Wow..I can hardly believe it….exactly one week from now I should be in Guatemala!! The first stop of our 11 country journey around the globe…it seems so surreal! Am I really going? I can’t wait…I still have to do some minor things like figure out exactly what and how I’m going to pack for the race…Its weird saying good bye to people and then a few hours later realizing that I won’t see them again for at least 11 months. Often its not until I take a step back and reflect that I realize the significance of a moment or event.
The month of May has gone by quite quickly…its been filled with garage sales, my friend’s wedding, my sister’s high school graduation, Mother’s Day, saying goodbye, preparing for the race (buying supplies and raising money), and now I’m leaving in 4 days!
Thank you so much to all of you who have helped me get this far! Just one week ago, I was $1000 short of what I needed in my account to leave. But as always, God has been faithful to provide for all of my needs! By Wednesday I had over $8300 in my account (60% of the total cost, which is needed to leave). What a sense of relief I felt- its all taken care of! Not only did I recieve what I needed but 3 of my teammates were also short in funds had everything come in by Wednesday!! That’s literally thousands of dollars come in in one week!
So here’s more numbers…My total cost for the 11 month trip: $15,000. That might sound like a lot, but when you think about it, that’s not bad for living expenses for one year. What I need to have in my account to leave: $8280. What is in my account right now: $8615.20. I have $275 pledged per month while I am on the race….which leaves about $3000 that I still need while I”m gone. And that could be given monthly, quarterly, or randomly. All I need is 5 people to give $50/month or 20 people to give $150…and I’m done! If you want to give just click on the “support me!” link on the left.
Thanks again to all of you that have given financially! There are about 50 of you who have given financially, and countless more who have included me in your prayers. Thank you to the 3 anonymous givers! Thank you to everyone who has helped in a fund raising effort, mostly the garage sale last weekend at the church…from those of you who donated items, who helped set up in the morning, and run the show…definitely could not have done it alone!
A little boy I’ve never met named Martin goes to AWANA at my church. I recieved $6 from him for my trip. I was very touched by the gesture. $6 could be all the money he gets in one month. I don’t know for sure, but I’d be willing to bet that’s a much greater percentage of his total income than most of the gifts I’ve recieved. Granted, I realize that he doesn’t have things like mortages, car payments, grocery bills, etc. like adults. But his seemingly small gift spoke volumes to me.
Please continue to pray for me and my team as we are saying our last goodbyes this week, and then heading for a life-changing experience. I think the first week or so in Guatemala will be more training, and then we will “divide and conquer” probably sometime during the second week of June. Please pray for the whole June 09 squad to abound in patience, wisdom, joy, understanding, kindness, discernment, forgiveness, and to have unity in purpose and in the Lord. And above all, love one another deeply, as love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
