Sorry For the Wait Guys.
I know this blog is long overdue but I am finally sitting down and writing this shin dig. I want to update everyone on where I’m at with fundraising and how God is working in my life. (Well actually I’m going to split them into two blogs so there’s that) I want to say a BIG thank you to all my supporters. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for the donations. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As of right now I am at $6,235 which means I’m 38% funded! I feel beyond blessed. God is providing in so many ways just like He said he would.
I know a lot of you are wondering what I’ve been doing to prepare these last few months. Or maybe you’re wondering why Kelsie keeps blows me off. I’m NOT I promise. Well let me break it down for yeah real quick. I’ve been making phone calls. LOTS OF PHONE CALLS. To the insurance company, my doctor, my cell phone provider, my mobilizer, the place I leased my car from, different companies, REI, the DPS, bill collectors, and of course my parents. I’ve been planning a few fundraisers that are coming up soon. I’ve been sending emails, getting vaccinations, writing thank you cards, making gift registries, and asking companies for donations. I have looked at countless amounts of past World Racers packing lists along with pictures of what people are wearing on Instagram (basically cyber stalking them) I then try to come up with my own packing list for a year. Write it then re-write it. Shocking right how hard is it to pre pack one year worth of stuff in one back pack?
Fundraising is still a whirl wind of emotions I can’t lie this whole process of preparing for the World Race is. With work, fundraising, keeping a social life, and making time to spend with the big man upstairs it’s a challenge. One minute I’ll be peachy keen and BAM the next minute I’m having a panic attack in the middle of work going into the next room to call my mom like a 5 year old. Seriously ask my co-worker Nicole she’s used to them by now haha. It’s hard for me to get everything I need to do that’s running through my head down on paper and then organize it. (That’s the life of an ADD person for you) I find myself at times thinking too much into what I shouldn’t have spent my money on last weekend or how I should have paid off that laptop bill back in December with Christmas money.
I’ve learned I can’t focus on the past it’s already happened I just need to keep looking forward, make a new plan, and put my trust in God. When I start to feel myself get overwhelmed I found I feel better if I actually just call someone (before the mini panic attack haha) and just say everything I need to do out loud to them. Even if they’re not really listening I just need to get it out of my head. Making a list helps but I’m still working on that part. It’s so nice to have my squad mates to talk to. To know I’m not crazy and their going through the same things I am. More and more people are being added every day it’s hard to keep track but I can’t wait for May 21st to meet my new Fam-Bam for the 1st time!
Needless to say it’s been a hectic last few months full of birthdays, weddings, and a lot of planning. God is teaching me so much through this time of waiting as I get closer and closer to my launch date. I find myself sometimes falling back into old habits. Sometimes I feel like some of my past mistakes keep creeping back into my life just to say hey remember me. Surprisingly I suspected this to happen. This is something I’ve been praying about. Just like I’m on a mission the devil is too and he doesn’t want me going on this path. He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly” –John 10:10. The fact that I can recognize these old habits falling back into my lap means I can present them to God and He can help me move forward.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” -1 Peter5:8-9
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” –Ephesians 6:13
I’ve found as I get ready for launch among everything there are high points and low points. It’s stressful and it’s overwhelming and that’s okay. Sometimes it may feel like I’m being put on top of a pedal stool like people expect me not to sin because I’m going on the World Race. Fact is, is that we are all born into sin I am no better or more holy then the next guy. I used to feel ashamed at times when I knew I was giving into temptation. I felt like I couldn’t talk to God like He wasn’t close enough to hear me. Not anymore He’s closer than ever. I feel I am in communication with him at all times. He’s always here and He’s not going anywhere. He’s not revealing my mistakes to me to put me down or rub them in my face. He reveals our sins to us so that He can reveal more of himself to us. Sometimes it’s more than confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness but actually giving up or letting go of something in your life that’s leading you to fall into temptation. That’s hard though, it’s one thing to say it but actually do it that’s hard! It’s something I’m still working on in parts of my life. I know I can’t change myself I can’t do it on my own but Jesus can.
“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” –Romans 7:21-25
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” –Romans 8:1-2
I feel like I’m rambling but I’m gonna keep rolling with it.
Some BIG events have been happening in my life. First I went to the Passion Conference in January. For those of you who don’t know what Passion is: Rooted in the confession of Isaiah 26:8, Passion exists to glorify God by uniting students in worship, prayer & justice for spiritual awakening in this generation. “Walking in the way of your truth, we wait eagerly for you, for your name and your renown are the desire of our souls.” –Isaiah 26:8 It. Was. Amazing. So many awesome speakers like Francis Chan, Christine Caine, & Matt Chandler were there. It was so awesome to be in an arena surrounded by thousands of people who love Jesus! Every morning in afternoon we would spilt up into our family groups. Funny thing was I was thinking about not going because mornings are NOT my thing and I was hungry at 9:00pm! But I felt like God was telling me to go. So I did and I’m so glad. God being the mind reader he is heard my little side thought about not wanting to get up in the morning so He put a stop to that real quick haha. I ended up being the Leader of our family group! I was kind of nervous at first because I’m not so comfortable praying out loud in front of people. God completely took that fear away from me. I never once felt like I didn’t know what to say to one of my group members and I felt completely comfortable. I’m so glad I went or I would have never got to experience that position of leadership. It’s like what Christine Caine was talking about. There’s always places where God wants to use YOU but if YOU don’t show up He’ll use someone else.
Guess what? I GOT RE-BAPTIZED!!! Yes that’s right I got re-baptized on February 22nd 2015 and it was such an awesome experience. If you missed it and would like to hear a little bit about my Faith story you can watch the video below. It was so exciting to share this experience with my friends and family. To make this renewed commitment to the Lord as I enter a new chapter of my life preparing my heart for the World Race.
Training Camp is near and I’m getting excited and anxious. No doubt my faith has grown deeper throughout this year. I continue to seek His face every day. I pray for strength as I get ready to leave in June. I ask you Lord to teach me, guide me, and direct me in the right path. I am so thankful for all the gifts and blessings you have poured on me. I’m so thankful for all my supporters who are helping me reach my goal every day. Glory to God!
-Marlo
P.S. If you would like to know what fundraisers I have going on and how you can help that will be all on my next blog. 🙂
