Well, it is May 17th, a day that has been haunting me on the calendar for over 6 months, and my first deadline day. I am proud to say that I have met my first goal of $5,000!!! Woohoo!! I am actually only a few thousand dollars away from my next goal of $10,000!! So crazy to me. Thank you everyone who has supported me and encouraged me on this journey so far. It’s been a wild ride!
In celebration of reaching over $5,000 my family and I took a trip to REI to see what supplies were all available for my trip. It was overwhelming and exhausting, but I did end up buying a sleeping pad and a pair of Chacos! I still have a lot to buy and could really used y’all’s help! I’m currently working on an Amazon wishlist to share, but until I get that up, gift cards to REI, Amazon, and other outdoors-y stores are most welcome!
I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to say in this blog, because this is a huge milestone in this journey for me. I was accepted back in September, and no matter how slow or fast the fundraising was going, I lived out of the fear that I would not even make it to the June training camp. But here I am. I am feeling relieved, refreshed, and excited! I have faith again. Jesus led me along his path all the way to this point. If He made $5,000 possible, can make $10,000 possible, and $19,200 possible.
I’m so excited Jesus has called me to go on the Race and experience him in this way! It’s so fun going to all the outdoors-y shops and imagining what my life will look like in just a few short months. I can’t help but smile when I think of all the people I’m going to meet, and all the life-long friends I’m going to make!
I remember almost a decade ago when a girl from my church went on the World Race. I was how horrified and scandalized by the idea of living out in the wild of an unknown country, eating foods you’ve never eaten before, not showering as much as you’re used to. But when Jesus brought it back to my attention again this time last year, it didn’t seem too hard or scary. I have this vision in my head of what the World Race would be like ever since I found out what it was. I’m curious to see if it will be anything like what I imagine. I read this quote by Dr. Seuss this morning that is just perfect; “You’ll never get bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do.”
I’m struggling a bit to find words for what has been going on with me lately, so I thought I’d include some of my most recent poems I’ve written to give y’all a little glimpse. I hope y’all enjoy!
A Question
You charge me with life,
Yet I feel death’s sting
You waterfall me with love,
Yet I follow sin’s call
You say I’m forgiven,
So why do I still fall?
Voice Over Voices
Hush to the voices
that say I’m alone
Hush to the voices
of fear in the unknown
Hush to the voices
that turn me into stone
Hush to the voices–
oh they should have known
My God is the voice
that tells me I am loved
My God is the voice
that leads me to the dawn
My God is the voice
that sings fear into praise
My God is the voice
Of Truth in the storm
Light of Dawn
In the light of dawn
I gather shells for you
In the ebbing tide
I make castles for you
In the rocking waves
I gather fish for you
In the thunderstorm
I create shelter for you
In the burst of sunset
I make a fire for you
In the star-lit night
I sing sweet songs over you
In your peaceful sleep
I chase down bears for you
In your hopeful dreams
I gather love for you.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” ~Galatians 2:20
