Today my friend Colin and I went to REI in Dallas to get World Race supplies! Here is what I got for other Racers preparing to go on the trip!
1. Farpoint 70 Liter Osprey Travel Bag.($199.95)
This bag has a detachable day bag to it! It has decent amount of space inside, and a place to attach your sleeping pad! You can fit your tent inside as well.
2. Flash Insulted AirCore Sleeping Pad ($109)
A compact sleeping pad (not shown above), that is 2.5 inches thick with an insulated liner to keep heat. It keeps me off the ground and is comfortable. Although all of them are pretty expensive, I am debating returning it to get a thick yoga mat or something for much cheaper. Not sure on this but everyone recommends getting a good durable sleeping pad. So we will see.
3. REI Light Compression Sack ($20.50 for 6Liter space)
I bought one of these to compress my sleeping bag into a small size about the size of a football. High quality and definitely makes a ton of room. It has straps on the side to make it into a tiny tiny size.
4. 2L Platypus 2L Bottle (Water Bladder) ($12.95)
Carrying a water bottle, or water bladder is super essential. The girl that helped me out said that there would be times in Peru where she would go to a town to get water and there would be no where to get water. Crazy! Gotta be prepared.
5. AirCore Pillow ($29.95)
I learned on the bicycle tour that having a pillow is super important when sleeping on the floor. Definitely worth the sleep, but you don’t want an awful pillow. Purchasing a high quality is essential. But having a giant pillow to lug around is a huge hassle, so it is important to have a compact pillow as well. Worth the money.
6. MultiTowel XL ($24.50)
Having a quick drying towel is super essential on the trip, for whenever you need to use a towel several days in a row. Also this towel doubles as a blanket, which can be useful say on the airplane for 12 hours or use your imagination!
I still need a one-man durable tent if anyone has one (please let me know)!
Altogether, after tax and everything I ended up spending a good portion of my savings. Almost all of my income tax return. But preparing to go out on the field is super essential. These are necessities I need!
The one who invest little, receives little.
Getting my plane tickets in the morning also for training camp! Which is super exciting, but I think all together with gear and tickets I will have spent about a grand in two days. Definitely a humbling feeling. But, it’s like Francis Chan wrote in his book Crazy Love, if you took Jesus out of the equation, how would your life be different? If you lived your life in a way that if Jesus wasn’t real there would be no difference, then there is a problem. Jesus Christ is alive and well, and he provides. and I believe it is within his will and he is guiding this trip, and that means I have to trust him with all my finances, time, and efforts. So, here is everything I’ve got.
I’m currently reading a book Jeremy let me borrow called Masculine Faith, and its about struggling well and a man’s journey through depravity and mission as a Christian.
“It is better to strive and sweat in basic training than to die on the battle field.”
Last two weeks were hell when it comes to work, and spiritual warfare. I almost quit my job, I had other job interviews lined up, I was experiencing persecution at work, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, and just threats and assaults were coming from all sides.
And of course they are.
The enemy is real. He is super old. Is hyper intelligent. Knows everything about you and me, and hates us.
Genuinely hates us. So he is going to do whatever he can to try to distract us and slow us down.
Not today, buddy.
Even if the fig tree does not blossom
and there are no grapes on the vines,
If the olive trees fail to give fruit
and the fields produce no food,
If the flocks die far from the fold
and there are no cattle in the stalls;
Then I will still rejoice in the Eternal!
I will rejoice in the God who saves me!
The Eternal Lord is my strength!
He has made my feet like the feet of a deer;
He allows me to walk on high places.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (VOICE)
In conclusion, today was a good day after a few weeks of struggle and discouragement. God is stinkin’ good and is so faithful.
This is what I am living for.
He is who I am living for.
-J
EDIT:
I forgot to tell ya’ll about Ginny! Ginny was the girl who was super helpful at REI. It turns out, she goes to the Village Church (my church), a different campus and used to be a missionary for three years in Peru! Peru is one of the stops on the World Race for us! That’s actually the reason I switched from Route 5 is specifically to go to Peru on Route 3.
She asked me why I needed a backpack, and I started explaining the World Race and she cut me off, something along these lines.
“I need the bag because Im going on an 11 month mission to 11-“
“Oh the World Race?”
Apparently they get people for TWR every so often, and herself being a Christian knew exactly what it was. She was super honest and humble and helped me find exactly what I needed without being pushy or aggressive in any way. Super rad. Just wanted to share that tid-bit.
