It’s been a while since my last post, which was extremely exciting and all about t-shirts, so it’s time for an update.
In case you don’t know me that well or just happened upon this post and don’t know me at all I would like to fill you in on something: I dislike shopping. I’m good for about half an hour or an hour tops then I like to call it quits. So last week when Holley and I decided to take on the task of shopping for our World Race backpacks I hoped it’d be a quick and easy trip. It wasn’t. We stared at this huge wall of backpacks for too long before finding someone to help us, we were pretty hopeless on our own. I mean look at all the backpacks (this was only half the wall)!But Holley and I managed to conquer REI and come home with some pretty sweet backpacks.
Once I purchased my pack it started to set in how real this choice I have made to leave my home for a year, to follow Christ, and to have all my belongings in a 60 liter backpack. Whoa! There are many things I will not be able to take with me and some will be really hard to say good-bye too, like my nephew who conveniently fits in my backpack without room for anything else. (Please excuse the low-quality picture, but know he is the most adorable human ever.)
I have also realized all the things I will be taking with me on the race that won’t even be in my backpack. Eventually there will be a long list of things that will end up in this new shiny backpack of mine, but for now I am looking forward to all the things I won’t physically be able to carry. I will have the love of God to share with others, and the knowledge that my nephew will still love his Aunt ‘Wynni Job” even if she isn’t there for 11 months. I will be picking up countless memories along the way that may get a little heavy at times and may seem hard to carry. During times when life seems heavier than this 60 liter backpack I will lean on my teammates, my family, God, and my supporters. I ask that you pray for myself and my teammates as we prepare for this journey and while we are out in the field.
Since I decided to accept my spot on the race for the upcoming summer I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support I have received from friends, family members, and acquaintances. I love hearing stories from everyone about a friend who is on the race or even a friend of a friend! I also really enjoy and appreciate the first hand experience stories and tips I am getting from everyone (shout out to Jenny Goronflo for helping with my backpack decision and Amanda Kay for all her wise words). Please keep the stories coming! I would love to hear from all of you about your travels and adventures.
