HELLO! Hahaaaa this is going to be such a fun time writing on this thing. So welcome everyone!
I hope you like my words. Usually I don’t write about myself much, but I wish that this gives you a little bit of insight into who I am, and why I’m going on this crazy thing!
I was born in Marietta, Georgia, and I remember absolutely nothing about that state because I was only there for a little more than a year. My family then moved to Percellville, VA, where we stayed until I was four! I do remember a little bit about that place. Definitely loved it. But then right as I was turning 5, we moved to Glen Spey, NY, where my dad got a job at Young Life’s Lake Champion! We have been living here for 13 summers now, and it has been CRAZY. So good, though. I have four siblings, my two parents, and 2 dogs. Super fun, right? I’m super tall, too.
I am in love with anything microwaveable (pizza rolls probably being first to hot pockets), and really like listening to new music. Especially music that nobody knows about, because then it makes it special. I love to learn new things, especially if they are completely random facts, and reading is very good. I play a few sports, and I’m ok at them! I love being around people, but being alone is also restful for me. Anything to do with kids, and I’m THERE. Writing with a pen and paper brings me a lot of joy, and I like to draw too. I take french in school and I’m still not fluent, but I’m getting there. Oh I also really like to spend time outside in the middle of the woods with no shoes on and fish and then cook it over a fire (because everything tastes better that way).
I heard about the race from my sister, Alyssa, and she went on Gap Year in 2017-18. She told me a bunch about it, and answered all of my insane questions that I had mustered up in the nine months she was gone. Ever since she went on it, I had a HUGE longing to go too. Over the past year I’ve spent a bunch of time seeking the Lord about it, praying with family, and asking good amount of my friends whether they thought it was a good idea! I familiarized myself with the race fairly quickly, and then after hearing positive responses and feeling peace about applying, I applied! I really seek growth through going on the World Race (we always want to grow, right?), building really strong community, and having the chance to love on people who might have never been loved on before. If you end up reading my blogs throughout my entire journey, I really hope that you guys get to see the process. It is going to most likely be very ugly and hard and tiring and painful and jumbled, but in the end it is going to be so so entirely life-giving. I’m super duper excited to go, and I’m very excited that you guys have the chance to peak inside my head as I do so.
Thank you so much for reading, and If you want to get to know me better, just ask! I’m very willing to answer anything. Lots of love!
-Eli
