Hey everyone!
I know I have been bad about keeping everyone updated… SO here is everything that has been going on with me lately:
- I’m a little over 75% funded! Thank you to everyone who has come along side of me and believed in me and God’s calling on my life. It has been both super challenging and super rewarding, but through it all I have been able to see the Lord move in big ways. I still have about $4,300 left to raise, so if you haven’t already, please prayerfully consider supporting me as my deadlines approach. Every little bit helps!
- I graduated! As many of you know, for the past 2 years I have been working towards getting an AS degree in English/American Sign Language, and I’m happy to say that I have finally finished! I will forever cherish the time that I spent working towards this degree. The people that I’ve had the opportunity to meet and get to know have been such a blessing in my life and have helped me grow from the little high school kid who was scared to move away, to someone who is ready to live a life on mission! The interpreting and Deaf communities have poured into me and I am forever grateful.
- In the past few months I have had the opportunity to go and meet some of the amazing people that are going to be going on my race with me. These people daily give me strength and encouragement when I feel start to feel that I may be in over my head. Getting to know them has only confirmed even more that the race is where I’m supposed to be right now. It’s so exciting to know the people that I’m going to be doing life with for the next year!
- I got (almost) all of my vaccinations!! Those of you who really know me, you know how much I HATE going to the doctor- especially getting shots. For those of you who are curious, I received all of the following: the Yellow Fever vaccine, Polio booster, Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, and Rabies vaccine. AKA I have been traumatized. (I would like to take this time to shout out my amazing parents who paid for all of my shots that I would never have been able to afford- its almost like they want me to come home alive or something…) I still have to go get my Tetanus booster (not excited) and there are some oral medications that I still need to get (Typhoid and Cholera) BUT I am going to be waiting to get those till about a month before I leave. My amazing mother went with me to every appointment and held me down when I tried to run away (not an exaggeration). I would like to say that I never passed out while getting any of these shots, which is a big accomplishment for me (though I did cry quite a bit). This is one of the less glamorous aspects of going on the race.
- I sold my car. My beautiful stickered blue Rodeo is rolling on with another family now. That car was such an important part of my life for the past 5/6ish years, it was really hard to see her go.. This was the first major change to happen in my life because of the race. This was the first time it felt like the race had really cost me something. (I know I’m being a bit dramatic but its true) Now I know that you’re probably thinking that Charlie was just a car, a dirty, old, run-down car at that, BUT Charlie was more than a car in the sense that she was also my job, my freedom, and my first real responsibility. I have worked driving kids around for years, and that meant spending a lot of time in the car. I’ve had some really important conversations with the Lord in that car while sitting in traffic or driving on the high way, and I’m really going to miss how comfortable and at home I felt driving her around. Everyone tells me that you’re supposed to love your first car, and I know I sure did. Since selling my baby I have been bouncing between several different cars which has been super hard, but as hard as it is, it has been such a blessing that I still have a car to drive considering that its my only source of income right now. My family and my wonderful neighbor who is letting my borrow his car, have been so patient with me as I adjust to a post-Charlie life wherein I need to coordinate using vehicles with other people. RIP Charlie.
- I have purchased almost ALL of my supplies for my trip in the past few months. I bought a tent, sleeping bag, a hiking backpack, and a sleeping mat. There are still a few things left to get on my seemingly endless list, but now that I’m out of school I have a lot more time to get all of that done. These have all been an out of pocket expense for me, which has been hard considering my income is pretty small right now. This is just one more way that the Lord is teaching me to trust Him in ALL aspects of my life and finances. (HINT HINT: God provides)
The Lord is so so good and He has poured out His blessing on me these past few months. Its been really hard for me to sit down and to try to express all of the things that have been going on lately because I’m still trying to process it all myself. I am about to start this crazy journey, and somedays I feel like all of this is not a big deal and that a year isn’t really that long, but other days I still cant believe that this is my life, and a year feels like forever. Through all of my up and down moments over these last few months the Lord has proven himself to be so faithful. It really feels like I’m getting two life changing journeys for the (very expensive) price of one: learning how to trust the Lord here at home, and learning how to trust the Lord out on the race. As my first journey comes to an end and the second draws nearer, I can firmly say that now, more than ever, I know that the race is what the Lord has called me to in this season of life. There is no way that I can say thank you enough for y’alls support. I have never felt so loved by my faith family as I have these past few months. I have seen the body of believer’s generosity, willingness to sacrifice, and love, and I have also felt the power of your prayers. Please continue to pray for me as deadlines and launch get closer and closer, and let me know how I can pray and encourage you as well. I am going to try to be better about updating my blog and posting on Facebook about what is going on with me and with the Race, but as for right now I think you are all up to date! Woohoo!
Much love,
-Morgan
As always, I invite you to make my journey, your journey. Here are three simple ways:
- The most important, PRAY.
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