How did I get from here to here!?!?
My teammate for life, Kati said the other day,“Traveling ages you. Not in a bad way, but in a maturing way.”
We have now completed 6 months on the field…and just arrived in our 7th country…GEORGIA!
We are over HALFWAY through the Race! WOAH. It’s flying by…by also feels like we have lived on the road and out of a backpack forever.
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This blog is different…a little more lightheaded you could say 🙂
This journey is FULL of transformation.
I am constantly being challenged and stretched in new ways. I am being renewed in my mind, body, and spirit.
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So I thought it would be fun to take you all on my journey of “shedding fears” from first announcing about the Race to literally today in Batumi, Georgia!
November 2018- The Big Announcement
I made the official announcement right after Thanksgiving 2018.
Full of anticipation and excitement! After a lot of praying and reading, The God Ask, I was ready to start fundraising.
I began facing the fear of fundraising almost $20,000! Oh and how the Lord provided- Jehovah Jireh!
Training Camp- June 2019
Gainsville, GA
Training Camp rocked my world…
I slept in a tent for the first time, saw my first healing in person, and learned to listen to the Lord’s voice!
Month #1 August 2019
Shanghai, Xi’an, & Tibet, China
During the first month, I shared the Gospel with someone who had NEVER heard it, went to a fish spa, learned A LOT about community living, and ate a bug (plus so much more).
Month #2 September 2019
Kathmandu, Nepal
In Nepal, we worked with incredible hosts and dove into Nepali culture!
I began to branch out a lot more…dyed my hair with henna after having lice multiple times, went paragliding, and got my first tattoo!
Month #3 October 2019
New Delhi, India
PC: Kati Simpson
In New Delhi, I became an Indian princess 🙂 But for real, it was absolutely wonderful time meeting new friends, connecting with local ministries, celebrating Diwali & CHRISTMAS, seeing the Taj Mahal, and sharing with our new friends!
Month #4 November 2019
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
PC: Kati Simpson
Yes, I may have gone to the clinic/hospital like five or six times, passed out and fell on ground at the first clinic, was diagnosed with a strong bacteria infection, typhus, and cyst…but even with all the weight I lost and the many weeks that I didn’t eat, at least I got to enjoy Thanksgiving with my amazing team and our Ethiopian friends!
Even if I did miss a lot due to being in bed sick, my team made amazing ministry connections this month and had great opportunities to pour into the local community.
PC: Kati Simpson
Month #5 December 2019
December 2019
Muscat, Oman
PC: Kati Simpson
The country that I had been waiting for… and now I realize why!
Oman…was a dream. The first week, I was hospitalized in Muscat (so more needles…WAY TOO MANY)…but the Lord used it! Oh how He did.
We made some deep friendships at the Grand Mosque and got to have many faith discussions. This month was surely a call to greater boldness and apologetics.
And I finally got to rock my Muslim Fit from the Great Mosque in Xi’an, China (Pictured Above) and all my other ethnic outfits. 🙂
Month #6 January 2019
January 2020
Gelibou/Cannakale, Turkey
“Merhaba” – Hello in Turkish…
One of my other dreams was fulfilled this month, I got mistaken as being Turkish MANY times, and YES I absolutely loved it.
My team and I dove into outreach, supporting our local partners, and praying for the local community we lived in for the month.
I conquered my fear of cooking for others this month…dyed my hair closer to my natural color, FINALLY got my ears pierced, and got my second tattoo 🙂
To Today…
Welcome to Month 7
Batumi, Georgia
Today, my team began diving into Georgian culture and FOOD! We tried Khachapuri (pictured above)…which is bread (shaped like a boat) filled with cheese, butter, egg, and MORE BUTTER. What a DISH!
We are staying a hostel and are excited to get to meet new friends here and venture out into some local villages!
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Beginning in China, I challenged myself to take risks and to face fears like never before.
These fears so far have included…
- Eating ALL kinds of new/strange things- including a bug on a stick
- Needles (being super sick and hooked to IVs and having my blood drawn WAY TOO MANY TIMES. And I only passed out ONCE!)
- Getting my first tattoo.. then my second haha!
- On my 24th Birthday, FINALLY getting my ears pierced!!!
- Hair not being blonde anymore. I had a lot of fear and insecurity in changing my hair. I’ve been told by many people in my life that I look better blonde (even though I’m not even a natural blonde). So after hearing this…I felt like I could never NOT be blonde. Changing my hair was something that was a release of an identity or comfort that I was holding onto. So since then, I’ve gone Henna Red (Nepal and again in Oman), and finally facing my greatest hair fear– going back closer to my natural color–brunette (Turkey).
- Paragliding
- Being in places and sleeping in places where I knew THERE WERE RODENTS. (this is HUGE).
- Learning to use a lighter (thanks Elijah)
- Cooking from scratch for others
There are many more not listed…and still MANY MANY more fears that I don’t want to just FACE…I want to SHED them completely.
I’m done living a life of FEAR.
