So……how are things?

 

This seems to be a common question lately so I thought I would take a minute and post an update on how things are going….

 

Funds
Well, in the support raising world I have $8,510 raised! Praise God!! For all of you non-math people, that means I have 56% of what I need! Praise God for His provision and for your generosity and partnership! I only have $6,490 left to raise!

 

I’ve been very blessed thus far. I got my backpack for Christmas – a wonderful Woman’s Ariel Osprey 75! It has the least amount of pockets out of all I tried on, but it was the most comfortable. It only took me 5 months to decide on this pack (for those of you who know me, that doesn’t surprise you, I know), but it’s great and I’m looking forward to breaking it in :). I do keep looking at it though and think…..how is everything going to fit???

AND a supporter blessed me by purchasing my tent! It was awesome! One Monday I was praying and asking God how I was going to purchase specific supplies and really thinking about the tent and needing it for training camp. Well….the very next day someone came forward and said they wanted to purchase my tent for me. What? Really? As I chuckled inside and thanked God, He just whispered, “Stop worrying, I will take care of every need.”  God is continually amazing me with stories like this during my time of preparation and everytime I set up my tent I will think of His provision and this supporter, thank you!

 

The tent is a 2-person free-standing tent and it actually quite roomy. This will be my home for the next year so I was happy to get a cheery color – orange. I do have a rainfly as well, but didn’t set it up for picture purposes.

 

          

 

What do I still need? Well….quite a few things. On the top of the list are my sleeping bag and sleeping pad which I need before camp (24 days!) and then it’s the little things of a headlamp, airporter (bag to put my backpack in when I check my luggage), insect repellent, mosquito net, etc. I’m having a garage sale in 2 weeks and hope to raise enough funds for the 2 big ticket items (see next blog on fundraisers coming out later this week).

 

 

 

How am I doing? Well, honestly I’m a mix of emotions. Of course I’m FULL of excitement and eagerness to go BUT at the same time the reality of leaving began to sink in last week. After my weekly morning jog with a friend I got into my car ready to head home and was hit hard realizing…I’m not going to have these runs soon.

 

Despite my bedhead, tiredness, and being in a daze when I run with this friend we have great talks, laughs, and enjoy the time we have. That is soon coming to an end. So are my Wednesday morning breakfast dates, my Lifegroup nights, my Bible study, my Friday afternoons in the office, my South Haven sunsets, my movie nigts, my church, my Sunday mornings, and my time in Kalamazoo. Everyone that I am leaving here in my immediate community and those in my long-distance community came flooding into my mind. I’ve lived here for 8 years, developed a community, friendships, a system, and a level of comfort and security. BUT that is the change I signed up for – to leave my comfort and security. To have Jesus become greater within me and for myself to become less. To be broken down and to serve others in love.

 

So during this time of preparation I am walking through seasons. Seaons of community, mourning, asking, thankfulness, joy, and praise! Preparing to leave my comfort and security, but being thankful for all the people and joys in my life right now. I’m learning to live in the present and moment to moment.

 

  

 How many days do I have?

Well, in 24 days I head to TRAINING CAMP. May 22-30 I will head down to Georgia to meet my team (which I’m VERY excited about!) and be there for our 10 day training camp. This is our intro to the World Race and a time of personal and spiritual preparation.  At camp we will find out our specific launch date but right now I’m planning on it being sometime around July 1st. If this is the case…..I have 64 days until I leave! WOW!!!!

 

 

 

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