Oh boy, what a week! There are days when it seems like the launch to the World Race is years away and then there are weeks like this one that make you realize it is not.
In fact, it is only 4 months away… 122 days!
This past week I headed out with my mom and grandma to do some shopping of backpacking gear for the race. I had my list ready in hand knowing that if I walked into REI unprepared I would never leave. Walking into the GIGANTIC store filled with every piece of recreational equipment imaginable (hence the name) I found myself a little overwhelmed.
Did you know there over a dozen different brands of backpacks? And within each brand are about 4-5 different styles serving various travel purposes? Good thing the REI’s staff is on point with their customer service! Within minutes the first poor soul approached the tri-fecta of question askers. By the time my mom, my grandma and I were done interrogating the poor employees on their knowledge of each item they were exhausted. (Special shout out to REI employees James, Edd, and Kevin… your help and patience were much appreciated). I also met a fellow shopper/wonderful lady named Laura who had nothing but encouraging things to say about my trip. (Laura, if you are reading this thank you very much for checking out my blog!)
From backpacks to daypacks to tents to sleeping bags to mattress pads to towels, we made quite the dent in my WR gear needs. And the biggest blessing of all!! My amazing mom and incredible grandma pitched in and purchased all the gear as a donation towards my trip!!!!!!!! (Mom, Grandma, I LOVE YOU! I cannot thank you both enough for your generosity.)
(Below you find the aftermath of our REI experience, exluding the globe)
BRACELETS.
Also this week, I went to a Cookie Lee Fundraiser that my good friend Aubrey put together for me. It was an amazing turn out and the jewelry was beautiful! I had the opportunity to meet our “jewelry lady”, Heather. Turns out she was a missionary in Africa for 8 years with her husband. I was able to talk to her and she shared with me for about an hour of her experiences overseas. Her struggles, her joys, miracles, memories!
With every word she shared I was seriously fighting back tears… good tears! Her story of faith and obedience was such an inspiration to me. She didn’t even know how much her testimony was exactly what I needed to hear.
I walked away from that night with $247. Which put me just under what I need to meet my first financial deadline of $3,500 by September 29th. (Thank you Aubrey for going above and beyond!!! You, my friend, are amazing!)
All in all, it has been quite the incredible week filled with blessing after blessing from friends and family!
What will September hold?
Still in awe,
Jolene
