“You know you leave three months from today, right?” -my mom
Thanks mom…!
It’s exciting and scary to think that I launch in only 3 months! I have so much to do before I leave. Training Camp is only 1 month away! I still have 3 shots to get, I have to apply for a Visa for India, I have to learn how to pack my backpack, and I still have money to raise before I leave!
This past month a lot has happened! I have been taken off the waiting list for my route, and have been officially placed on August Route 3! Which will be now known as K SQUAD! (The fact that I am on K SQUAD is totally a God sign for me!) I have bought all of my gear for the trip – Backpack, sleeping bag, tent, packing cubes, etc. My backpack (pictured below) is big, but I still don’t know how I am supposed to fit everything I need for a year in it!
Fundraising
The word alone seems like a daunting task! Although fundraising for my first deadline was extremely stressful and involved a lot of handwork – It was eye-opening. When thinking of the word “fundraising” you associate it with words like; daunting, stressful, uncomfortable, annoying, and too much work. Well I think instead of thinking of it as fundraising, I am now thinking of it as “blessings awareness.” I have been truly blessed with family, friends, churches, local businesses, and strangers alike with donations to my mission trip. It is truly amazing to see people support you, and you didn’t even think they would! Or strangers I don’t even know are supporting me. It’s truly a blessing to see how God works! God will provide and I believe that. I have been blessed by my community with donations and prayers. It’s so much fun when people are interested in my mission trip! I love talking about it with friends and strangers alike! This has definitely put me out of my comfort zone! I can’t believe how much I have learned just from this process.
Above are two pictures of my fundraising chain my mom and sister made for me! The one on the left is the one from March, and the one on the right is the current chain! It has gotten significantly smaller! I have hit my first fundraising deadline of $5,000!!! I obviously wouldn’t have been able to do this without the donations of family, friends, and my community! I now only have about $12,000 to go!
There are a few people I want to thank specifically!
The Weiss Family (for my first donation and boost of hope that I can do this)
Trinity Early Childhood Academy (for your support and donations)
Trinity Lutheran Church [Family Center Location] (for your donations and prayers)
The 2016 Bethel Lutheran Confirmation Class (for your amazingly huge and generous donation as your class gift)
Grandma and Papa Robertson, Alan and Jill Burchill, and Uncle Johnny for your extremely generous donations and confidence in me that I can do this with the help of God and family/friends.
I have been experiencing more “blessings awareness” as I set up more fundraisers to help me continue this amazing journey God has sent me on.
Upcoming Fundraisers
Dick’s Bar and Grille (located downtown Hudson)
-I am selling burger tickets the entire month of May! Tickets valid all May!
-$10 a ticket which gets you: A burger w/ 2 non-meat toppings, fries, and a pop, coffee, tea, or milk!
Orange Leaf Fundraiser
-Monday June 20, 2016 All day at orange leaf! Just mention you are there to support Kelsey’s Mission trip at checkout!
County Market Brat Stand
Come get lunch and/or dinner! We have brats, hot dogs, chips, and pop!
-Sunday July 3, 2016 from 11am-6pm
-Sunday July 10, 2016 from 11am-6pm
Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers!
Many Blessings,
Kelsey
