What’s Next?
Back to Africa…
Yes, that is right. In exactly one month I’ll be back on a plane
to Africa. I never thought I would be
writing a blog like this anytime soon.
Two or three months ago while
finishing the race I couldn’t wait to get home and back to America. That was really all I thought about the last
month and I remember writing this,
“I’m so excited to get home and get back to
“normal” life, but in the end after all the excitement and newness of
home wears off I know I’ll want to be back on the opposite side of the world
eating beans and rice, living in a jungle tree house, loving on dirty orphans
in Africa, and taking cold bucket showers.”
I guess it’s
happening a lot faster than expected. . .
All throughout
the race I kept thinking that I would love to work for an organization like
Compassion or World Vision and lead trips for them…I figured it would happen
when I was older and had more experience under my belt, but then that
opportunity came only a month after I finished the race- except it isn’t with Compassion
or World Vision but with Adventures in Missions (AIM).
About two weeks ago I was at Project
Searchlight, a weeklong debrief for post-racers to help them figure out their
next steps when they get back from the field and to help them turn their dreams
into reality, in Gainesville GA. Going
into the week I basically had two options- find a job somewhere or go back to
school to get my masters, but neither one of them felt right. I decided to wait about a month until Project
Searchlight to see if anything would come out of that week.
I got to Gainesville and told them my “kingdom
dream”- to work in the business world while living a life that shows there is
more to life than the “American Dream” or the “9-5” life.
We talked a little about possible jobs
and different openings then something else came up, “Why don’t you lead a
Passport trip?”
Hmmmm…I
thought about it for a few days, while processing other possibilities and
different directions to take.
While part of me didn’t want to do
anything with leaving again, especially to go back to living the World Race
life again for another four months, the other part knew it was the next step
because,
o
It would provide
me a chance to step out and grow in leadership
o
I would be able
to pour into and disciple people after being poured into for so long
o
It would give me
a chance to continue growing from what started on the race and also a chance to
grow by doing
So after I got back from Searchlight I
applied, had my interview, and was officially accepted to lead a Passport trip
this fall.
On August 25th I will be back in
Gainesville for leader training and training camp and on August 31st
I will be on a plane to Uganda with my team and co-leader.
girls and 1 guy to Lira in northern Uganda for four months, returning right before Christmas.
I will be responsible for cultivating
team community as well as finances and logistics while we are on the field the
next four months.
I can’t do this alone. Please pray for us as I continue this crazy
journey and pray for the team as we will all meet for the first time and be in
Uganda within a week. I also need to
raise $1,500 to cover the cost of my trip; the rest is covered because I am a
leader.
I am looking for 10 people to donate a
one-time donation of $150,
Or 15 people to donate $100
Or 25 people to donate $60
To donate please click on the “Support
Me” link to the left, underneath my profile picture or by clicking here.
*All donations are tax deductible
Big things are coming,
