WHEW. A LOT has happened since my last update.
At the beginning of this month, our World Race squad traveled to Gainesville, Georgia for 10 days of Training Camp.
It was a whirlwind of hearing and learning lots of things from the Lord, getting to know my new community, and camping for the first time in my life. I really wish I had taken Girl Scouts more seriously back in the day.
I’m still processing a lot of Training Camp, but there are a few highlights I wanted to share with you all.
MY SQUAD IS AMAZING
A major highlight of Training Camp was getting to spend time with the people I’ll be serving with over the next year. I cannot put into words how beautifully the Lord has put our squad together.
When I look at these 38 people, I see a whole lot of Jesus. Each person on our squad brings to the table a unique and complementary aspect of who God is. He’s given us a wide array of gifts and stories to use together for His glory over the next year.
Also worth noting is that our squad is incredibly fun, always down to dance, and yes, we won Squad Wars.
WE WERE PUT INTO OUR FIRST TEAMS
Our squad consists of about 38 people plus alumni leaders. As we travel from country to country over the next year, we will do so together. However, when we are in each country, we are split into smaller teams to do our ministry work throughout the country.
For example, during our first month in South Africa, one team might be in Cape Town, one might be in Johannesburg, and another may be in a more rural village.
While teams often change during the 11 months, at Training Camp we were put into our first teams. These are the four people I get to serve and do life with for the first few months of the Race!
From left to right we have: Jeff, Daniel, Jamie, Brieanne, and me!
During one evening of Training Camp, each team got to go out into the community and spend some time talking to people about Jesus and practicing some evangelism skills. We also spent some time getting dinner, talking about our vision for our time serving together, and picking a team name!
We decided on Team Kindle.
Some synonyms for kindle are: light, ignite, set alight, set light to, set on fire, get going, start.
During Training Camp we talked a bit about the fact that it statistically takes a person hearing the Gospel seven times to accept Jesus. We decided as a team that it’s important to us love others well and tell them about who Jesus is whether we’re the first person they’ve heard it from or the fiftieth. Even if we don’t get to personally see them set ablaze for the Lord, there is value in adding a little bit of kindling to the fire.
WE HAVE A ROUTE CHANGE
The South America stint of our squad’s journey has been adjusted a bit. Originally, we were supposed to go to Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina for a month a piece.
The new plan is for our squad to spend a week in Ecuador and then the remainder of that month in Peru. We will then go to Chile instead of Bolivia before making our way to Argentina.
Our week in Ecuador will be for what is known as the “Parent Vision Trip.” During that time, Racers get to invite their parents to join in ministry work and get a taste of what the Race is all about. So if you talk to Vonda anytime soon, give her a nudge to come see me in March 🙂
Those are the Training Camp highlights. In six short weeks, X squad will be back in Atlanta for a couple more days of training before heading to our first stop: South Africa.
Now for a short, but necessary fundraising update.
I am just over $3,000 away from being FULLY FUNDED! That just feels insane. God has been so crazy in the ways He has provided in the fundraising process. Thank you so incredibly much to everyone who has chosen to partner with me in this journey. You are the hands and feet of Jesus.
If you’d like to help me knock out this last bit of fundraising, I have a couple of fun ways you can help!
DONATE DIRECTLY
If you feel led to partner with me in furthering the kingdom through the World Race, the easiest and most effective way to help with fundraising is by clicking the orange “Donate” button at the top of this page and donating directly.
KEYS FOR THE JOURNEY
For the month of June, I am partnering with Keys for the Journey. Keys for the Journey makes beautiful, customized key necklaces.
Keys for the Journey exists to empower people to journey with the Lord in a specific area of their lives. Through the wearing of a word, you carry a tangible reminder to be in prayer over that area of your life.
This month when you order from Keys for the Journey at keysforthejourney.com and select my name at checkout, a portion of your sale will go towards my World Race fundraising. Yay for furthering the kingdom with sweet jewelry!
ADOPT A BOX
The adopt a box is a super fun gift card raffle. It’s almost time for the drawing. So make sure you get your details at https://bit.ly/2IOsCbT and buy a box ASAP!
WHEW. That was a long post. Thanks for hanging in there with me.
More importantly, thanks for joining me in this journey. I can’t wait to see the ways the Lord is going to move in the lives of people around the world over this next year. And that wouldn’t be possible without your support.
You are insanely loved, overwhelmingly appreciated, and incredibly important. You are the hands and feet of Jesus. Thanks for being here.
