Totally MIA on this blog. No Bueno right?! I’ll try to get better!
A wise friend of mine once told me that until my writing is good- keep that blog private girl!!! So I ran with that advice! I have a nice, brutally honest private blog all to myself and I like it that way 🙂 It allows me to not think about who is reading it and just be free in my thoughts. If anyone wants an amazing blog to follow here it is: to raise an ebenezer. She often takes the words right out of my mouth that I am too afraid to speak. I’m working on that courage. She is a sweet sweet friend AND one of my monthly supporters. So go at it. She’s worth every second of your time.
But as far as my supporters are concerned they 100% deserve serious updates because they are da bomb. Pretty much the light of my life actually. And for them and others that need to catch up on my crazy adventure I shall post this blog and many more to come from here on out
This will be a novel so put on your comfy pants ya’ll:
I’m taking it back to a year ago.
A year ago I was working at the beach in Jacksonville in my college town thinking about the “next”. I had recently returned from an amazing winter in Cape Town, South Africa where I was constantly reminded of a passed dream I had to go on The World Race. Constantly reminded because my sweet South African brother Tony was madlyyyyy in love with a racer that had passed through CPT a few months before my arrival (now his beautiful wife!). Because his love story was just beginning I heard about the race every day and the more he talked the more I thought about my obsession with the race years prior and my dream had come alive again and it was all too real. I didn’t talk to anyone there about it but I began the application that December. Until I knew the dream was God spoken, the real deal, I spent serious time praying about it before I sent it in.
This time last year I was accepted and this time last year my brother proposed to his amazing girlfriend.
oops. wide eyes. big gulp.
I thought- is this a missionary makes sacrifice thing or is this a not now God has something better planned thing?
Now a year later after postponing.
Totally. A Gods got an even better thing.
In Gods time with the most amazing support system from my community group I decided to postponed the race a year. Believe it or not it took me some time to decide whether or not to postpone the race. I really wasn’t sure. When I finally told my mom I decided to postpone because I couldn’t miss my big brothers wedding she balled her little eyes out and am I so unbelievably thankful to have been a part of that beautiful day. And because I waited until the time was right I still made lifelong friendships with the racers that left last January as I “prepared to depart with them”. As most of you know by following my social media sites you saw that they were in Nepal during the disasters. With their own money and resources they gave as much as they could to the Nepali people and left the country for their next month of mission with heavy hearts and healing spirits. If anyone feels led to give to this team or other teams heading to Nepal please reach out and I will send you in the right direction.
Because I postponed I have experienced more than I could have imagined at 23. I truly believe that if I had known He wanted me to wait until Jan 2016 I would have put my bum in a cubical and missed out on all of the opportunities he had in store for me. He knows me better and it was better to lead me on.
When I postponed my World Race departure date my grandparents began to fail pretty rapidly. It was hard for most of the people in my family to see it because … well… they snow skied until they were 80, lived in Hawaii part of the year, lived in Maine fishing in Canoes and fly fishing in the streams part of the year and my Poppop practiced law. When my Dad saw it happening he knew that the family needed to react so I moved home and played the part of a caretaker for a couple months. “well done my good and faithful servant” can I get an AMEN?! Totally joking… sort of. It was by far the hardest ministry I have ever been a part of. Family ministry is rough, that’s why most people pay others to do it for them or they stay clear and go to the orphanages of Africa to do their mission work. But those couple of months changed me. It was the most rewarding experience. I got to know my grandparents and how cool that they got to know me. My Mommom is now my best buddy and I am her worst enemy. Haha its great.
When that season was over I got the opportunity to do life with the most amazing family out here in Colorado nannying for their beautiful son who I have fallen head over heels for in the last 7 months and in February they had another little boy and what an amazing experience that has been to be a part of. This family gives like no other family I know. A month into my adventure out here the World Race posted on their facebook page something about an Ultimate route (now the Expedition route):
“Want to serve the nations & experience the adventure of a lifetime? This year we are launching World Race: Ultimate Adventure. A route for those who crave high adventure & have a heart to serve the nations. Keep your eyes peeled for more information!”
Insert Amen hands up emoji here!! I had no idea what I was even looking at … I mean every World Race route is the adventure of a life time but I knew my heart was beating out of my chest and I was overwhelmed with spirit. For months I stalked that one post just waiting to hear more, wondering when I could apply!
Three months later we get more information and now I’m here gearing up for my “next”
I am now on the Expedition route squad ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY leaving this January with Training camp October 15th.
The expedition route is different because …
This Expedition will serve throughout the 10/40 window, the most unreached area in the world. Out of 4.75 billion people living in this region, most have never been exposed to the Gospel.
Pioneering into eight new World Race countries, this route will have a greater focus on adventure and abandonment. It will be intentionally challenging and physically demanding, traveling vast distances over land and sea. This route requires a high level of physical endurance, adaptability, leadership, and spiritual maturity.
There will be additional training specifically designed for this route.
This does not change my fundraising in anyway! I still need you to join me on this adventure. I can not thank my current supporters enough. They are my world. Please consider chatting with me about it!
Routes are subject to change but as of today leaving with the Expedition Squad I will be going to:
REMOVED FOR SAFETY
Love you humans! xx
