It’s here. It’s finally here! The months of anticipations and preparation are over. I launch for the World Race on Wednesday, September 9th. Then, these feet will not touch U.S. soil for 11 months. I’ll be in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya (Our first route change. My team, along with one other team, is pioneering a new ministry contact!), India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
I’ve said my “see ya laters” to friends and family, my bags are packed (and slightly overweight… let the purging begin), the pre-launch training is completed, and my emotions are all over the map.
I am excited, sad, eager, overwhelmed, expectant, confident, secure, heart-broken, and blissful all at the same time. It’s incredibly challenging to leave behind such an amazing and supportive group of family and friends for a year, but I couldn’t be more excited to begin this incredible adventure with the Lord.
I’m so overwhelmed by the prayers and financial support I’ve received throughout this process. Ya’ll have generously donated $11,692 of the $16,267 I need. I cannot thank you guys enough for partnering with me in bringing His Kingdom come! I have until December to raise the remaining funds and I know the Lord will be faithful to provide.
As I leave America, I’m leaving my phone, along with many other first-world comforts, behind. The best way to keep up with me and follow my journey is through this blog. You can also email me at [email protected] or message me on Facebook. I will be checking emails and updating the blog on a weekly basis. Words of encouragement will be appreciated as this will be the most challenging year of my life. I also just downloaded Skype and my username is julia.still11. I look forward to hearing from all of ya’ll.
I love you all and miss you already! See you in 11 months 🙂
{“an open letter from my pre-race self”}
This is a letter for me to come back and read at the end of 11 months…
It’s day three of launch and you just said goodbye to your parents toady. You are beyond excited for the opportunity to follow where the Lord is leading you. You are stressing way too much about packing and making sure you have everything you need. I know that as the journey continues, material things will become progressively less important. I pray that you continue to create space for the Lord to fill you with His love and power. His gifts for you are limitless.
You are about to live in 24/7 community for the next 11 months. I know that it will be one of the most challenging, but most rewarding parts of the race. I pray that you push into to the community, pour into those around you, and embrace the discomfort. Do not disconnect, as you will be tempted to do at times. You are also stressing about all of the change. The race requires you to be incredibly flexible and that is something not in your nature. I pray that you learn to rely on the Lord for answers when you need them and peace when He does not provide answers you don’t need, but may want.
Most of all, I pray that you don’t lose focus of what this year is all about: Jesus. Don’t let this year become about you or about leading a team or anything else that can distort your sense of identity. Your identity is in Christ alone. You are going to love and serve His people and ultimately, through the process, build intimacy with Him.
Push in to the discomfort. Embrace the difficult times. Seek the Lord first.
