a new opportunity for me to speak to someone about Jesus and pursuing the Kingdom. This is definitely a season of learning for me.
An AWESOME Story about how the Lord is INTENTIONAL
It wasn’t a coincidence. The Lord is intentional with his work.
Ten other future Gap Year racers and I went on a camping trip to Max Patch Mountain in western NC for a few days during the 4th of July. Those days were full of washing our hair in the river, hiking part of the Appalachian trail, and having to sleep in our cars one night because of a bad storm.
One afternoon while we were making dinner at our campsite, someone in my group noticed a girl with her friend wearing a World Race t-shirt not too far away. We all went over to the two girls and told them we were all future World Racers. They were STOKED. They had just gotten back from their world race about a month ago. They also had another guy friend back at their tent. We invited them to our campsite to have s’mores and to be loaded down with questions.
They shared their experiences and their wisdom. Most importantly, they prayed over us. They prayed over this season of preparation and our World Race journey. We could all feel the Holy Spirit present and working that night (July 4th) through their words. They told us all exactly what we needed to hear to settle our fears and cover us in peace about what we were doubting.
We learned that we are capable. God called us to this journey because he knows we can do it. The one who created the stars and water and mountains and air, looked at us and said “that one”. “She’s capable”. We learned that we shouldn’t doubt ourselves if we can’t recite every book in the bible and quote scripture. A lot of us had been doubting ourselves because of that, including me. All you need is your love for Jesus and that relationship in your heart. We learned that we shouldn’t be afraid of anywhere we go. Yes, we will feel lost and blindfolded, but we need to realize that God is holding your hand the whole way through. And so SO much more.
The way they spoke and expressed their love for Jesus was so inspiring. We told them they were incredible and they said they wanted no credit for anything. They believe so deeply that the holy spirit was working and spoke through them. We asked them what brought them to this mountain on this night. They randomly decided to take a camping trip four hours away for one night. Not a coincidence. The Lord didn’t take them all the way around the globe for nine months, move them from California to Georgia, make the friends they did, and then land on a random mountain in North Carolina on the same night as a group of future world racers for it to be a coincidence.
Another really cool story!!
I still need to get vaccinations. My mom and I have kind of been procrastinating on this part because the closest travel clinic that had the shots I needed was far from us and really expensive.
So the other day I was at my friend’s graduation party and her grandmother was asking all the graduates what we were doing after high school. I told her I was going on a mission trip to Swaziland, Nepal, India, and Guatemala. She says “Oh I knew this one guy who went on an eleven month mission trip, I can’t remember what it’s called though”.
I say, “The World Race??”
She responds, “Yes! That’s it! The World Race. I’m a nurse in Hickory and I gave him his shots for it”.
SHE GIVES TRAVEL SHOTS, GUYS. I repeat, she gives travel shots in HICKORY! Which is fifteen minutes from me. My appointment is July 27th. For ALL my shots. Thank God because if this didn’t happen, I’m pretty sure I would have never made an appointment.
Other pretty cool things happening
I leave for training camp on Monday, July 9th! I’ll be there for eleven days. Not sure what to expect but I’ve heard training camp for the World Race is INTENSE and KICKS your BUTT. Let’s go!! I’m so ready and excited. I still need a few pieces of gear that I should have for training camp but I’m just going with the flow. It’ll be alright and it’ll come.
I launch for Swaziland in less than two months. Woooaahh.
Thank you so much for reading! I know it was long, so I’m grateful for you and your time. Let me know if you want to adopt a box! It would be super appreciated.
Until next time,
Clarissa Cappadona, future world racer.
