Hi everyone. It the end of the Month 10 which means it’s update time. I can’t thank you enough for sticking out this journey with me. We are on the home stretch now, Twenty nine days to be exact!
If I had to describe this month in a phrase it would be “bitter sweet”. This month started off a little slow but it has shaped up to be a really great month with a variety of ministry. It has also been a month of planning for what’s next, anticipating home and being reunited with family and friends, and focusing on the here and now. The reality of the Race being finished is sinking in.
Ministry
This month I got to mostly participate in redesigning of the coffee shop. It is not conventional ministry but I know that having a nicely designed coffee shop that is cozy and functional will help the YWAM base bring some extra money. I have been super blessed to work with an amazing creative team of girls to get this done with minimal tools and budget.
I was also able to participate in a youth meeting and a youth conversational English class. This was such a fun time of games, english class, testimonies, and worship. The youth here are truly gems. They love the Lord and they are full of so much laughter and joy. It was so much fun to able to work with them.
My favorite part of this month by far was overnight trip to the village. I got to live my dream of sleeping in a ger (or yurt), the traditional Mongolian style home and my team got participate in giving out shoe boxes through Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Smile. It was such an amazing time.
Challenges, Lessons, and Goals
This month I think my biggest challenge was comparison. Not in the since of comparing myself to other people but comparing my ministry and World Race experience to others. This was especially hard in the beginning of the month when things were going slow. I think the biggest lesson I learned or relearned this month was to just rest in the Lord and take things as they come. I have since stopped trying to figure out the next step and what the future looks like and life is a lot less stressful.
Next month my main goal as cliché as it sounds is just to stay present. I am really excited about going home and spending time in Seattle with dad, step-mom, and brothers but, I also know I will be super sad to leave this family that I have come to love so much. I want to stay as present as possible and really cherish the last few weeks with them.
China
China is going to be awesome! My team will be working with an organization that works in foster care/orphan care. I can’t give much more information than that for the safety of our hosts.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to government monitoring I will not be posting anything on my blog or social media until after we leave our hosts at final debrief or until I get back to the States. I will also be putting a password on my blog until I land in the States. I will post the password in several locations. You will not be able to view my blog unless you have this password. This is also for the safety of our contacts and hosts.
BLOG PASSWORD: JessicaWR2014
Fundraising
Thank you so much to every single person who has donated to my World Race. At this moment I am only a mere $125 away from being fully funded. I am in awe seeing how each of you have prayed, donated, and shared my journey. I wouldn’t have made it through this without your support and your prayers. I am looking forward to sharing the experience with each of you once I get home.
What’s Next: After the World Race
Some of you may have seen that in my last update I had three post race options. Well things have changed since then. You can read a little about that in my blog The Rambling Confessions of Someone Who Has No Idea. So what’s next after the Race? I have no idea and that’s ok.
See you all soon.
