On a bright and colorful, chilly autumn afternoon 365 days ago, not only was it my 23rd birthday, it was the start of a new chapter in my life. It was a day filled with new friends, getting lost on a hiking trip, a night camping under the stars accompanied by our daddy long legged friends, and gooey marshmallows that substituted for my birthday cake. It was also the week of world race training camp. A week filled with fish-head soup, early morning hikes with our 50 pound packs, and ridiculous scenarios that don’t seem quite as ridiculous now. And I can’t forget the night leading up to my birthday when we crammed 60 people into a school bus jig-saw puzzle style. The scenario went something like this: “your bus broke down and you’re in the middle of Africa. There are wild monkeys roaming the area. It is unsafe and you cannot pitch your tents. You must sleep on the bus with ALL your belongings!”
Talk about an unforgettable birthday.
And you may ask, has this really ever happened on the race? Well not exactly…but I would say that between the crazy amount of tuk-tuks and buses we’ve crammed into, the border check points we’ve had to sleep at, and the crazy monkeys that once tried to attack some of my squad mates, then yes. Training camp scenarios actually are quite accurate and these situations are not unusual. I mean what do you expect…”it’s the world race…”
It is mind blowing to think that just one year ago, I was beginning the journey of a lifetime. I was stepping into the unknown with a group of strangers to begin an adventure that would change my life, my views, and my soul forever. Now those strangers, although they are still so uniquely and beautifully strange…are my brothers and sisters. They are more than just family, they are my heart and soul. They have been through it all with me. The hard times, the good times, the not so pretty times, and the times when I questioned whether or not I could continue on this race. They have helped shape me, stretch me, and sharpen me into a woman of grace and love. They have encouraged me and pushed me in my walk with Christ and challenged me in so many beautiful ways. This past year without a doubt has been the best year of my life. And here I am one year later, living at an orphanage in Cambodia! Crazy, huh?
It’s amazing to see the gifts that God gives to us when we listen to his voice and his calling for our lives. It’s crazy to think that if I ignored the tugging in my heart and listened to the voices of doubt in my mind, I would not be where I am today.
I AM SO THANKFUL!
I am so thankful that The Lord called me out of a life that I was so numb to and for placing me on a path that has awakened my spirit and enlightened my soul.
I am also so thankful for ALL of my supporters who have prayed for me, encouraged me along the way, and who have so gratefully given financially. I would not be where I am today without your love and obedience to freely give, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for helping me through the most challenging yet rewarding year of my life! I’m so glad you could be part of this journey with me.
Cheers to a new year, a new number, and a new beginning! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for this upcoming year! Cheers to 24! “Maybe birthday candles were invented not to remind us of age, but of the light that shines through us more and more as we let The Lord fill our life with his love.”
I have had an incredible birthday here in Cambodia!
I woke up to an early morning FaceTime call (late night at home) from my adorable mother and my sweet older sister, Hannah!
We had our daily 6am devotional, and then I came upstairs to find this cute & colorful birthday banner that my lovely team mates made for me!
(& this is my little birthday twin, Lydia! She is a fiesty one)
After a nice relaxing workout on the rooftop and right as pre-school was over, we crammed into the little tuk-tuk and headed out for some birthday lunch!
