It’s January already! Wow. I can’t believe its already here. The big question that is looming over me is am I ready? I think I am. 🙂 But am I really? All of this isn’t going to be real until I land in the Dominican Republic and we get to start our journey serving. Its also going to get really real when I start living out of my backpack. Right now, that seems a little crazy and I almost want to just dump my bag and take a suitcase. Every blog I’ve read says pack less than what you think you need….Well I have what I think I need and it still weighs a ton! 🙁 My big backpack is 48 pounds, and my small one is 24. Yikes. I can’t think of what else to take out. So may as well trial and error this and just go! I am ready.
So so so many things have happened in the past few weeks that I am having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that I am actually leaving the country. I’ve had my hardest moment yet which was leaving California and my best friends and my awesome community behind. This was heartbreaking, and emotional. And I am not good at emotional. Regardless, I made it. That was followed by a fun and tiresome road trip home with Mom. We made some fun stops and even saw the beautiful Grand Canyon in the snow. It was magical …… and freezing! This was followed by a moment I had been waiting for. I am FULLY FUNDED!!!! Praise the Lord, I am so grateful and blessed! Thank you to everyone who has donated and made this possible, I really wouldn’t be here without your help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The best part is that was the only thing I really wanted for Christmas and it happened just in time. Mom and I got home to Kentucky just in time for Christmas, and it was a fun one with all of us including my cousin. The best part of this Christmas was that my sister got engaged to her long time boyfriend. I am so excited for them!!! This has been a long time coming and I couldn’t be happier. 🙂 STAR WARS also happened!! 🙂 Multiples time I went. Yes! New Years Eve in Nashville, that was exciting. Packing and repacking happened. So much.
Tomorrow morning my brothers, parents and I head to Atlanta for launch. I am feeling so excited to regroup with my team and the squad. My family gets to meet everyone and that will be fun. On Sunday we fly to the Dominican Republic where my team will be working with a group called Global Effect. We will be checking water wells and making sure water filters are working appropriately. We will be participating in a youth sports program and maybe even helping to implement a small group program for the local church. Can’t wait.
12 more hours and shellysworldrace starts! 🙂
For my amazing prayer warriors, please pray for patience, good communication and great listening skills. Pray that we will be an effective team for ministry. Pray for healthy team dynamics and for the ministry we will be working with. Pray for health for everyone on my squad. Thank you!! <3
Stay tuned, for the next blog is coming to you straight from the DR! 🙂
