Hello all my wonderful subscribers, friends, and family!!
First off, I would like to say the biggest THANK YOU to everyone for helping me reach my goal of $14,951! I promise I am there even though the little bar on my blog still looks slightly empty… (actually it is very likely I have gone over a little bit.) So, I just wanted to say thank you to each and every one of you for being gifts from God and helping me reach my goal. God is so great, and He provides endlessly. Just a reminder that He is our Father, and He will take care of His children. So, I am absolutely so blessed by all of you for any contributions or prayers you have so generously given.
However, if you still have a giving heart then you are welcome to make a check out to me for extra expenses along the way like the final airplane ticket once I get back home to the States or to help pay for the vaccines and supplies I have acquired while getting ready. BUT you have already all helped so so much so there is no pressure to continue giving to me, because I am set (thank you again)!
Also, (this is the better option of the two) you would be welcome to help my team by donating to them. Here are all their blog links
http://bomccraw.theworldrace.org/ http://jacksonmoushon.theworldrace.org/ http://rodrigoariceaga.theworldrace.org/ http://stellagilchrist.theworldrace.org/
or you can always write a check made out to Adventures in Missions P.O. box 742570 Atlanta, GA 30374-2570 putting a teammate’s name in the memo line: Bo McCraw, Stella Gilchrist, Jackson Moushon, and Rodrigo Ariceaga. So, if you would would still like to help me you can help my teammates get to their goals as well! They are all amazing people too!
(Here’s a reminder of all their lovely faces!)
Wow, now I have to say I have basically hit single digits for my days in the USA. As more and more time winds down, I say more and more goodbyes and I buy more and more things to try and squeeze into my backpack. It is slowly starting to sink in that my comforts of home will be gone in a week and a half. Many people have asked the question “So, are you nervous?” and my answer is no not really. Fortunately for me, I have had some practice of leaving home because of my year in Honduras, but this is different. Even when I feel like I should be nervous, I really am not (at least not yet) because I know that God has it. It is His plan, and He has chosen me and my path. Yes, there will be hard things to come and challenges I will have to face, but I have to trust that He will walk with me and help me view it as a growing experience.
Although I am not nervous, it still seems surreal. It hasn’t hit yet that I am leaving my family, friends, and even my dog Samson for nine months. I am a person who loves and values people and relationships, so as I continue to say these special goodbyes I know it will start to sink in. Even as I miss everyone, I know many of them will still be there when I return. Plus nine months will fly by right? Actually, I may not want it to fly by who knows. All I know is these next nine days are about to zoom.
Even though I am saying “goodbye for now” to all of my friends and family, I will be welcoming so many more people into my life. The Lord has given me this opportunity to pour into people all around the world, and you better believe I will do it wholeheartedly and to the best of my abilities. I ask you to pray for me in that I will impact every person I encounter and be a witness each day for Christ. Growing my international friend group is always an exciting thing to do. I am just so excited to see how God uses me and how our personal relationship will grow over these next nine months. Sharing the stories of my journey with you all will be amazing, and I hope you continue to stay tuned.
Finally, before I leave I would like to make a song playlist of all new music types! I would love everyone’s recommendations. I will take oldies, Christian, pop… You name it! So, feel free to comment your favorite song, text it to me with your name at 404-455-1254, or email them to me at [email protected] I will add it to my World Race Mix!
Anyway, I just want to say a big thank you again for helping me get here! I am so blessed with multiple amazing church families, all my supporters, friends, and family. I will keep my blog updated about once a week while on the field! Next time I might be posting from India who knows, but I will try and write one more blog before I leave! Thank you so so so much and God Bless!:)
