And it all comes down to gear.
First off, let me give a truly heart-felt “Thank You” to everyone who has helped support me thus far. Between donations, t-shirt sales, and country jar sales, I’m at about $3,000 (a little more than half of what I need for my September deadline)! God has been providing money, resources, and encouragement in amazing ways, and if I took time to write down all the incredible ways that I’ve seen God moving (even all the ways that God moved this past weekend), you’d be here for 24 hours. For now, let me tell you one short story that shows God’s incredible timing and provision.
This morning, my dad and I were sitting in a Starbucks, chatting one final time before I left Colorado Springs (I went down there for the weekend) and headed back up to Greeley. My goal was to leave Starbucks at 9:15, and I ended up not getting up from the table until about 9:18 (if you know me, you know that one of the things I’m trying to work on is my feeling that I constantly need a schedule, and that I constantly need to stick to that schedule. The Race will help me get over that fast, I’m sure). As I was leaving, I passed a lady I knew (read: A very dear friend from my middle and high school years, who I had wanted to send a support letter to, but who’s address and contact info I had since lost. I had kind of given up on the whole situation and on re-connecting with her and her family. But apparently, God had different plans). We recognized each other and started talking. Long story short, my dad mentioned to her that I was preparing to leave on the Race, and she not only said that she wanted a copy of my support letter, but we decided to sit down for a cup of coffee at her house so I could visit with her kidoes (who I love from the bottom of my heart and have known from a very early age).
It’s funny how God orchestrates things sometimes (read: every single day). God’s provisions have been so immense and beyond anything I could imagine, and as I drove back up to Greeley, I had a moment where I just started praying and laughing because of how amazing God is.
Another way that I know God is going to provide is through my need for gear. While I have lived in Colorado my whole life, I have never been camping (save for a time I went car camping and still made sure I put on makeup the next morning… If I could go back and give 13-year-old me one of those “you’ve got to be kidding me” looks for that makeup moment, I totally would).
On the race, we have no promised provisions or housing. All we know is that we need to have what’s on our official packing list, which includes things like a tent, a backpack, a sleeping bag, etc. In addition to needing gear to survive for 11 months, we also need gear that’s light (yet strong) enough to be carried on our backs for the entire 11 months. One thing I’ve learned through this process is that the lighter something is, the more it costs. But, like always, God will provide.
Because of this need, I have made a registry for the supplies I still need. I would ask that you pray about supporting me in my need for gear. Additionally, if you have any of these supplies just sitting and gathering dust in your garage and you want to let me use your gear for a year, that would be AMAZING. If that’s the case, please comment below and we can find a time to meet up and figure everything out. Thank you so much for your prayer and support… You are a true answer to prayer!
-J
http://www.myregistry.com/organization/Joanna-Sorensen-Colorado-Springs-CO/1109557
