I’m going on an adventure!!
And it has officially begun!?
L Squad (along with 6 other squads) spent a few days in Atlanta receiving more training and enjoying the last days with our families. My always supportive parents & sister made the 10 hour drive with me on Friday night. I am so lucky to have them. We spent Saturday & Sunday learning and spending some quality time together (at an Arby’s, mostly 🙂
until a tearful good-bye on Sunday afternoon…
And honestly, I hadn’t really cried until then. Amongst a lot of really hard goodbyes and so many sad moments, I don’t think I’d actually cried once. So it all just sort of came out in saying good-bye to my family.
Without meaning to, it made me realize I’d kind of been pushing back my emotions for the week before Launch. But worship at Launch finally pushed me over the edge. A massive, ugly/beautiful, let-it-all-out cry. It wasn’t a sad cry, either. It was mostly an outpouring of stored up emotions.
It also made me realize I had been pushing God away, feeling far from Him. And I CANNOT do this thing without Him being constantly present. But His presence was closer than ever.
After that moment, I knew I was really READY!
SO HERE WE GO!
We left our hotel in Atlanta at about 7:30am on Tuesday, flew to Dallas, then had a 12 hour layover in Los Angeles, where we stopped at In ’N’ Out and did some wandering…
….before our 15 hour flight to Guangzhou, China!!
(It wasn’t as bad as the 18 hour flight I took to South Africa, and after a clutch memory foam neck pillow purchase (WORTH IT), it was actually kind of relaxing.)
A 4 hour layover in China led us to the FINAL LEG— a 3 hour flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia and a quick tuk-tuk ride to our hostel where I am updating this. (Cambodia’s people remind me a lot of my Burmese buddies at Nora. Missing them!)
Technically, it’s Thursday and we’re adjusting to the 11 hour time difference. Tomorrow, my team heads to Siem Reap to meet our contact and get settled in for our work there.
Sorry to not include pictures this time… Internet is pretty slow! Will upload pictures when I can!
Book suggestion: Kingdom Journeys by Seth Barnes. I started this during our two-day travel journey and I’m LOVING it. Highly recommend it to gypsy, wandering souls like mine.
WAYS TO KEEP IN TOUCH
IN ORDER FROM MOST LIKELY TO LEAST LIKELY
(due to wi-fi access)
blog: kathywoods.theworldrace.org (especially comments. hope to update once a week)
e-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: Kathy J. (for personal contact: Facebook messages)
iMessage: [email protected]
Skype: kathyjay28
Instagram: kathyjzumba
Twitter: KathyJ28
Official hashtag: #Lyeah #KeepUpWithKJ
FUNDING UPDATE
Overflowing with gratitude for so much love and support!Currently, I am at about $13,700 out of $16,255! PRAISE THE LORD! To help me get fully funded before my deadline, you can click “Support Me!” at the top of the page or click HERE and scroll down for more options.
Further funding will help me get to Project Searchlight (a post-Race program to help us integrate our experience into our futures) or other missions in the future.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to my outstanding Team!
WE’VE MADE IT TO CAMBODIA!!
