I know this blog is long overdue. I have been thinking about writing this blog for the past month and a half, and I am finally making time to sit down and write. First off, I want to thank everyone who has supported me thus far along my journey. I have raised $4,550 out of $16,257 and surpassed my first financial deadline. I am blown away by the support of my friends and family and my heart is so filled with gratitude. Thank you for contributing towards my mission and being a part of this adventure. Your generosity will make a difference in God’s kingdom and I am forever thankful to all of my supporters!
I know a lot of you are probably wondering what I am doing during this time of preparation as I get ready to leave in September. There is so much I have been doing the past few months as I prepare to leave. I have been planning several fundraising events that I am really excited to share with you. I have gone to see a travel doctor and have received some of the necessary shots for traveling overseas. I have gone through the application process to get my passport and just received it in the mail last week! I have gone through packing lists and started looking for all the gear I will need for my trip. I have made travel plans for training camp, where I will spend 10 ten days (July 6th-16th) with my squad in Atlanta, Georgia. During training camp, we will receive ministry training, cultural training, get to try new foods, take a physical fitness test, and most of all, spiritually prepare to spend 11 months on the field.
Sometimes it feels overwhelming with everything going on during this time, but when I start feeling overwhelmed, I remember that everything is in God’s hands and everything will work out in his perfect timing. Knowing this gives me peace because I truly trust God with all my heart and I know that he will provide everything I need for this trip.
I mainly wanted to write this blog to keep everyone in the loop about all the upcoming events and share what God is doing in my life during this preparation phase. There are several other ways you can support my mission other than making a financial donation. If you would like to be a part of my World Race journey, here are all the ways you can be involved:
1. I will be speaking at my church at the young adult service on Monday, May 4th at 7:00 pm at Sagebrush Community Church Riverside Campus (6440 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120). I would absolutely love for you to come and invite your friends!
2. I will be hosting a 5K run/walk with one of my closest friends and future world racer Felicia (you can visit her blog here). The run will be held on Saturday, May 23rd at Sagebrush Community Church Riverside Campus. Check in is at 8:30 am and take off is at 9:00 am. There is no cost to participate, it will be by donation basis only, so you are welcome to come even if you can’t give a donation. This run is also pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your pets to run/walk with you and please bring your friends with you! We would love for you to come out and support us. Even if you don’t want to run, we will need volunteers, so let me know if you are interesting in helping us with this event and I hope to see you there!
3. I will be having a garage sale on June 27th and 28th. All of the proceeds will go towards my World Race fund. If you would like to donate items, please message or email me at [email protected].
4. I am selling World Race t-shirts for $20 each. I will be placing the order on March 29th, so please let me know if you want one before I place the order. Below is a picture of the t-shirt design:
5. There are several items I still need for my trip before I leave. If you would to donate gear, please let me know and I will give you a list of the items I still need.
6. Pray for me and my squad. I believe in the power of prayer, and we absolutely NEED prayer during this time and throughout our trip. If prayer is all you have to give, that is more than enough and I am so grateful to all of those praying for me and my squad.
As launch gets closer and closer, I can feel myself getting more excited and anxious to leave. As much as I am looking forward to leaving, God is also teaching me so much through this time of waiting and preparing to leave. I am learning to trust Him more as he continues to provide for me in unexpected ways. My faith has grown deeper as I continue to seek Him more and more. He is teaching me how to love others in ways that I’m not capable of without Him, and He’s provided opportunities for me to sacrificially love certain people in my life.
But more than anything, I am deeply thankful. I am thankful for God’s blessings; I’m thankful for the people he has brought into my life; I’m thankful for all the opportunities he has given me; I’m thankful that he has chosen me to go on this journey; I’m thankful for his faithful provision; and I’m so thankful for all that he is teaching me during this time.
It is uncomfortable for me to open up my life to people more and more, but I know that sharing what God is doing in my life is one of the most powerful ways to reveal God’s glory and help others. So I want to end this blog with one of the prayers that I wrote during this time of preparation.
Dear Father,
My heart is overwhelmed with your presence. Papa, you know my heart has been troubled with the things of this world lately, but this time with you has made all of those things seem so insignificant. They are all insignificant compared to the magnificence of your presence. Papa, I have failed to realize how DESPERATELY I need you. And you desperately want me to realize that. Oh God, I am yours and you are mine. There is nothing in this world – no money, no job, no possessions, no person, no relationship, no drug – there is nothing that compares to what you offer us. Why do I convince myself so often that I need anything or anyone other than you? Oh Lord, you are ENOUGH. Your presence, your love, your affection, your gifts, your word, your truth, your sacrifices – everything you are, everything you have given me, and everything you have done for me is enough. Papa, my heart breaks for those who do not know you and have not experienced the glory of your presence. Please show them, oh God. Open their hearts to understand your truth. May they experience your overwhelming presence in their lives. This world is so temporary, this life is so temporary. May they come to realize that and put their trust in you for eternity. Lord God, take all of my heart and lead me, guide me, direct me, teach me, convict me, and give me understanding and wisdom. I trust in you with all of my heart, Papa. You are the only one who can have all of my heart and you are the only one I trust with all of my heart. You are enough and you always will be. I love you forever.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
